HIST 615: Problems in American History

HIST 615-014: War, Science, and the Environment in the U.S., 1860-1960
(Spring 2012)

07:20 PM to 10:00 PM T

Section Information for Spring 2012

The course explores the historical evolution of the academic-military-industrial complex in the United States beginning with light arms production at government armories prior to the Civil War and concluding with the successful creation of the world’s first thermonuclear weapon, less than ninety years later, during the Cold War. Through a series of chronological and topical case studies, the history of weapons development will be used as a platform to investigate the cultural impact on the nation and its citizens resulting from the continual creation and deployment of increasingly complex and ever more powerful weapons and weapons systems. The seminar will pay particular attention to the relationship between research and development practices carried out by scientists, engineers, and physicians and the often times unintended consequences on both the body and the environment. Case studies will include the armory system, railroad construction, environmental warfare, naval architecture, chemical warfare, military medicine, human subject testing, strategic bombing, biological weapons, the Manhattan Project, and thermonuclear weapons.This course fulfills the “1861-1914” or the “1914-Present” distribution requirement in U.S. History, but not both.

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Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 1-6

Readings and discussion of bibliographies, interpretations, and research trends in topics selected by instructor. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
Specialized Designation: Green Leaf Related Course, Topic Varies
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.

Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.

Schedule Type: Lec/Sem #1, Lec/Sem #2, Lec/Sem #3, Lec/Sem #4, Lec/Sem #5, Lec/Sem #6, Lec/Sem #7, Lec/Sem #8, Lec/Sem #9, Lecture, Sem/Lec #10, Sem/Lec #11, Sem/Lec #12, Sem/Lec #13, Sem/Lec #14, Sem/Lec #15, Sem/Lec #16, Sem/Lec #17, Sem/Lec #18
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.