World history can look at the big picture. Instead of zeroing in on what happened in select states or regions during a historical period, it often examines what occurred globally. The emphasis of this field of study may be on the themes and patterns that have shaped the planet.

An MA is a master’s degree awarded to students that have completed a program studying humanities or fine arts subjects such as history, communications, philosophy, theology or English. A Master of Arts degree typically requires coursework, research and written examinations.