Skip to content

Studies & Degrees in History of the 20th Century

The history of the 20th century is the part of contemporary history that deals with the recent past: the two world wars, the Russian Revolution, fascism and communism, the Great Depression, the Holocaust, decolonisation, the Cold War, European integration and the start of globalisation. It is rarely a degree of its own. Students normally meet it as a specialisation inside a history degree, as a master's subject, or as a course in a study abroad or summer programme.

What sets the period apart is the amount and variety of evidence. Besides archives, books and newspapers, historians of the 20th century work with photographs, film, radio and television, statistics and interviews with witnesses.

What students learn

Like all historians, students learn to gather historical data from different sources and to analyse and interpret it to determine its authenticity and significance. In this field that usually means:

  • World history of the period: wars, revolutions, dictatorships and democracies, international relations
  • The history of one country or region in depth
  • Social, economic and cultural history, including the history of ideas and of the media
  • Historiography: how historians have explained the century and where they disagree
  • Source work: archives, press, images and oral history
  • A dissertation based on original research

Qualifications and levels

Bachelor's degree. In Spain the usual route is a bachelor's degree (grado) in history with 240 ECTS credits. The Grado en Historia of the Universidad de Navarra is an official degree of 240 credits and four years, taught on campus in Pamplona in Spanish, with 60 places. It covers all historical periods from a political, diplomatic, cultural, social and geographical perspective. The contemporary period appears in subjects such as Historia contemporánea, 1776-1945 (6 ECTS), Historia de España s. XX (6 ECTS), Historia contemporánea de Latinoamérica (4.5 ECTS) and Historia de la Cultura en el mundo contemporáneo (4.5 ECTS).

Master's degree. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Specialisation in contemporary history normally happens at this level, and a doctorate follows for those who want a research career.

Study abroad and short programmes. A semester in a place where the century left deep marks is a common choice. At the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, the Centre for Advanced Studies in the Humanities offers students from other universities one semester or a full academic year. The curriculum is taught in English in five modules: Literature, Culture, Jewish Studies, History and Language. Students take at least five courses per semester for 30 ECTS credits, and no prior knowledge of Polish is needed. In Germany, the Hessen International Summer Universities combine academic modules with German language courses and a leisure programme at universities in the state of Hessen.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists six active schools for this subject: two in Spain and one each in Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. They include the Universidad de Navarra, the Department of International Polish Studies of the Jagiellonian University, the Hessen International Summer Universities and Oxford Scholastica Academy in Oxford.

The list is short because most universities teach the period inside a general history degree. Students looking for a full degree should also look at schools listed under history. The language of instruction is normally that of the country; the programmes for visiting students in Kraków are taught in English.

Careers

History graduates work in teaching, museums, archives, historical societies and research organisations, and also in journalism, publishing, public administration and cultural management. The skills that carry over are research, critical reading of sources and clear writing.

Few hold the job title of historian. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) counted about 3,800 historian jobs in the United States in 2025 and notes that historians typically need at least a master's degree, although a bachelor's degree in history may qualify for some entry-level positions. Professional, scientific and technical services employed 24% of them and the federal government 20%. The BLS projects employment of historians to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a degree only in 20th-century history?

Rarely at bachelor's level. The period is normally studied within a history degree, such as the 240-credit Grado en Historia of the Universidad de Navarra, and as a specialisation at master's level.

How long does it take?

A bachelor's degree in Spain has 240 ECTS credits and takes four years. An official master's degree adds 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.

Can I study it in English outside English-speaking countries?

Yes, in some programmes. The study abroad programme of the Centre for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków is taught in English.