By Nikki Babri
UC Irvine’s Department of History has introduced a certificate program that bridges academic excellence with professional development, offering students targeted pathways to showcase their expertise in specialized historical fields. The program features seven distinct tracks, allowing undergraduates across all majors and schools to study history through interdisciplinary themes that align with their career aspirations.
Building expertise through specialized study
The study of history is fundamental to developing well-rounded, informed and critically minded citizens. “It is always a good time to study history, but the challenges of our current world call upon us to develop the skills best learned through humanistic studies – from critical analysis to historical contextualization and the ability to assess reliability and bias,” explains Professor and Chair of History Susan Morrissey, who spearheaded the program’s development.
Students earn certificates by completing four courses within their chosen track while maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA. Unlike traditional history major or minor programs that provide broad disciplinary exposure, these certificates allow students to demonstrate mastery in specific areas that coincide with their larger professional goals.
Each of the seven certificate tracks creates distinct career pathways. The Law and Policy track develops critical analysis and research skills valued by law firms, policy organizations and NGOs, while the Global and International Studies track prepares students for roles in foreign affairs, international relations and cross-cultural communication.
For students interested in journalism, film studies and the arts, the Media and Popular Culture track provides expertise in analyzing communication trends and cultural shifts. Those pursuing the Gender and Sexuality track combine historical analysis with contemporary theoretical frameworks, preparing graduates for roles in social work, public health and policy advocacy.
The Science, Medicine and Environment track equips students for careers in environmental policy, public health and science communication roles, while the Inequality and Justice track develops expertise in systems of oppression based on race, class, gender, sexuality, ability, religion, etc. that are valuable for education, law and public policy positions.
For Sebastián Calderón, a senior double majoring in history and anthropology, the Advanced Historical Research Methods track aligns perfectly with his aspirations in academia. “As I pursue a Ph.D. in history, this certificate demonstrates my research capabilities to prospective graduate programs,” explains Calderón, a Campuswide Honors Collegium scholar. “In an increasingly competitive job market and application pool, I recognize that the ability to signal critical reading and writing skills is invaluable.”
Pathways to professional success
The program’s flexible structure allows students to discover and develop their specializations in different ways. Some students will deliberately select courses to fulfill certificate requirements from the start, while others might naturally gravitate toward a thematic focus as they progress through their coursework.
“History is an excellent foundation for students considering a wide range of careers,” Morrissey notes. “Our certificate program makes these professional pathways more visible while helping students document their developing expertise.”
Students from any program of study can find value in the program. While history majors can highlight specialized expertise within their field, students from other majors can formally document their focused historical studies – a distinction increasingly valued by employers seeking candidates with strong analytical and research capabilities.
“The advanced research seminar, colloquium and writing courses have helped me develop skills that will further my academic career,” Calderón affirms, citing abilities such as close-reading, historiographical analysis, archival proficiency and long-form academic writing as advantageous throughout numerous professional fields.
This initiative joins other successful humanities certificate programs at UCI, including the Certificate in Religions and Cultures and the Certificate in Jain Studies and Nonviolence, which are available to undergraduate and graduate students across campus.
As the first cohort prepares to receive their certificates this spring, history faculty are already exploring additional tracks to meet evolving student interests. The program reflects the Department of History’s longstanding commitment to providing students with a historical education that is more accessible and professionally relevant for UCI students across disciplines.
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