BA (Hons) War Studies and History Bachelor's degree at York St John University

This module is your introduction to War Studies as an academic subject. You will learn about the history of the subject and familiarise yourself with some of the different approaches you will take and techniques you will use throughout the course. We will introduce you to the essential definitions and classifications of war, and you will work to understand what war is, and how and why we study it.

On this module you will tackle the complex question of why wars do or do not occur. We will introduce you to a range of historical and theoretical arguments that attempt to answer this question, and which will be relevant throughout your course. We will investigate this question through analysis of case studies ranging from ancient to present day conflicts. We will encourage you to consider broad themes across these case studies and carry out comparative analysis between them.

War makes for dramatic headlines and engaging copy, but there is frequent and often heated debate about the power and the biases of the media in war. On this module you will explore the relationship between warfare and the media. This includes both a discussion of the representation and reporting of war in the media, and consideration of how we can use media to research and understand war.

On this module you will develop the key skills needed to be a successful historian. Focusing on analytical interpretation rather than historical narrative, this module will prepare you for independent study at degree level. You will explore how historians: Examine primary sources Write and engage with secondary sources Construct arguments and apply theories Work with established historical concepts Question conventions and established time periods in history.

The 20th Century was defined by conflict, but it also saw the spread of democracy and the construction of international organisations dedicated to the preservation of peace. On this module you will explore these contradictions as you study international history from 1900 to the present day, focusing on case studies of major crises. You will analyse these with reference to some of the main themes in recent international history, including: Imperialism Decolonisation International law Democracy an

On this module you will focus on how war impacts society. Examining different types of war from different periods will build your skills in comparative analysis. You will also engage with contemporary historical debates about the relationship between war and society. We will examine case studies to discuss themes such as: The causes of war Who wins wars and why The effect of war on technological and historical development The role of citizens The importance of the state.

This module explores the contemporary landscape of warfare and international security, examining the evolving nature of military conflict, technological advancements, and the dynamics of global security threats.

This module explores the practical, contemporary relevance of War Studies, and its application to the personal and career development of students. This is achieved through the participation of students in a work-related learning environment or setting, in this case a seminar-type wargame such as are used by governments, militaries and non-government organisations or a self-organised work placement or project.

On this module you will investigate the experience and impact of war on both civilians and soldiers. We will explore this through a series of case studies focusing on wartime experiences from York and its surrounding area. You will make use of first-hand accounts of battle and cinematic representations of combat, using these sources to explore some of the philosophical questions arising from attempts to understand and depict warfare. A series of tours and walks will help bring the historic resou

This module builds on the Year 1 module Research and Presenting the Past, allowing you to develop your research skills even further. You will conduct project work in groups and engage in independent research that will prepare you for the dissertation module in your final year. We will discuss the importance of primary sources for understanding an event, period or theme. This may include opportunities to work with local archives. We will also look in detail at various schools of historical theory

Despite the horrors of the Black Death, devastation of famine, and ravages of the Hundred Years War, 14th century England was also sparkled with artistic and literary achievement. On this module you will explore the ideals and ideas existing alongside the trauma of conflict to understand the complexities of the period. You will assess developments in political culture to better understand the challenges and achievements of the period.

This module brings an accessible introduction to gendered and cultural sixteenth-century history into the curriculum. Women of the Tudor era offer a fascinating case study of power, autonomy and image in terms of gender and cultural history, elucidating new perspectives both on the period and on the lived experiences and mentalities of women from across society.

This module examines the history of the Soviet Union from the October Revolution in 1917 to the end of the Stalin era in 1953. It explores the radical transformation of the world's first communist state and the emergence of an oppressive dictatorship with major international consequences. You will analyse the Soviet experiment through political, economic, social, military, and cultural perspectives, while engaging with key historiographical debates and developing primary source and critical anal

This module provides an introduction to the social and cultural lives of ordinary French people during a time marked by profound change, including revolutions, colonialism, and the rise of consumer culture. Through the analysis of a range of historical documents in translation, you will investigate personal and collective experiences that have shaped nineteenth-century society and continue to influence Francophone communities today.

On this module you will focus on the experience of African Americans both as enslaved people, and slavery and in the years following the abolition of slavery. You will learn about the origins, development and abolition of slavery in the USA, assessing the impact and nature of the American slave system. We will frame these discussions through the contemporary responses of both African Americans and white Americans concerning slavery, relationships between races after slavery ended, and the emerge

This module will examine the contemporary history of the United States. It confronts and evaluate the historical debates surrounding major issues and sources of division in the United States since 9/11, and will examine the social and political forces which have shaped subsequent historical and popular cultural portrayals of key historical events and issues.

This module examines conflict in Europe between c.1660 and 1815, from the Restoration and the rise of Louis XIV to the end of the Napoleonic Wars. You will explore war through political, diplomatic, social, military, and cultural perspectives, considering the experiences of rulers, soldiers, civilians, and victims of violence. While focused primarily on conflicts between European powers, the module also addresses the global and imperial dimensions of warfare in the early modern world.

This module introduces the Anglo-Saxon period (c.450–1066), exploring the emergence of the 'English' and debates over the origins of the English state. Focusing on Alfred the Great (871–899), you will examine key primary sources and interpretations of political culture and historical writing, culminating in a critique of how Anglo-Saxon England is presented to modern audiences.

The 1960s were a turbulent time for the USA. President Lyndon Johnson was embarking on a series of reforms aiming to create "the Great Society" at the same time as the seemingly endless war in Vietnam. It was also a time of great achievements, with America leading the first moon landings. Topics you will cover on this module include: The image and domestic policies of the Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon presidencies Radicalism and dissent, including counterculture, urban riots and student protests Th

This module will examine the traumatic modern history of China and will confront and evaluate the historiographical debates surrounding China's revolutionary transition from the world's oldest imperial power to a Communist state. It will consider the political, ideological, economic, military, social and cultural forces which shaped these events, paying specific attention to the concept of revolution.

This module explores the social history of Revolutionary England between c.1620 and c.1670 and investigates the extent to which the English Revolution altered early modern society. Using a range of microhistorical case studies of women, men, and places, you will explore different aspects of life during one of