The Cultivation Plan of Ph.D. Students Specialized in World History Program

 (Major Code: 060300; Awarding Doctor of History Degree)

I. The Aim of Cultivation  

The objective of this specialty program is to produce a new, creative type of talented scholar whose thoughts are sound and with full development of morality, wisdom, physique and aesthetics. Qualified graduates of this program are expected to be equipped with fine academic trainings, who has the wide range of theoretical basis and systematically deepening knowledge in the field of world history, who understands and is familiar with both the previous research achievements and frontier of professional knowledge. After four years of study, graduates are hoped to produce a new, creative research in this field of expertise, acquire high level of foreign languages, and fulfill the ability to conduct an independent research, and teach students and adapt him/herself in the wide range of new academic environments.                  

II. The Directions of Research

1. Ancient and Medieval History of World ( Greek and Roman History )

It mainly discusses the characteristics and rules of ancient Greece and Rome in the aspects of politic, economy, society, law, historiography, ethical thought and sports competition, etc. Based on the deep understanding of western classical research achievements, and taking ancient Chinese history and culture as background, it tries to do research that has its own characteristics.

2. Ancient and Medieval History of World ( Medieval European History )

It studies the evolutions and characteristics of European politic, economy, society, culture, thought and so forth between 5th and 15th century, deeply discusses some important issues like the formation of feudal society, the relationship between magisterium and royalty, agriculture and rural society, commercial trade and the revival of city, the crisis of feudalism in the late middle ages.

3. Modern and Contemporary History of World ( European History between 15th and 18th Century )

It discusses some important issues in European history between 15th and 18th century, especially some profound changes happened in the fields like politic, economy, thought, culture and so forth in European countries and their effects during the transition from feudalism to capitalism.

4. Modern and Contemporary History of World ( Modern History of World )

It discusses some significant changes happened in world history from 15th century to the beginning of the 20th century, and it studies the historical processes and social changes of major countries in the West and the East since the 15th and 16th century, among which, it mainly focuses on these countries’ modern transitions of economy and society, the developmental stages and characteristics of modern society, economical and social systems of modern industrial civilization, etc.

5. Modern and Contemporary History of World ( Contemporary History of World )

It discusses some important issues in the development of world history since the 20th century,  especially focuses on the industrialization and modernization of world’s major countries, and also studies the changes of politic, economy, society, culture, thought and other aspects of each country and the whole world during the process of modernization.

6. Modern and Contemporary History of World(The Overall Development and Modernization of World )

It discusses concrete processes of modernization happened in world’s major countries and the connection between the modernization of each country and the overall development of world. Besides, it compares the modernization development of different countries.

7. Specialized History of World ( Modern International Relationships and Foreign Policies of China)

It mainly studies the development of international relationships and foreign policies of China between the beginning of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21th century, namely, studying the diplomatic phases of China from the overall development of international relationships, especially the interactive relationships between China and other leading powers, China and surrounding countries. it attaches great importance to the historical research method which combines macroscopic thinking and microscopic inspection, absorbs knowledge and methods of relevant disciplines, and provides historical foundation for our country’s foreign strategies.

8. Specialized History of World ( History of International Cold War )

This field mainly studies the history of the Cold War. It focuses more on the Cold War of culture and interpreting the Cold War from the perspective of culture except traditional political, economic and military methods of researching the Cold War. It uses the research method of international history, pays attention to the effects of multilateral interaction and unconventional mainstay of international relationships, and also, it attaches great importance to the use of multinational archives and multidisciplinary approaches.

9. Specialized History of World ( History of America and Canada’s Foreign Relations)

It mainly studies the relationships of America, Canada and other countries and regions in aspects like politic, economy, culture, etc. It also discusses positions and influences of America and Canada in modern world, and the main point is to provide historical foundation for formulating our country’s foreign policies and enhancing international communication and cooperation.

10. Specialized History of World ( History of Japanese Politic, Economy and Diplomacy )

It mainly studies the development of Japanese diplomacy in the 20th century, such as the changes of Japanese foreign policies and strategic choices before and after the Second World War, and the main point is to provide historical foundation for our country’s policies to Japan and China-Japan relations.

11. Regional and National History ( History of Germany )

By studying German nation, especially the history of German national capitalism, it discusses the rule and reason of German history’s evolution and development from a deeper level. At the same time, it studies the interactive and inter-constraint relationships between Germany and Europe, Germany and the entire world.

12. Regional and National History ( History of Asia- Pacific Region )

It studies the transition of Asia-Pacific region’s economy, politic, culture and other aspects since the 1870s, as well as the influences of cultural conflict to the historical evolution of Asia-Pacific region.

13. Regional and National History ( American History )

It studies the formation and evolution of American politic, economy and social order, analyses the cause, motivation and mechanism of American history’s evolution, and especially, it discusses the reformation and evolution of social system, the development and characteristics of democratic politics, the evolution and influences of racial politics in the 20th century.

Ⅲ. Duration of Study

The normal duration for Ph.D. students is usually four years with a ceiling of six academic years. The minimum term for students who are eligible for early graduation is three years.

Ⅳ. Course and Credit Requirements

A. Course Requirements

    Refer to the “Course Catalog for Ph.D. Students Specialized in World History Program” (See Below)

The total credit of curricula of international Ph.D. students is the same with that of Chinese native students. Co-requisites are as follows: Introduction to Chinese Culture, 2 credits; Comprehensive Chinese, 2 credits. Ph.D. students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan can waive the Marxist Theory Course and take other degree courses instead.

B. Credit Requirements

The credits that Ph.D. students in this program must fulfill are twelve, among which public compulsory courses are four credits, other degree courses four, and the rest will be the credits for electives.   

V. Other Mandatory Steps and Requirements

Ⅵ. Degree Dissertation

All the works related to student’s dissertation is administered, based on “Wuhan University’s Revised Notice of Cultivation of Academic Ph.D. student” and the related regulations on the Ph.D. degree dissertation at Wuhan University.

Course Catalog for Ph.D. Students Specialized in          World History Program