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.

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the western most point of Eurasia, Europe is usually divided from Asia by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting the Black and Aegean Seas.

A master's degree is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.