War and Society in Global Perspective

WHAT IS WAR AND SOCIETY IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE?

The study of military history has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past four
decades. Traditionally focusing on the mechanics of war – the history of great generals, strategy,
and weapons – military history today is more broadly defined than ever before, including diverse
topics as sociology of the army, ethics of war and violence, the effects of psychological trauma
on combat soldiers and veterans, the role of race and gender in conflicts, and the impact of war
on civilians. The uniquely broad emphasis of our program on the study of war in global
perspective ensures that students who complete the program will gain a familiarity with the
history and historiography of war in several different cultures and periods, thus enabling them to
carry out sophisticated comparative research.

WHY STUDY WAR AND SOCIETY IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE AT UWG?

Studying War and Conflict is critical for anyone wishing to gain an understanding of world
history, as well as the role of war in shaping cultures and civilizations over time. Reflecting the
current state of military history as an academic discipline and the needs of the modern student,
the History Department at the University of West Georgia now offers a new M.A. field: "War
and Society in Global Perspective." With twelve participating faculty, the program has more
professors contributing to this field than any other terminal M.A. program in military history in
North America. As the title of the field indicates, this is not a program devoted to the traditional
study of military history. Potential applicants are advised to think carefully whether this program
is right for their interests.

Participating Faculty and Fields of Expertise:

Dr. Keith Bohannon (U.S. Civil War)
Dr. Michael de Nie (Modern Britain and Ireland; World War II)
Dr. Jonathan Goldstein (Vietnam; American-East Asian Relations)
Dr. Keith Hébert (Public History; U.S. Civil War)
Dr. Charles Lipp (War and Society in Early Modern Europe; Atlantic World)
Dr. Aran MacKinnon (South African History; Global Studies)
Dr. Elaine MacKinnon (Russian and Soviet History; the Cold War)
Dr. Keith Pacholl (Colonial America, American Revolution)
Dr. Carrie Pitzulo (History of Masculinity; Women, Gender, and War)
Dr. Nadya Popov (Greek and Roman military history)
Dr. Timothy Schroer (Modern European Military History)
Dr. Gary Van Valen (Latin America; Atlantic World)

Course Requirements for the War and Society in Global Perspective Field:

I. Major Field, Thesis Track Option:

Five courses required on military history in at least
TWO geographical areas of the world (U.S., Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America). In
addition, at least one course must be on military history before 1800 AD, and one course
on military history since 1800 AD. Courses may be taken at both 5000-level and 6000-
level, with the requirement that all students must take at least one seminar at the 6000-
level.

II. Major Field/Non-Thesis Track and History Concentration/Public History Track Options:

Four courses required on military history in at least TWO geographical areas of the world
(U.S., Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America). In addition, at least one course must be on
military history before 1800 AD, and one course on military history since 1800 AD.
Courses may be taken at both 5000-level and 6000-level, with the requirement that all
students must take at least one seminar at the 6000-level.

III. Minor Field:

Three courses required in at least TWO geographical areas of the world
(U.S., Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America). Courses may be taken at both 5000-level
and 6000-level, with the requirement that all students must take at least one seminar at
the 6000-level.

Recent and Current Course Offerings in War and Society:

HIST 5419 The Cold War (E. MacKinnon)
HIST 5428 War, State, and Society in Early Modern Europe (C. Lipp)
HIST 5430 The Vietnam War (J. Goldstein)
HIST 5436 French Revolution and Napoleon (C. Lipp)
HIST 5446 Soviet Russia (E. MacKinnon)
HIST 5452 The American Revolution 1763-1783 (K. Pacholl)
HIST 5455 Civil War and Reconstruction: 1848-1877 (K. Bohannon)
HIST 5463 U.S. Military History through the Korean War (K. Bohannon)
HIST 5485 World War II (M. de Nie)
HIST 5485 American Military Landscapes and Popular Memory (K. Hébert)
HIST 5485 History of American Manhood (C. Pitzulo)
HIST 5485 Civic Conflict and Civil War in the Ancient World (N. Popov)
HIST 5485 Greek and Roman Warfare (N. Popov)
HIST 5485 Sparta (N. Popov)
HIST 5485 The Peloponnesian War (N. Popov)
HIST 6485 Civil War (K. Bohannon)
HIST 6686 World War I (T. Schroer)
HIST 6686 Modern European Military History (T. Schroer)
HIST 6686 Colonial Conflict and Film (A. MacKinnon)
HIST 6686 20th Century Revolutions: A Comparative Perspective (E. MacKinnon)
HIST 6686 Anthropology of War in the Ancient World (N. Popov)

Contact Information:

For more information about this concentration and the Graduate Program in History, contact

Dr. Nadya Popov,
Graduate Studies Coordinator
npopov@westga.edu .

*Magrippa . "Alexander Mosaic". Photo. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alexandermosaic.jpg. 9 Feb. 2008. 18 April 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alexandermosaic.jpg>