Graduate Certificate of Completion in History
Earn Your Online Graduate Certificate in History
Grand Canyon University’s Graduate Certificate of Completion in History prepares those with a teaching background to teach online or on-campus history courses at two or four-year institutions. This program serves as an ideal continuing education pathway for teachers pursing career advancement, a new career path within the education field and/or a profession where they can share a passion for history.
Students who are curious about and fascinated by American and world history will be able to build upon their historical knowledge, while learning how to translate this knowledge into instruction for undergraduate classrooms. Students can expect to engage in the following topics:
- Historical global themes – population, economic networks, power/authority/government, race and class, cultural integration, science/technology/environment, spiritual life/moral codes and gender
- Historical U.S. themes – migration/immigration, religious/philosophical thought, republic/democracy, industrialization/business/labor, prosperity and consumerism, reform movements/social justice and war and society in American history
- Resources and opportunities provided by museums, historic places and archives to support teaching postsecondary history courses
- How diverse cultures, dynamics, economics and politics shaped the American West frontier into modern America
- Understanding of the past through contextual perspectives of race, class, gender and ethnicity and how these elements shaped the past
Balancing history content with pedagogy and classroom techniques, this graduate program provides teachers with advanced training within the fields of history and education. Students will be able to meet the graduate course and ongoing professional development requirements, as well as the 18 credits necessary to pursue teaching opportunities at the postsecondary level.
Adult working professionals can complete this history graduate certificate program online to benefit from the flexibility and convenience that distance learning provides. Graduate students will study through an innovative digital learning management system that enables collaboration and connections among students and the instructor. Students who excel in a traditional classroom setting may choose to attend evening classes on campus that meet once a week. Students can plan to complete this 44-week program in under a year.
Research and Analyze Events in History
This five-course program mirrors GCU’s Master of Arts in History with an Emphasis in Education. Students will gain competencies in these areas of study:
- Concepts in Understanding World History: Examine various themes associated with world history
- Concepts in Understanding U.S. History: Examine various themes associated with U.S. history
- Applied Studies in History Graduate Education: Engage in applied (public) history practice, focusing on how to use these methods in the classroom
- Studies in the American West: Investigate the history of the American West as a region and ideology
- Historical Perspectives of Race, Class, Gender & Ethnicity: Explore historical perspectives of race, class, gender and ethnicity
Prepare for Various Career Options with a Graduate-Level History Certificate
Equipped with this graduate certificate in history, graduates may pursue positions in higher education as a college or university professor, faculty member or instructor. Potential workplaces include two or four-year colleges, universities, trade or technical schools and companies that specialize in educational research and publishing.
Graduates will enter into the higher education field with increasing job opportunities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates job growth for postsecondary teachers to increase by about 9% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than average, accounting for an estimated increase of 121,500 jobs in the field.1
1 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well. Accordingly, data shown is based on 2019, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Postsecondary Teachers
If seeking licensure or certification, applicants to the program are responsible for contacting their state department of education for licensure requirements and program approval. In addition, fingerprint/background clearance is required.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course examines world history as a set of thematic concepts, highlighting the significant historiographical questions, examples, and resources for study of historical global themes such as population; economic networks; power, authority, and government; class, race, and gender; cultural expression; science, technology, and environment; and spiritual life and moral codes
Course Description
This course examines U.S. history as a set of thematic concepts, highlighting the significant historiographical questions, examples, and resources for study of historical themes such as migration and immigration; religious and philosophical thought; the republic and democracy; industrialization, business, and labor; prosperity and consumerism; reform movements and social justice; and war and society in U.S. history.
Course Description
This course introduces students to applied studies in history. Students have opportunities to engage in applied (public) history practice with focus toward using these methods in the classroom. Emphasis is placed on the resources and opportunities provided by museums, historic places, and archives for teaching secondary and postsecondary courses.
Course Description
This course investigates the history of the American West as both a region west of the Mississippi River, and an ideology that shaped cultures, economics, and politics, from frontier to modern America. Using historiography and applied research, students examine the diverse cultures and dynamics that made the American West a unique place in American history.
Course Description
This course explores historical perspectives of race, class, gender, and ethnicity as lenses of stratification, identity, and experience that shape the historical record. Through historiography and applied research, students examine the contextual perspectives of race, class, gender, and ethnicity that shape our understanding of the past.
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
* Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change.