History Major History Major History majors explore the past to be better prepared as leaders in the future. The Department of History offers three rewarding tracks within the history major: American, international, or military history.Offered by the Department of History. Breadcrumb academics majors and minors history major academics-sidebarnav MENU Academic Program Majors & Minors Annual Theme Enrichment Opportunities Internships Study Abroad Scholars Program Service Academy Exchange Program Departments Overview Courses Enrichment Broad historical knowledge is central to developing informed citizens and soldiers. It helps cadets place their service as future Army officers in the context of U.S., Western, and world history. Additionally, it provides the cultural and historical literacy necessary for officers to serve effectively wherever in the world they may find themselves. This is particularly true in the case of counterinsurgency warfare, where victory depends on achieving legitimacy in the eyes of the indigenous population. Officers with an appreciation of history recognize that every situation is historically unique. They understand that history is of value not in divining answers about the future but in asking the right questions. History is the means of putting human activities and ideas in context, avoiding false analogies, lending a sense of scope and scale, assessing moral implications, anticipating unintended consequences, and judging the feasibility and suitability of possible courses of action. Consulting history on these issues helps officers arrive at thoughtful, appropriate, and humane solutions to the problems they will face in their careers. All cadets interested in a history major will choose to complete the degree without a thesis, with a thesis, or complete an honors degree with a thesis.To learn more about this study area, visit the Department of History. History MajorRequired CoursesHI301 HISTORY OF MILITARY ART TO 1900HI498 COLLOQUIUM IN HISTORYSample ElectivesHI337 CHINA-C. KINGDOM TO COMM RULEHI338 WARFARE IN AGE OF REVOLUTIONSHI339 THE MODERN MIDDLE EASTHI340 COLONIAL AMERICAHI341 THE AGE OF EXPLORATIONHI343 MODERN GERMANYHI344 MODERN DIPLOMACYHI345 MODERN AFRICAHI346 MODERN SOUTH ASIAHI347 ASIAN WARFARE AND POLITICSHI348 MODERN LATIN AMERICAHI355 WARFARE-AGE OF INDUSTRIALIZATIONHI356 WAR AT SEA AND IN THE AIRHI357 WARFARE SINCE 1945HI358 POLICY, STRATEGY, & GENERALSHIPHI359 ERA OF THE SECOND WORLD WARHI361 MEDIEVAL EUROPEHI364 MODERN WESTERN EUROPEHI367 IMPERIAL AND SOVIET RUSSIAHI368 MODERN CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE, 1896-1989HI369 AMERICAN FRONTIERSHI370 ANCIENT & MEDIEVAL WARFAREHI372 US FGN RELATIONS SINCE 1898HI376 EARLY MODERN WARFAREHI381 HISTORY OF IRREGULAR WARFAREHI383 MIDDLE EASTERN WARFAREHI385 WAR & ITS THEORISTSHI390 EARLY NATIONAL AMERICAHI391 WORLD RELIGIONSHI392 AMERICAN HISTORICAL MEMORYHI394 REVOLUTIONARY AMERICAHI395 HIST OF CIVIL WAR AMERICAHI396 MAKING OF MODERN AMERICAHI397 COLD WAR AMERICAHI462 THE HISTORY OF INNOVATIONXH405 THE HOLOCAUST AND ITS LEGACYXH415 GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC CLEANSINGXH341 INTEL CYBER HISTORY Cadets in this major have the opportunity to apply for a summer Academic Individual Advanced Development (AIAD) program, USMA-run academic enrichment experience. Majors may also publish their work in the West Point Undergraduate Historical Review and work with either of the department’s academic centers.Honor societies:Phi Alpha Theta - National History Honor SocietyPhi Kappa Phi - Oldest and Largest Collegiate Honor SocietyTo learn more about enrichment for this area of study, visit the Department of History, Center for Oral History, Digital History Center, or Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.