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Bachelor of Arts in Military History

>> Return to APUS Catalog | Bachelor's


The Military History major has been designed to encompass a variety of professional aspirations and interests. This major ensures that students will learn about the "big picture" through exposure to five historical perspectives, while allowing them to tailor the major to their individual interests during the junior and senior years. This is a degree for those who seek understanding of the military art and science as well as a general education in the liberal arts. The degree is quite different from history degrees at other universities because it is focused on the forces of human conflict, and how those forces have shaped, and continue to shape, civilization. Students receive a foundation in: (1) the philosophy, strategy, and tactics of conflict; (2) generalship, leadership, and management of warfare, and of people; (3) great historical battles and their influences on society; (4) the influence of technology on warfare, and on society; and (5) the history of related issues such as diplomacy, foreign affairs, international law, war and society, and future war.

Degree Program Objectives

In addition to the institutional and general education level learning objectives, the Bachelor of Arts in Military History also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates. With reference to each of the respective areas of military history, graduates in this degree program will be able to:

  • Identify a broad knowledge of the historical literature that pertains to the topics of study included in the degree program and locate the linkage between historical studies and allied disciplines.
  • Interpret historical forces that have shaped social change and contemporary human problems and discern an understanding of the historical experiences that go beyond a single time period and national or cultural experience.
  • Analyze historical material and make judgments, to establish causal relationships between facts, to find order and patterns, to answer why and how -- not just simply report.
  • Analyze the contributions of the major military philosophers and leaders to the understanding of military history.
  • Examine the dynamics of diplomacy and peacekeeping as they have existed throughout history and in the present time.
  • Discuss the major military events, technologies, and nations that shaped our past and contemporary world.
  • Examine the operational art and warfare options practiced in historical and modern scenarios.

Degree Program Requirements

RQ295 / COL 100 Foundations of Online Learning (fomerly Academic and Career Planning) (3 semester hours) - Required as the first course in all undergraduate programs.

General Education Requirements (34 semester hours)
English Composition - 6 semester hours
EN101 / ENG 101 - Proficiency in Writing (Required)
EN102 / ENG 102 - Effectiveness in Writing or
EN202 / ENG 200 - English Composition and Literature

Social Sciences - 6 semester hours
SS101 / ECO 101 - Microeconomics
SS102 / ECO 102 - Macroeconomics
SS111 / GEO 101 - Introduction to Geography
SS133 / SOC 111 - Introduction to Sociology
SS134 / PSY 101 - Introduction to Psychology 
SS190 / ANT 100 - Introduction to Anthropology
SS210 / CFD 220 - Human Sexuality  
SO220 / SOC 220 - American Popular Culture

Science - 4 semester hours including required 1 hour labs
SC100 / SCI 100 - Introduction to Biology
SC198 / SCI 100 L - Introduction to Biology Lab
SC101 / SCI 110 - Introduction to Chemistry
SC199 / SCI 110 L - Introduction to Chemistry Lab   
SC102 / SCI 102 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology 
SC122 / SCI 102 L - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab
SC103 / SCI 103 - Introduction to Physics 
SC123 / SCI 103 L - Introduction to Physics Lab
SC104 / SCI 104 - Introduction to Astronomy
SC124 / SCI 104 L - Introduction to Astronomy Lab
SC106 / SCI 106 - Introduction to Oceanography 
SC126 / SCI 106 L - Introduction to Oceanography Lab
SC107 / SCI 107 - Introduction to Meteorology
SC127 / SCI 107 L - Introduction to Meteorology Lab

Mathematics - 3 semester hours
MA110 / MA112 / MAT 110 - Introduction to College Algebra and Trigonometry / College Algebra, or
MA111 / MA113 / MAT 111 College Algebra and Trigonometry / College Trigonometry, or
MA125 / MAT 125 - Math for Liberal Arts Majors, or
MA225 / MAT 225 - Calculus

History - 6 semester hours
HS101 / HIS101 - American History to 1877
HS102 / HIS 102 - American History since 1877
HS111 / HIS 111 - World Civilization I
HS112 / HIS 112 - World Civilization II
HS121 / HIS 121 - Western Civilization Before The Thirty Years War
HS122 / HIS 122 - Western Civilization Since Thirty Years War
HS215 / HIS 223 - History of the American Indian
HS217 / HIS 221 - African-American History before 1877
HS218 / HIS 222 - African-American History since 1877

Humanities - 3 semester hours
HM101 / SPA 100 - Spanish I 
HM102 / SPA 101 - Spanish II (Prerequisite: HM101) - or other foreign language
HM200 / MUS 200 - Music Appreciation
HM230 / REL 201 - Introduction to World Religions  
HM240 / ART 200 - Art Appreciation  
HM277 / PHI 200 - Introduction to Ethics
PH101 / PHI 101 - Introduction to Philosophy

Literature - 3 semester hours
HM201 / LIT 220 - American Literature before the Civil War
HM202 / LIT 221 - American Literature from Civil War to Present
HM221 / LIT 210 - English Literature: Beowulf to 18th Century
HM222 / LIT 211 - English Literature: 18th Century to Present
HM211 / LIT 201 - World Lit through the Renaissance
HM212 / LIT 202 - World Lit since the Renaissance

Political Science - 3 semester hours
SS121 / POL 210 - American Government I
SS131 / INR 210 - International Relations
 

Core Requirements (21 semester hours)
HS334 / HIS 312 - Research Methods in History
RQ301 / MLH 201 - Introduction to Military History
RQ302 / MLH 221 - War from Antiquity to 1700
RQ303 / MLH 222 - War from 1700 to the Present
MH300 / MLH 202 - Survey of American Military History
MH351 / MLH 303 - Readings in Military Leadership
MH352 / MLH 304 - Readings in Military Philosophy

Major Courses (30 semester hours)
Military History majors will choose courses from the following categories:

Military Organizations and History
Choose one of the following
MH306 / MLH 281 - History of the U.S. Army
MH307 / MLH 282 - History of the U. S. Navy
MH308 / MLH 283 - History of the U.S. Marine Corps
MH309 / MLH 284 - History of the U.S. Air Force
MH450 / MLH 289 - History of Special Operations

Campaigns and Battles
Choose four of the following:
MH311 / MLH 320 - The American Revolution
MH315 / MLH 325 - Amerindian Wars
MH326 / MLH 337 - The War of 1812
MH328 / MLH 338 - The Mexican War
MH340 / MLH 340 - The Civil War
MH374 / MLH 350 - The Spanish-American War
MH317 / MLH 355 - World War I
MH350 / MLH 360 - World War II
MH320 / MLH 370 - Korean War
MH321 / MLH 371 - Vietnam War
MH322 / MLH 372 - Persian Gulf War
MH373 / MLH 373 - The Balkans

Diplomacy and Peacekeeping
Choose two of the following:
MH353 / MLH 411 - Diplomacy and War I
MH354 / MLH 412 - Diplomacy and War II
MH371 / MLH 421 - History of Peacekeeping: 1945-1987
MH372 / MLH 422 - History of Peacekeeping: 1988 -Present

Warfighting Strategy and Operations
Choose two of the following:
MH375 / MIL 301 - Air Warfare
MH376 / MIL 302 - Naval Warfare
MH409 / MIL 303 - Maneuver Warfare
MH412 / MIL 410 - Unconventional Warfare
MH451 / MIL 420 - Special Operations Strategy & Tactics
MH402 / MIL 430 - Low Intensity Conflict
IS326 / MIL 440 - Information Operations

Current Issues and Future Trends
Choose one  of the following:
MH403 / MIL 460 - War and Society
MH410 / MIL 470 - Future War
MH480 / MLH 480 - Special Topic - this course, when offered, may be applied to fulfill major course   requirements or elective requirements with permission of the Department Chair.
MH490 / MLH 490 - Independent Study – this course may be applied  to fulfill major course requirements or elective requirements with permission of the Department Chair.

Capstone Course (3 semester hours)
MH498 / MLH 498 – Senior Seminar in Military History
Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all core and major courses prior to enrollment.

The Senior seminar in Military History is required for all Military History majors. This capstone experience for Military History majors will review and integrate their academic coursework, strengthen their understanding of historical methodology, and relate their academic preparation to their post graduation goals. Students will analyze works by professional academics in order to explore research methods and style of presentation. They will also conduct original research and present their findings to the class in written and e-portfolio formats.

Electives (30 semester hours)
Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill core or major requirements. Credits applied toward a
minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.

Total = 121 semester hours


>> Return to APUS Catalog | Bachelor's

AMU is a member institution of the American Public University System (APUS), which is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association and nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission, Distance Education and Training Council.
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