History Major History Major History majors explore the past to be better prepared to excel as leaders in the future. The Department of History offers three rewarding tracks within the history major: American history, international history, or military history.Offered by the Department of History. Breadcrumb academics majors and minors history major academics-sidebarnav MENU Academic Program Majors & Minors Departments Internships Study Abroad Scholars Program Service Academy Exchange Program Annual Theme 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 majoring in History will choose to complete the degree without a thesis, with a thesis, or complete an honors degree with a thesis.On behalf of the Department of History, thank you for your interest in the military history major. This exceptional department offers a world-class opportunity to explore the subject you love. The military history division examines the nature and art of armed conflict through a multitude of lenses and themes, including the story of war and wars; the experience of battle; the characteristics of military leaders; the impact of violence on people and peoples; the evolution of military institutions; the intersection of warfare with politics, international relations, economics, society, the natural environment, culture, and technology; the development of theory and doctrine; and historiography, the history of historical writing itself. The military history division produces scholars and leaders who are among the most effective problem-solvers and communicators in our army and nation. Formulaic “lessons” and “drills” will not solve today’s complex challenges – you will, and your journey to success begins in the military history division.American History StemCadets majoring in American history explore in depth the past of this great nation to gain an historical understanding of the United States' role in a global context.International History StemCadets majoring in international history develop an understanding of states, peoples, cultures, and ways of life in the world outside of the United States. Military History StemCadets majoring in military history examine the changing nature of warfare and of the military profession, and learn how these changes have influenced (and been influenced by) societies, cultures, and ideologies. To learn more about this area of study, visit the Department of History. History Major (All Stems)Required CoursesHI301 HISTORY OF MILITARY ART TO 1900HI498 COLLOQUIUM IN HISTORYSample ElectivesHI337 CHINA-C. KINGDOM TO COMM RULE HI338 WARFARE IN AGE OF REVOLUTIONSHI339 THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST HI340 COLONIAL AMERICA HI341 THE AGE OF EXPLORATION HI343 MODERN GERMANY HI344 MODERN DIPLOMACY HI345 MODERN AFRICA HI346 MODERN SOUTH ASIA HI347 ASIAN WARFARE AND POLITICS HI348 MODERN LATIN AMERICA HI354 WORLD WAR I IN GLOBAL CONTEXT HI355 WARFARE-AGE OF INDUSTRIALIZTN HI356 WAR AT SEA AND IN THE AIR HI357 WARFARE SINCE 1945 HI358 STRATEGY, POLICY & GENERALSHIP HI359 ERA OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR HI361 MEDIEVAL EUROPE HI364 MODERN WESTERN EUROPE HI365 THE ANCIENT WORLD HI367 IMPERIAL AND SOVIET RUSSIA HI368 MOD CENTRAL & E. EUR,1896-1989HI369 AMERICAN FRONTIERS HI370 ANCIENT & MEDIEVAL WARFAREHI372 US FGN RELATIONS SINCE 1898 HI376 EARLY MODERN WARFARE HI381 HISTORY OF IRREGULAR WARFARE HI383 MIDDLE EASTERN WARFARE HI385 WAR & ITS THEORISTS HI390 EARLY NATIONAL AMERICA HI391 WORLD RELIGIONS HI392 AMERICAN HISTORICAL MEMORY HI394 REVOLUTIONARY AMERICA HI395 HIST OF CIVIL WAR AMERICA HI396 MAKING OF MODERN AMERICA HI397 COLD WAR AMERICA HI398 CIVIL RIGHTS IN AMER HIST HI410 VIOLENCE/SEX: CULTRL HIST WAR HI461 TOPICS IN GENDER HISTORY HI462 THE HISTORY OF INNOVATION HI463 RACE, ETHNICITY, NATION XH405 THE HOLOCAUST AND ITS LEGACY XH415 GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING XH341 INTEL CYBER HISTORY Military History StemRequired Courses (Choose 5)HI338 WARFARE IN AGE OF REVOLUTIONSHI354 WORLD WAR I IN GLOBAL CONTEXT HI355 WARFARE-AGE OF INDUSTRIALIZTN HI356 WAR AT SEA AND IN THE AIR HI357 WARFARE SINCE 1945 HI358 STRATEGY, POLICY & GENERALSHIP HI359 ERA OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR HI370 ANCIENT & MEDIEVAL WARFARE HI376 EARLY MODERN WARFARE HI381 HISTORY OF IRREGULAR WARFARE HI383 MIDDLE EASTERN WARFARE HI385 WAR & ITS THEORISTS HI410 VIOLENCE/SEX: CULTRL HIST WAR XH341 INTEL CYBER HISTORY XH491 INTERDISCIPLINARY CAPSTNE-HISTCourses Offered AY24-1HI357: Decolonization and the Cold WarHI358: Strategy, Policy, and GeneralshipHI359: The Era of the Second World WarHI381: History of Irregular WarfareCourses Offered AY24-2HI338: Warfare in the Age of Revolutions (French Revolution and the Napoleonic Era)HI370: Ancient and Medieval WarfareHI383: Middle Eastern WarfareHI385: War and its TheoristsCourses Offered AY25-1HI357: Decolonization and the Cold WarHI358: Strategy, Policy, and GeneralshipHI359: The Era of the Second World WarHI381: History of Irregular WarfareThis major offers an honors stem. To learn more, view the full History: Military History Major Curriculum. International History StemRequired Courses (Choose 5)HI 108: Regional Studies in World HistoryHI 158: Advanced Regional Studies in World HistoryHI 337: China from Central Kingdom to Communist RuleHI 339: The Modern Middle EastHI 341: The Age of ExplorationHI 342: The British Isles since 1688HI 343: Modern GermanyHI 344: Modern DiplomacyHI 345: Modern AfricaHI 346: Modern South AsiaHI 347: Asian Warfare and PoliticsHI 348: Modern Latin AmericaHI 349: The Middle East to 1798HI 361: Medieval EuropeHI 364: Modern Western Europe since 1789HI 365: The Ancient WorldHI 367: Imperial and Soviet RussiaHI 368: Modern Central and Eastern Europe, 1896-1989HI 391: World ReligionsThis major offers an honors stem. To learn more, view the full History: International History Major Curriculum. American History StemRequired Courses (Choose 5)HI:105 History of the United StatesHI:155 Advanced History of the United StatesHI:340 Colonial AmericaHI:372 American FrontiersHI:372 History of American Foreign RelationsHI:390 Early National AmericaHI:392: American Historical MemoryHI:394 History of Revolutionary AmericaHI:395 History of Civil War AmericaHI:396 The Making of Modern AmericaHI:397 History of Cold War AmericaHI:398 Civil Rights in American HistoryThis major offers an honors stem. To learn more, view the full History: American U.S. History Major Curriculum. 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 Society:Phi Alpha Theta - National History Honor SocietyGolden Key - International Honour SocietyPhi Kappa Phi - Oldest and Largest Collegiate Honor SocietyTo learn more about enrichment for this area of study, visit the Department of History, the Center for Oral History, the Digital History Center, or the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.