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. Breadcrumb history major Majors-and-Minors-left MENU Explore Academic Majors and Minors Academic Majors American Politics Major Applied Statistics and Data Sciences Major Chemical Engineering Major Chemistry Major Civil Engineering Major Computer Science Major Cyber Science Major Defense and Strategic Studies Major Economics Major Electrical Engineering Major Engineering Management Major Engineering Psychology Major English Major Environmental Engineering Major Environmental Science Major Foreign Area Studies: Africa Major Foreign Area Studies: East Asia Major Foreign Area Studies: Eurasia Major Foreign Area Studies: Europe Major Foreign Area Studies: Latin America Major Foreign Area Studies: Middle East Major Foreign Language: Arabic Major Foreign Language: Chinese Major Foreign Language: French Major Foreign Language: German Major Foreign Language: Persian Major Foreign Language: Portuguese Major Foreign Language: Russian Major Foreign Language: Spanish Major Geography Major Geospatial Information Science Major History Major International Affairs Major Kinesiology Major Law and Legal Studies Major Life Science Major Management Major Mathematical Sciences Major Mechanical Engineering Major Nuclear Engineering Major Operations Research Major Philosophy Major Physics Major Sociology Major Space Science Major Systems & Decision Sciences Major Systems Engineering Major Academic Minors Aeronautical Engineering Minor America in the World Minor American Foundations Minor Applied Statistics Minor Cyber Security Minor Diversity and Inclusion Studies Minor Engineering Management Minor General History Minor Geography Minor Grand Strategy Minor Network Science Minor Nuclear Science Minor Photonics Minor Regional Studies Minor Robotics Minor Space Science Minor Systems Engineering Minor Terrorism Studies Minor War Technology and Society Minor Guidance on Choosing an Academic Major 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. To learn more about this area of study, visit the Department of History. American History TrackCadets 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 TrackCadets 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 TrackCadets 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. History Major (All Tracks)Required CoursesHI301 HISTORY OF MILITARY ART TO 1900HI498 COLLOQUIUM IN HISTORY Military History TrackRequired 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-HIST This major offers an honors track. To learn more, view the full History: Military History Major Curriculum. International History TrackRequired Courses (Choose 5)HI337 CHINA-C. KINGDOM TO COMM RULEHI339 THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST HI340 COLONIAL AMERICAHI341 THE AGE OF EXPLORATIONHI343 MODERN GERMANYHI344 MODERN DIPLOMACYHI345 MODERN AFRICAHI346 MODERN SOUTH ASIAHI347 ASIAN WARFARE AND POLITICSHI348 MODERN LATIN AMERICA HI354 WORLD WAR I IN GLOBAL CONTEXT HI361 MEDIEVAL EUROPEHI364 MODERN WESTERN EUROPE HI365 THE ANCIENT WORLD HI367 IMPERIAL AND SOVIET RUSSIA HI368 MOD CENTRAL & E. EUR,1896-1989 HI369 AMERICAN FRONTIERS HI372 US FGN RELATIONS SINCE 1898 HI383 MIDDLE EASTERN WARFARE 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 HI460 SENIOR FACULTY COURSE HI461 TOPICS IN GENDER HISTORY HI462 THE HISTORY OF INNOVATION HI463 RACE, ETHNICITY, NATION XH341 INTEL CYBER HISTORY XH405 THE HOLOCAUST AND ITS LEGACY XH415 GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING XH491 INTERDISCIPLINARY CAPSTNE-HIST This major offers an honors track. To learn more, view the full History: International History Major Curriculum. U.S. History TrackRequired Courses (Choose 5)HI340 COLONIAL AMERICA HI369 AMERICAN FRONTIERS HI372 US FGN RELATIONS SINCE 1898 HI390 EARLY NATIONAL AMERICA3.0 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 WARXH341 INTEL CYBER HISTORY XH491 INTERDISCIPLINARY CAPSTNE-HIST This major offers an honors track. To learn more, view the full History: U.S. History Major Curriculum. History Major (All Tracks)Sample 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 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, or the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.