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2018-2019 Academic Catalogue 
    
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2018-2019 Academic Catalogue [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Courses of Instruction

Course Numbering System. Each subject is identified by a symbol made up of two parts. The first part is an abbreviation denoting the general field of study. The second part is a number denoting the particular subject. The first digit indicates the year in which the course is usually taken and, therefore, the level of instruction.

Credit. The unit of academic credit used at the Virginia Military Institute is the semester hour. In general a semester hour represents one hour of classroom work (lecture or recitation) or one period (two or three hours) of laboratory or supervised research or field work per week during a single semester. Thus a course that meets for three class hours and one laboratory period each week during one semester usually carries credit for four semester hours.

In the following course descriptions the figures on the title lines indicate, in order, the class hours per week, the laboratory or field work hours per week, and the semester hours credit. For example, the figures “3—2—4” mean that the class meets three times a week for one-hour classroom sessions and has two hours of laboratory, supervised research, or field work each week, and that the course carries four semester hours of credit.
 

HISTORY

Department of History
Department Head: Colonel Wilkinson

Requirements for a major in history are specified in History .
  

  • HI 312 - Introduction to the History of Islam

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    The course traces the history of Islam, beginning with the life of the Prophet Mohammad and the formative period, along with its medieval achievements and  modern situation.  Aspects of analysis include the historical development, social institutions, intellectual traditions, and religious system of Islam.  We will explore this history using a range of primary and secondary materials including religious texts, historic chronicles and works of fiction.
  

  • HI 313 - The United States, 1900-1945

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A comprehensive study of the United States during the Progressive Era, World War I, the 1920s, and the Great Depression. Note: Region: United States.
  

  • HI 314 - The United States Since 1945

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A comprehensive study of the United States from World War II through recent years. Note: Region: United States.
  

  • HI 315 - The History of Everyday Life

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Social history is an approach to the past that deemphasizes the study of “famous men, great ideas, and big events” in favor of description and analysis of the lives of ordinary people of the past and the social and economic structures that shaped their lives. This course introduces students to sources and methods for the study of “history from the bottom up” and focuses on topics such as family life, courtship and marriage, sex and death, patterns of work and leisure, gender relations, childhood and youth, and old age. Note: Region: Europe or United States, but not both. Methodologically intensive. Prerequisite(s): HI majors must complete HI 200  with a minimum grade of C. Non-HI majors require permission of instructor.
  

  • HI 316 - Food and Hunger in History

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This course explores themes and issues relating to social and cultural dimensions of food and food shortages in past times. The course ranges widely across time and space and adopts an explicitly comparative approach. Topics examined include the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture, the historical development of food production and distribution systems, the emergence of staple crops as commodities, and the causes and consequences of food shortages. The course is open to students of all majors who have passed both semesters of World History (HI 103 and HI 104). Prerequisite(s): HI 103  and HI 104 . This course may be offered as a “Civilizations and Cultures” course (HI 316X), a “Writing Intensive” course (316W), or both (316WX).
  

  • HI 317 - The Great Depression and the New Deal

    This methodologically intensive course will focus on United States history from the origins of the Great Depression to the end of the New Deal. Topics will include the political, economic, social, and cultural history of the era. Specific emphasis will be placed on the origins and effects of the Great Depression, the stock market crash, and the nature of the institutional responses offered by Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. Cadets will engage both historical and historiographical topics while completing a significant research project. Note: Geographical Region: United States. Methodologically Intensive. Prerequisite(s): HI majors must complete HI 200  with a minimum grade of C. Non-HI majors require permission of instructor.
  

  • HI 318 - George C. Marshall and the American Century

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A methodologically-intensive course designed to develop research and analytical skills through the intensive study of the career of General of the Army George C. Marshall, VMI class of 1901. Class will focus on teaching students how to find, analyze, organize, and present primary and secondary sources material. In doing so, student will explore the manuscript collections at the VMI archives and George C. Marshall Research Library. The course will explore major trends in U.S. military history and foreign relations from the Spanish-American War (1898) to the Korean War (1950-1953). Note:  Members of the First Class MAY NOT enroll in this course. Region: United States. Methodologically Intensive. Prerequisite(s): HI majors must complete HI 200  with a minimum grade of C. Non-HI majors require permission of instructor
  

  • HI 319 - African American Experience

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A general introduction to the African American experience in the United States beginning in Africa in the 15th century and continuing through to the late 20th century. Note: Region: United States. Methodologically intensive. Prerequisite(s): HI majors must complete HI 200  with a minimum grade of C. Non-HI majors require permission of instructor.
  

  • HI 320 - The Progressive Era (M)

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This methodologically-intensive course will examine the United States during the Progressive Era—roughly 1890-1920—one of the most dynamic periods in American history. Focusing on the political, economic, social, and cultural changes of the era, the central focus will be an examination of the United States’ transformation into an increasingly diverse, industrial, urban, and internationalist nation. Note: Methodologically Intensive Course (M). Prerequisite(s): HI 200  with a minimum grade of C.
  

  • HI 321 - The Old South

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    The social, intellectual, economic, and political history of the American South before the Civil War. Major topics include the plantation system, slavery, and the evolution of southern sectionalism. Note: Region: United States.
  

  • HI 322 - The Civil War and Reconstruction

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    The causes and course of the American Civil War and the issues and consequences of Reconstruction. Note: Region: United States.
  

  • HI 323 - History of the South From 1865

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Political, social, economic, cultural, and demographic history of the Southern United States from 1865 to the present, with emphasis on interpretations of Southern history by twentieth-century historians. Topics include Reconstruction, segregation and disfranchisement, the “New South Creed” and industrialization, the Civil Rights Movement, and Southern popular culture. Note: Region: United States. Methodologically intensive. Prerequisite(s): HI majors must complete HI 200  with a minimum grade of C and HI 206 . Non-HI majors require permission of instructor.
  

  • HI 324 - American Foreign Relations to 1919

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    An upper level survey of American foreign relations from the founding of the nation through World War I. Emphasis will be placed on the securing of American independence, continental expansion of the mid 19th century and the global expansion of American interests in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Considers the interplay of diplomacy, security issues, economics and culture in American relations with the world. Note: Region: United States.
  

  • HI 325 - American Foreign Relations Since 1919

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    An upper level survey of American foreign relations from the end of World War I until recent times. Important topics include America’s emergence as a leading economic power, the background to World War II, the rise and the demise of the Cold War and American attempts to cope with the post-Cold War world. Note: Region: United States. Prerequisite(s): Prior completion of HI 324 , “American Foreign Relations to 1919” is recommended, but not required.
  

  • HI 327 - India From the Age of the Harrapans to the Present Day

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    An upper-level survey of the history of India from the earliest age of complex society on the subcontinent to the present day. Topics include the development of India’s religions, the caste system, art, philosophy, and politics as well as India’s role in European imperialism. In addition, the class will examine the development of India post-1945 to illustrate the rising importance of the country on the modern international stage. Note: Region: Africa/Asia/Latin America. May be offered as a “Civilizations and Cultures” course (HI 327X).
  

  • HI 328 - British Imperialism

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    An upper-level survey that will examine the growth of the British empire beginning in 16th century England and examine the importance of the institution to British development and the impact that it had on world history. Topics include the ideology underpinning the institution and changes to imperial ideology over time, the political growth of the empire and its role in British diplomacy, the economic impact of it on British life, and the effect of it on indigenous populations. Finally, the course examines the legacy of British imperialism in the modern world. Note: Region: Europe or Africa/Asia/Latin America.
  

  • HI 329 - War and Society in Twentieth Century United States History

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This course focuses on the themes that have defined America’s and Americans’ experiences of conflict during the 20th century. The central project will be to explore the relationship between war and society from a variety of perspectives while critically engaging the events and processes that shaped the United States’ evolving relationship with conflict during a tumultuous period.
  

  • HI 330 - Topics in Ancient History

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A problems course covering selected topics in the ancient world, historical controversies, and major turning points. The course presumes a general knowledge of the ancient world from the first semester of Western or World Civilization. The three civilizations discussed will be the Ancient Near East, Greece, and Rome. Note: Region: Europe or Africa/Asia/Latin America, but not both. Methodologically intensive. Prerequisite(s): HI majors must complete HI 200  with a minimum grade of C. Non-HI majors require permission of instructor.
  

  • HI 331 - Colonial America

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A study of eastern North America from contact through the Seven Years’ War. Explores major social, political, religious, and economic trends, plus evolving relationships with Indians. Note: Region: United States. Methodologically intensive. Prerequisite(s): HI majors must complete HI 200  with a minimum grade of C. Non-HI majors require permission of instructor.
  

  • HI 332 - North American Indians

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A survey of North American Indian history from late pre-contact through the twentieth century. Requires a major research paper on one tribe north of Mexico. Note: Region: United States. 
  

  • HI 333 - History of the Middle East I

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Surveys the history of the Middle East and North Africa from the rise of Islam in the 7th century in Arabia to the beginning of the modern era in the 1800s. Focuses on political, social, and cultural aspects of Islamic Civilization. Note: Region: Africa/Asia/Latin America.
  

  • HI 334 - History of the Middle East II

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Continues the history of the Middle East in the modern period, from the 1800s to the present. Starting with a brief overview of the late Ottoman empire, follows political, social and cultural developments of the region. Focuses on the interaction with the West, evolution of the modern state system, and the rise of political Islam. Note: Region: Africa/Asia/Latin America.
  

  • HI 335 - The Vietnam War

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Traces the military, political, and diplomatic history of Vietnam from the earliest times to the present. The course emphasizes the period after the second World War: the Indo-China War, and especially, the Vietnam War.  Note: Region: Africa/Asia/Latin America.
  

  • HI 346 - Modern Japan

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    An examination of the rise of modern Japan from the mid-19th century to the present. Topics that will be covered are: the opening of Japan and the Meiji Restoration, economic modernization, nationalism and expansionism, political development, militarism and the Pacific War, American occupation, postwar Japan and the economic miracle. Note: Region: Africa/ Asia/Latin America.
  

  • HI 347X - Africa in Pre-Modern Times, to 1850

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Survey of the historical experiences that have shaped contemporary sub-Saharan Africa: African societies’ political, economic and cultural responses to the continent’s variegated ecological and climatic conditions; the material and cultural exchanges across the continent’s North African, Sahelian, Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean contact zones; the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the expansion of Christianity in Atlantic Africa; the expansion of Islam and Muslim reform movements.  Note: Civilizations & Cultures Course (X).
  

  • HI 348 - Africa in Modern Times, 1700 to Present

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Survey of the historical experiences that have shaped contemporary sub-Saharan Africa: the slave trade, European partition and imperial rule, and independence and nationhood. Note: Region: Africa/Asia/Latin America.
  

  • HI 350 - French Revolution and Napoleon

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A study of the collapse of the Old Regime and the causes of the French Revolution, the stages of the Revolution, and Napoleon as a domestic reformer and exporter of the Revolution. The course will emphasize the European context of the age of democratic revolution, 1789-1815. Note: Region: Europe. 
  

  • HI 355 - Grand Strategy in the Twentieth Century

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Examines the coordination of military strategy, mobilization, diplomacy, and other national or coalition instruments to achieve political goals in war during the twentieth century.
  

  • HI 358 - From Mongols to Manchus: Chinese Imperial History, 1206-1911

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This course explores China’s imperial history of the Yuan, Ming and Qing (1368-1911) dynasties against the backdrop of the ever changing global context, including the serious military challenges of nomadic peoples, the arrival of western missionaries and merchants, and the fading of the traditional tribute system in the face of western imperialism. Cadets will explore the great East-West economic divergence, as part of China’s complex relations with the early modern world, along with the legacies and controversies that the communist government has inherited from imperial China. Note: Region: Asia/Africa/Latin America.
  

  • HI 359 - China in the Communist Era (1949-Present)

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This course explores the history of the People’s Republic of China (1949-present) in chronological order and through three overarching themes: the changing politics and structure of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP); the social, economic, cultural, ethnic and religious ramifications of Communist rule in China over sixty years; and China’s shifting relations with major global powers and the influences on China’s domestic policy changes. Note: Region: Asia/Africa/Latin America.
  

  • HI 361 - The Age of Blood and Iron. Europe, 1871-1918

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Survey of Europe in the period. This course begins with a discussion of the 1870-1871 Franco-Prussian War. It then successively examines social and economic developments, political developments in the separate European states, imperialism, the division of Europe into two hostile alliance systems, the arms race, the fundamental and immediate causes of the First World War, and the war itself. Note: Region: Europe.
  

  • HI 365 - France and the French Empire 1815 to the Present

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Surveys the political and socioeconomic history of France and its overseas empire from Waterloo to the present. Significant focus on developments in Africa and Indochina. Note: Region: Europe. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisite, but HI 350  is recommended.
  

  • HI 368 - Europe, 1919-1939

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Survey of Europe in the period. It begins with the peace settlement following the First World War. Through a chronological approach by country, it treats political, diplomatic, and military trends and events of the period, including the rise of fascism and totalitarianism, and the roles played by individual leaders including Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, and Churchill. It then deals with events leading to the Second World War. Note: Region: Europe.
  

  • HI 372 - Reading Course for Honors

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Reading in depth in a selected field of history under the close supervision of a faculty member as preparation for an honors research paper. Introduction to historical methodology and preparation of an annotated bibliography or such other preliminary project(s) as the advisor directs. Note: Methodologically intensive. Prerequisite(s): HI majors must complete HI 200  with a minimum grade of C and have admission to the departmental honors program.
  

  • HI 373 - Colonial Latin America

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A survey of historical developments from the Iberian Reconquest through the Wars of Independence in Latin America. Note: Region: Africa/Asia/Latin America. Methodologically Intensive. Prerequisite(s): HI majors must complete HI 200  with a minimum grade of C. Non-HI majors require permission of instructor. May also be offered as Writing Intensive.
  

  • HI 374 - Modern Latin America

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A continuation of HI 373  comprising a survey of historical developments in Latin America in general and certain Latin American Republics from the Wars of Independence to the present. Note: Region: Africa/Asia/Latin America. Methodologically Intensive. Prerequisite(s): HI majors must complete HI 200  with a minimum grade of C. Non-HI majors require permission of instructor. May also be offered as Writing Intensive.
  

  • HI 375 - Germany and Eastern Europe From Bismarck to Brandt

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Special attention will be given to the nature of the Bismarckian Empire, Germany’s role in the origins of World War I, the Weimar Republic, Nazi totalitarianism, and post-war German society. Note: Region: Europe. May be offered as HI 375X (Civilizations & Cultures).
  

  • HI 377 - Insurgency and Terrorism

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    An introduction to the modern history of armed struggle for revolutionary aims and the counterinsurgency campaigns that ensue. In addition to studying the major theorists of insurgency and counterinsurgency, the class will examine specific studies from the late eighteenth century through contemporary conflicts in the Middle East. Note: Methodologically intensive. Region: Europe or Asia/Africa/Latin America, but not both. Prerequisite(s): HI majors must complete HI 200  with a minimum grade of C. Non-HI majors require permission of instructor.
  

  • HI 378 - European Warfare, 1600-1871

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A survey of the development of modern warfare in Europe from the “Military Revolution” of the seventeenth century through the Franco-Prussian War. In addition to studying the armed forces, important battles, campaigns and wars, the class will explore related social, political, diplomatic, and cultural developments. Key themes will include eighteenth-century limited warfare, French Revolutionary and Napoleonic warfare, the Wars of Italian and German Unification, and military thought and strategy. Note: Region: Europe.
  

  • HI 379 - European Warfare Since 1871

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This course introduces students to major aspects of European warfare from the unification of Germany in 1871 through the Cold War and beyond. Key themes include the evolution of military thought and the operational, political, socio-cultural, and technological aspects of armed forces and war. Note: Region: Europe.
  

  • HI 380 - Europe in Renaissance and Reformation

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A study of European politics and culture (1400-1648) with an emphasis on the literary and artistic legacy of the Renaissance and on the religious struggles of the Reformation era. Note: Region: Europe. Methodologically Intensive. Prerequisite(s): HI majors must complete HI 200  with a minimum grade of C. Non-HI majors require permission of instructor.
  

  • HI 382 - Modern Russian History

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A survey of the history of Russia, stressing economic, political, social, and intellectual development during the Empire and the Soviet Union. Note: Region: Europe.
  

  • HI 383 - Virginia History I

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A survey of the political, social, economic, and cultural history of Virginia from 1607 to 1865. Note: Region: United States.
  

  • HI 384 - Virginia History II

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A survey of the political, social, economic, and cultural history of Virginia from 1865 to the present. Note: Region: United States.
  

  • HI 385 - U.S. Military History to 1919

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A survey of American military history through World War I with emphasis on strategy, force structure, technology, and the record of the American armed forces in both war and peace. Note: Region: United States.
  

  • HI 386 - U.S. Military History Since 1919

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A survey of American military history since World War I with emphasis on strategy, force structure, technology, and the record of the American armed forces in both war and peace. Note: Region: United States.
  

  • HI 387 - History of Air Power

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    An investigation into the development and employment of military aviation in both peace and war. Common threads to be followed include leadership, strategy, tactics, technology, joint operations, and ethical issues. Note: Region: Europe or the United States (but not both).
  

  • HI 388 - Modern Spain: Civil War and Colonial Conflict

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This course introduces students to modern Spanish history, paying particular attention to military affairs. Major themes include the guerrilla struggles against Napoleon, counterinsurgency in Cuba and Morocco, the Spanish Civil War, the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, and ongoing issues of regional nationalism and terrorism. Note: Region: Europe. Methodologically intensive. Prerequisite(s): HI majors must complete HI 200  with a minimum grade of C. Non-HI majors require permission of instructor.
  

  • HI 390 - Sea Power From the Age of Sail to the Early Twentieth Century

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A survey that deals with the use of naval power in both war and peace from the sixteenth century to the early twentieth century. Dominant themes will include the evolution of strategy and tactics in war, the impact of technology on tactics and shipboard lives, and the overall importance of sea power to the foreign policies of naval powers. Coverage includes discussions that focus on the Seven Years War, the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, the War of 1812, the Crimean War, the American Civil War, the Sino-Japanese War, and the Russo-Japanese War. Note: Region: Europe.
  

  • HI 391 - Sea Power in the 20th Century

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This course investigates the employment of naval power in both peace and war during the twentieth century. Among the common threads to be followed are leadership, strategy, tactics, technology, and joint operations. The navies of Great Britain, Germany, Imperial Japan, the Soviet Union, and the United States will receive the closest scrutiny. Substantial class time will be devoted to both world wars, Korea, and Vietnam. Note: Region: Europe or the United States (but not both).
  

  • HI 392 - World War I

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A survey of the events leading to World War I and the course of the conflict itself. The coverage will include detail on the grand strategy and actions of the principal combatants, tactics, operations, armaments, and logistics. The course will focus on the principal combatants, but will offer worldwide coverage to showcase the magnitude of the war and the importance of regional conflicts on the course of the war. It will also include the effect of World War I, as a total war, on civilians and the world as a whole following the conclusion of peace. Through this coverage, the student will gain an understanding not only of war in the early twentieth century, but also an understanding of the legacy of the war on global development. Note: Region: Europe or the United States, but not both.
  

  • HI 393 - World War II

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This course aims to give students a broad overview of World War II, with a deeper knowledge of certain key themes. Areas of particular emphasis include military thought, “Blitzkrieg” and “Operational Art,” the Battle of France, the Eastern Front campaigns, and the realities of warfare in the Pacific. The class also covers such topics as Nazi ideology and the Holocaust. Note: Region: Europe or the United States or Africa/Asia/Latin America (can fulfill one category only).
  

  • HI 400 - History Internship

    Lecture Hours: 0
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 1-6

    Under appropriate conditions, cadets may earn up to six hours of academic credit in History for research and other academic activities related to an internship sponsored and approved by the History Department. Internships will normally be conducted during the summer and will involve activities away from the Institute. Details of activities and the amount of credit to be awarded must be arranged prior to the commencement of the internship and approved by the head of the History Department.
  

  • HI 460W - Capstone Experience

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Senior level methodologically intensive research seminar leading to the production of a major research paper. Topics vary. Note: Required of history majors except those who complete the departmental honors sequence. Note Well: HI 460W cannot be used to satisfy a regional distribution requirement. Prerequisite(s): completion of a 300-level methodologically intensive course, and perhaps other prerequisites at the discretion of the instructor. Writing Intensive (W).
  

  • HI 480 - Directed Study

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Advanced level one-on-one course emphasizing historical methodology and leading to the production of a major research paper. Note: May also be taken as a writing-intensive course (480W) with instructor’s permission. Prerequisite(s): a 300-level methodologically-intensive course and possibly other courses as required by the instructor; permission of the department head, completion of twelve hours of history courses numbered 200 or higher taken in residence at VMI, and at least a 3.0 GPA in history courses taken at VMI.
  

  • HI 481 - Special Seminar

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Seminars on special topics in history as suggested from time to time by members of the faculty or groups of history majors. Course will require completion of a major student research paper.
  

  • HI 490 - Special Seminar

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Seminars on special topics in history as suggested from time to time by members of the faculty or groups of history majors. Course will require completion of a major student research paper.
  

  • HI 491W - Thesis Course for Honors

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Research and writing of the honors paper under the supervision of a faculty member. Note: Course concludes with an oral defense of a draft version of the thesis. Prerequisite(s): HI 372  with a minimum grade of B. Writing intensive (W).
  

  • HI 492W - Thesis Course for Honors

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Oral examination on the completed honors paper, followed by its revision and final submission. Prerequisite(s): HI 491W  with a minimum grade of B. Writing intensive (W).

HONORS PROGRAM

Coordinator: Colonel Robert McDonald
For information pertaining to the Institute Honors Program, please see Special Programs .
  

  • HN 100 - Honors Forum

    Lecture Hours: 1
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 0

    The forum provides an occasion for students enrolled in the Institute Honors Program to meet weekly to discuss and debate issues of current national and international interest. Requirements include regular readings in major national newspapers and serious periodicals (e.g., The Economist, The Atlantic). Enrollment is restricted to cadets who have been admitted to the Institute Honors Program.
  

  • HN 400 - Honors Thesis

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Research for and completion of the Institute Honors thesis under the guidance of a faculty adviser. Cadets may enroll in this course (for one semester or two) or another appropriate research or independent study course in order to earn credit for completing the thesis required for Institute Honors. Enrollment is restricted to cadets in the Institute Honors Program and requires permission of the director of the Institute Honors Program. See Colonel McDonald in the Dean’s Office for details.
  

  • HN 401 - Project Research

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Research for and completion of the Institute Honors thesis under the guidance of a faculty adviser. Cadets may enroll in this course (for one semester or two) or another appropriate research or independent study course in order to earn credit for completing the thesis required for Institute Honors. Enrollment is restricted to cadets in the Institute Honors Program and requires permission of the director of the Institute Honors Program. See Colonel McDonald in the Dean’s Office for details.
  

  • HNL Designation - Honors Seminar - Liberal Arts

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    These seminars provide exposure to topics in the liberal arts or leadership. One course in this sequence is required to earn Institute Honors. HNL seminars are writing intensive and are open to all majors. Topics vary by semester. Recent offerings include Shakespeare’s Leaders and Grand Strategy in the Twentieth Century.
  

  • HNS Designation - Honors Seminar - Science/Engineering

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    These seminars provide exposure to topics in the sciences or engineering. One course in this sequence is required to earn Institute Honors. HNS seminars are writing intensive and are open to all majors. Topics vary by semester. Recent offerings include Environmental Myth, Ethics, and Justice and Science and Medicine: A Case-Based Approach. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Institute Honors Program.
  

  • HNS 377W - Great Ideas in Mathematics

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A common misconception among students is that mathematics is all about memorizing formulas and applyinng them to specific types of problems.  They often carry this error with them throughout life.  This course will shatter that misconception.  We will take a journey through some of the greatest and most beautiful ideas of mathematics (and human thought in general) as we explore the theory of numbers,the concept of infinity, selected topics in geometry, topology, chaos theory, fractals, and probability.  Along the way we will focus on skills and creative ways of thinking that will help solve problems in any area of life.   Like all honors seminars, this course is writing-intensive. Prerequisite(s): Enrollment is restricted to cadets who have been admitted to the Institute Honors Program. 
  

  • HNS 381WX - Info: Past, Present & Future

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    How much information is in this paragraph?  Well, you haven’t read it all yet, so you don’t know.  But if it’s your second go, how might you measure the information content? By the frequency of large and uncommon words? By the perceived meaning that it relays about the course? By the total number of alphanumeric characters used? In this course we’ll explore one method of quantifying information and how this theory of information is used in the modern world. Don’t be fooled, though: the essence of information is as old as language itself (and some would argue older). We’ll see this in examples ranging from the talking drums of Africa to cryptography during World War II to why your great-great-great grandparents might not be as disapproving of your texting habits as your parents are. Expect to do some math, but no coursework in mathematics beyond the core curriculum is required. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the VMI Honors Program. Note: Writing Intensive (W) & Civilizations and Cultures (X)

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AND POLITICAL SCIENCE

Department of International Studies and Political Science
Department Head: Colonel Foster

Requirements for a degree in international studies and political science are specified in International Studies and Political Science .
  

  • IS 201 - Introduction to International Studies and Political Science

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This team-taught course introduces students to political science as a discipline and to the different interests of the international studies faculty. It is divided into four sections covering political science, political theory, American politics, comparative politics, and international relations. Readings are taken from the classics in political science. The focus is on key concepts, such as power, state-society relations, institutions; and on the central debates across the discipline and within the sub-fields. Required for IS majors. Must be attempted in the 3rd class year. Open only to IS majors.
  

  • IS 210 - American Government

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Examination of our main national governmental institutions and the application of constitutional provisions to their operation. The role of political parties, elections, and public opinion in the American political process.
  

  • IS 220 - International Politics

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Focuses on the international system of politics and examines the nature of relations between states, the factors which affect the actions and motives of states in their dealings with one another, and selected current problems in international politics.
  

  • IS 230 - Comparative Politics

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This introduction to the field of Comparative Politics has two main objectives. The first is to provide a foundation of basic empirical knowledge about political institutions and processes in select key countries: Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, China, India, Iran, and Mexico. The second, more open-ended, objective is to engage some of the “big questions” and themes in world politics that engage scholars, political leaders, and (ideally) educated citizens: How and why did modern nation-states emerge in the West? How do the legacies of colonialism and socialism influence political and economic development elsewhere? What are the conditions most conducive to liberal democracy and market capitalism-and do they always go together?
  

  • IS 301 - Techniques of Computer Analysis

    Lecture Hours: 2
    Lab Hours: 2
    Credit Hours: 3

    A course to teach the fundamentals of computer analysis as practiced by students of international studies, historians, and political scientists. Emphasizes the active use of computers to perform statistical analysis on primary source data from a variety of contemporary and historical sources. Prerequisite(s): open only to international studies majors who have passed IS 201  with a grade of 75 or higher.
  

  • IS 310 - American Foreign Policy

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    The central purpose of this course is to familiarize cadets with prevalent theoretical approaches to decision-making and to use these models to examine the American foreign policy experience. To this end, the course will survey rational, organizational, bureaucratic, and various psychological perspectives. Cadets will then use these tools to critically review the historical development of America’s relations with other international actors, including Washington’s admonition to steer clear of “foreign entanglements,” the world wars, the Cold War, and the current battle against terror. The course concludes with several mock policy debates which are designed to illustrate the intricacies of high-level decision-making and provide insights into the likely conduct of US foreign policy in the 21st Century.
  

  • IS 311 - The American Congress

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    In the Constitution, the article that describes the duties and functions of the Congress as well as its limitations is longest. The reason for this evident: the Founders considered that the Congress, as the body of government that would pass our laws and control the federal purse, would be at the center of national government and politics. Despite the Presidency’s rise in power and reputation, Congress’ powers ensure it will be at the center of our constitutional order. Subjects covered will include the ideas that influenced the Founders’ ideas of a federal legislature, the powers of the Congress, the leadership and organizational structure of Congress (with an emphasis on the committee system), the legislative process, the Congress’ relationship with the President (especially on issues of national security), and electoral politics.
  

  • IS 312 - The American Presidency

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    The American Presidency is a political institution like no other in the world. Born of the Founding Fathers’ wariness of the concentrated political power, the office is a blend of head of state, commander-in-chief, chief of party, and head of government. Its evolution has been central to the development of American national government and Americans’ concepts of and relationships to that government. This course will trace the history of the Presidency from the Founders’ ideas about and experiences with executive power to the office’s current state—with all its inherent paradoxes. I hope that, through this course, cadets will come to a deeper understanding of the Presidency’s origins, development, powers, and limitations as well as the reasons behind the constant contest between the President and the Congress.
  

  • IS 313 - Politics and the Media

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    The purpose of this course is to explore the evolution and role of the print and electronic media in American Politics as well as their relationship to the public, politicians and ultimately public policy. In doing so, the course will assess the media impact on government, policy making, election campaigning and the prospects for political deliberation. The course will pay special attention to the portrayal of political issues, candidates and political themes in popular culture including film, television, radio, political cartoons, music, and social media.
  

  • IS 320 - National Security Policy

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Consideration of the formulation and conduct of United States defense and foreign policy with special attention to the key institutions involved in the decision-making process in this field. Recommended for NROTC cadets.
  

  • IS 321 - International Political Economy

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Provides students with a basic understanding of the nature and dynamics of contemporary international political economy (IPE). Politics and economics have often been separate fields of study with different core concepts. The former typically centers on power and the latter markets. However, the nature of international relations demands that we understand the interaction of politics (power) and economics (markets). This course will examine a broad range of substantive issues (trade relations, financial and monetary policy, economic integration, and economic development), as well as theoretical debates in IPE. Prerequisite(s): IS 220  or IS 230 
  

  • IS 322 - Intelligence and Policy

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    The history and practice of intelligence with special emphasis on the relationship to the political policy process. The focus is on the U.S. intelligence experience since WWII, although some attention is given to the broader comparative context.
  

  • IS 323 - The United States, Pakistan, and Afghanistan

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Cadets learn of historical factors and conflicts that have shaped the situation today with particular emphasis on the period from the start of extensive Soviet involvement in the 1970’s through the resurgence of the Taliban in the mid-2000s. They track political and military developments relying on a variety of news and think tank sources and examine various options for resolving the conflict from the US perspective. They make a field trip to Washington.
  

  • IS 325X - The United States and Iran

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This civilizations and cultures designated course focuses on the modern history of Iran and its relationship with the US. Cadets analyze policy options for addressing various challenges that Iran – especially if it gains a nuclear weapons – presents to the region, to the US and the world. Cadets make a field trip to Washington to speak with experts in think tanks and to examine Iranian cultural artifacts at the Smithsonian Museum. Civilizations and Cultures (X)
  

  • IS 326 - U.S. - Soviet Relations during the Cold War

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    The course examine the U.S. and Soviet outlooks on the world, the origins of the Cold War, the role of ideology and power rivalry in the relationship, Bi-Polar myth and reality, selected issues of crisis management and alliance maintenance, strategic doctrine and approaches to arms control, how the Cold War ended. Not a comprehensive chronological history but issue-oriented case studies of policies and events.
  

  • IS 328 - Multinational Peacekeeping

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    The purpose of this course is to explore the theory and practice of multilateral peace operations and humanitarian intervention as they relate to the principles and practice of international law in world politics. The course covers the origin and evolution of peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and post-conflict peace building; legal and ethical issues surrounding peace operations; and debates over peace operations doctrine and strategy. Specifically the course will identify and explain significant events in the history of international relations, including the Treaty of Westphalia, the European balance of power system prior to World War I, the world wars, colonialism and the Cold War.

    The course will consider criteria for evaluation of peace operations, causes of peace operations success and failure, and problems of managing and coordinating actors involved in peace operations. The course will recognize the dynamic nature of international politics and evaluate the contemporary challenges to the traditional state-centric approach posed by non-state actors, including international organizations, social movements, multinational corporations and individuals. The course will identify and examine specific cases of peacekeeping and peace enforcement and will consider the role of peace operations in the promotion of international order, institutions of global and regional governance, especially the United Nations and explore the structure and functioning of significant international organizations, including the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization.

  

  • IS 329 - Counterinsurgency

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This course will concentrate on: a study of select counterinsurgencies using historical pattern analysis. Instructor will present a selection of various insurgencies and students will research and present on the following topics: American Revolution: Colonial insurgents against British army; Insurgency and Guerrilla warfare in U.S. Civil War; U.S and Counterinsurgency in the Philippines, 1899-1902; The Boer War: The Second War (1899-1902); British Malayan Emergency (1948-1960); Irish Republican Army vs British Army; Nepal : Maoist Insurgency. (1996-present); Colombia : FARC insurgency; and Overview of Turkish/Kurdish insurgency problem. Using historical study and pattern analysis of insurgent and counterinsurgent strategies, upon completion of the class, we will hopefully have an answer for the question – Will current U.S. counterinsurgency strategies in Afghanistan work?
  

  • IS 330 - Politics in Western Europe

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    An examination of the political systems and the domestic, foreign and defense policies of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, selected smaller Western European nations, and Canada. Attention will be paid to the new role of NATO, European unification, and the ways in which Western Europe and Canada deal with the United States.
  

  • IS 331 - Politics in Russia and Eastern Europe

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    An examination of the political systems and the domestic, foreign and defense policies of Russia and the nations of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Attention is given to the consequences of Marxist-Leninist theory and to the problems of transforming former communist systems.
  

  • IS 332X - Politics in East Asia

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    An examination of the political systems and foreign relations of Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan. Emphasis is placed on relations with other nations in the region, and with the United States. Particular attention is paid to the growing importance these nations have in the international economic system. Civilizations and Cultures (X)
  

  • IS 333 - Politics in Southeast Asia

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    An examination of the political systems and the domestic, foreign and defense policies of the countries of Southeast Asia including: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The course also focuses on the role of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the impact of outside powers on the region.
  

  • IS 334X - Politics of Central Asia

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    By exploring the politics and societies of this important, but little understood, region, we will seek to develop a nuanced understanding of how international dynamics continue to shape the states of this region and also how forces emanating from within Central Asia impact the international system. Additionally, in this course students will analytically explore a variety of political and societal phenomena present in the region and beyond. Amongst the phenomena we will examine include: the politics of oil and gas pipelines, state-building and nationalism, secession and civil war, Islamism, democratization and authoritarian state consolidation. Civilizations and Cultures (X)
  

  • IS 335 - Politics in Latin America

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    An examination of contemporary political systems and their development in Latin America. Focuses on contemporary structures and processes of politics in the major Latin American Republics. Normally offered Spring Semester of odd-numbered years.
  

  • IS 336WX - Politics in China

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    An overview of the political system of China in the post-Mao era. Starting with a discussion of Deng Xiaoping’s rise to power, students will discuss the popular desire for democracy and the failed attempts at establishing a more politically accountable government. This class will also detail the liberal economic policies that fostered the dramatic growth of China’s economy well into the 21st century. Additionally, students will focus on the evolution of security concerns and civil-military relations on the mainland, as well as issues between China and other actors across the world, notably the United States, Taiwan, Japan, and the developing countries of Africa and Asia. Note: Writing Intensive (W) and Civilizations & Cultures Course (X).
  

  • IS 337WX - Post Soviet Politics

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This course is an introduction to the politics of the post-Soviet states with a specific emphasis on the politics of the Russian Federation (Russia). It is divided into the following five unequal parts: 1) Authoritarian Persistence; 2) Soviet Collapse; 3) Post-Soviet State-building; 4) Political Institutions and Behavior; 5) The Politics of the Economic Transition. Each of the five parts of the course investigates key issues in the study of post-Soviet politics as well as important concerns for the political science sub-discipline of comparative politics more broadly.  Note: Writing Intensive (W) and Civilizations & Cultures Course (X).
  

  • IS 338 - Politics of India and the Subcontinent

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    As South Asia is home to more than one-fifth of the world’s population, understanding its political landscape is of vital importance. South Asia is characterized by states that vary greatly in governmental structures and levels of economic development. The goal of this class is to understand these differences by closely examining the political framework of and the dynamics between the major regional players (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka). We will explore the role and impact of political institutions, parties and political leaders, political participation and interest articulation as well as modernization and economic development. While learning about each state’s political system in a comparative fashion, we will also explore relations between the different states.
  

  • IS 340 - Political Theory

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    A study of the writings of key Western political thinkers from Socrates to the twentieth century. The objective of this course is to elucidate the origins and basic assumptions of contemporary political ideas and ideologies.
  

  • IS 350 - Criminal Law

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This course presents a general survey of substantive criminal law, that is the principles, theories, and important legal decisions defining criminal offenses and defenses. Substantive criminal law examines the conduct of the defendant. Time permitting; we may also delve into some procedural criminal law, which is based on the U.S. Supreme Court’s interpretations of the Bill of Rights. Criminal procedure evaluates the conduct of police and prosecutors. The course will utilize the casebook method of teaching favored by most law school courses.
  

  • IS 351 - Constitutional Law

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This course presents a survey of the guiding principles of American Constitutional Law, with particular emphasis on landmark decisions of the United States Supreme Court interpreting the Bill of Rights. The class begins with the establishment of judicial review in 1803, but moves rapidly to the Court’s twentieth century jurisprudence. A substantial area of focus is constitutional criminal procedure – the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendment decisions evaluating police conduct including methods of search and seizure and the interrogation of criminal suspects. Additional main topics include freedom of speech, religion, and the press according to the First Amendment, and Due Process of law and Equal Protection of the laws under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. The course uses the casebook method of teaching favored by most law school courses. Class participation is important.
  

  • IS 352 - International Law

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    This course examines international law and its relationship to the practice of international politics. The course examines the sources of international law and its relationship to law within the state; the major players – the state, the UN and other IGO’s, natural and corporate individuals–and their attributes and capabilities. Some consideration is given to processes: diplomacy, treaties, arbitration, and adjudication. The final third of the course considers selected contemporary problem areas: the use of force, economic issues, protection of human rights, the environment. Two continuing themes throughout the course are: (1) how international law changes over time in response to changes in the international system; (2) how international law accommodates both justifiable claims and power realities.
  

  • IS 370 - Intermediate Special Seminar

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    Intermediate-level elective seminars on special topics in politics as suggested from time to time by members of the faculty or groups of cadets.
  

  • IS 383X - Science and War

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    In this civilizations and cultures designated course, cadets learn of scientific discoveries and inventions resulting in technologies that have changed the nature of warfare. They examine the potential of science to contribute to 21st century warfare with a current emphasis or terrorism and asymmetrical warfare. They study giants of the scientific or engineering establishments who have made extraordinary contributions to the ways wars are fought with particular emphasis on those who were not native-born Americans. They make a field trip to Washington DC. Note: Civilizations & Cultures Course (X). Civilizations and Cultures (X)
  

  • IS 401W - International Studies Seminar

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    The capstone course for the International Studies curriculum. The course focuses on problems of United States foreign and defense policy. The course requires substantial written and oral work. Open only to first class International Studies majors. International Studies minors may be admitted with the permission of the department head on a space available basis. Writing Intensive (W)
  

  • IS 421X - The Politics of Terrorism

    Lecture Hours: 3
    Lab Hours: 0
    Credit Hours: 3

    The Politics of Terrorism is a three-credit course that focuses generally on the role of terrorist violence in the modern world. The two central goals of the course are to provide cadets with an opportunity to study the historical use of political terror and to encourage cadets to think of terrorist activity not as the work of the mad, but of self-interested and calculating political actors. After an introduction that includes a definition of terrorism and an exploration of its geneses, the course focuses on the rational and psychological aspects of the individual terrorist, terror types, strategies, and tactics, and the difficult task of counterterrorism. The final part of the course illustrates and highlights each of these aspects by examining cases culled from recent history, including the Zionist-British conflict over Palestine in the 1940s, the Algerian drive for independence in the 1950s, and the ongoing standoff between the USA and Islamic fundamentalist terrorists. Note: Civilizations & Cultures Course (X).
 

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