The origins, course, nature, and consequences of World Wars I and II in Europe, 1870-1950.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students: Additional research and/or paper(s) are normally required for graduate level course work.
Athena Title
The Age of World Wars I and II
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in HIST 4399, HIST 4401 or HIST 6399, HIST 6401
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
This course requires students to learn about and understand the history of the origins, course, nature, and consequences of the First and Second World Wars in Europe, and in the United States and Asia as well from 1870 to 1950.
This course requires students to comprehend how the two world wars formed the world which we now inhabit at the beginning of the 21st century, so that students might better understand their world.
This course requires students to comprehend, analyze, and synthesize a significant amount of reading material from a variety of sources with information complementary to that in lecture.
This course requires students to participate knowledgeably in class discussions, informed by mastery of the course materials.
This course requires students to demonstrate critical and analytical skills in writing papers and answering comprehensive essay questions on written examinations.
Topical Outline
The Origins of the First World War
The Course, Nature, and Aftermath of Total War in the Early 20th Century
Particular Focus on Memoir Literature of the Great War
The Interwar Era in Europe, America, Africa, and Asia
The Origins of the Second World War
The Course, Nature, and Aftermath of Total War in the Mid 20th Century
Particular Focus on the War on the Eastern Front and in Asia and the Pacific
Overview of the Two World Wars, Their Relationship to One Another, and Their Effect on the Rest of the Twentieth Century and to the Present Time
Students take an all-essay, in-class examination and write several out-of-class essays and participate in discussions on the various aspects of the course. Students taking the class for Honors credit have to write an additional paper on two significant books on a topic of their choosing.
