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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
Required Course - 3 semester hours

General Education Requirements (34 semester hours)
English Composition - 6 semester hours

Social Sciences - 6 semester hours

Science - 4 semester hours including the required 1 hour labs

Mathematics - 3 semester hours

History - 6 semester hours

Humanities - 3 semester hours

Literature - 3 semester hours

All literature courses require successful completion of EN101 / ENGL101 - Proficiency in Writing or EN102 / ENGL102 - Effectiveness in Writing


Political Science - 3 semester hours
Core Courses (21 semester hours)
  • HS334 / HIST300 - Research Methods in History
  • RQ301 / MILH201 - Introduction to Military History
  • RQ302 / MILH221 - War from Antiquity to 1700
  • RQ303 / MILH222 - War from 1700 to the Present
  • MH312 / MILH202 - Survey of American Military History
  • MH351 / MILH303 - Readings in Military Leadership
  • MH352 / MILH304 - 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 / MILH281 - History of the U.S. Army
  • MH307 / MILH282 - History of the U. S. Navy
  • MH308 / MILH283 - History of the U.S. Marine Corps
  • MH309 / MILH284 - History of the U.S. Air Force
  • MH450 / MILH289 - History of Special Operations

Campaigns and Battles
Choose four of the following:

  • MH311 / MILH320 - The American Revolution
  • MH315 / MILH325 - Amerindian Wars
  • MH326 / MILH337 - The War of 1812
  • MH328 / MILH338 - The Mexican War
  • MH340 / MILH340 - The Civil War
  • MH374 / MILH350 - The Spanish-American War
  • MH317 / MILH355 - World War I
  • MH350 / MILH360 - World War II
  • MH320 / MILH370 - Korean War
  • MH321 / MILH371 - Vietnam War
  • MH322 / MILH372 - Persian Gulf War
  • MH373 / MILH373 - The Balkans

Diplomacy and Peacekeeping
Choose two of the following:

  • MH353 / MILH411 - Diplomacy and War I
  • MH354 / MILH412 - Diplomacy and War II
  • MH371 / MILH421 - History of Peacekeeping: 1945-1987
  • MH372 / MILH422 - History of Peacekeeping: 1988 -Present

Warfighting Strategy and Operations
Choose two of the following:

  • MH375 / MILS301 - Air Warfare
  • MH376 / MILS302 - Naval Warfare
  • MH409 / MILS303 - Marneuver Warfare
  • MH413 / MILS410 - Asymmetrical Warfare
  • MH451 / MILS330 - Special Operations Strategy & Tactics
  • IS326 / MILS440 - Information Operations

Current Issues and Future Trends
Choose one  of the following:

  • MH403 / MILS460 - War and Society
  • MH404 / MILS450 - War and National Security
  • MH410 / MILS470 - Future War
  • MH480 / MILH480 - Special Topic - this course, when offered, may be applied to fulfill major course   requirements or elective requirements with permission of the Department Chair.
  • MH390 / MILH490 - 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 / MILH498 - Senior Seminar in Military History
    Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all core and major courses prior to enrollment.
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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