WAR STUDIES
WAR STUDIES What is war? How do wars start and how do they end? What are the laws of war? What are the morals and ethics of war? Is there such a thing as a ‘just’ war? These are some of the fascinating questions you will consider as part of a War Studies degree at York St John University. The interdisciplinary nature of War Studies requires you to engage with a wide range of theoretical approaches to war, including history, politics, international relations, sociology and philosophy. Studying War Studies will provide you with a sophisticated understanding of war and global relations, both as subjects worthy of study and as intellectual preparation for a variety of career trajectories. Our team has specialisms across British, European, Asian and American historical narratives, ranging from Ancient Rome and the Napoleonic Wars to the Cold War. We pride ourselves on our supportive academic environment. Through our research-led teaching we are dedicated the highest standards of provision in delivery and feedback. You will also have the opportunity to study abroad for a semester in your second year. With institutional links in Europe and the United States, this is a chance to study at a different university and experience life in another country. A degree at York St John University is a lifelong investment and we believe in supporting students to develop vital professional skills throughout their time with us. Career options for graduates include armed forces, intelligence services, Diplomatic Service, Civil Service, journalism, media, commerce, banking, teaching, museum and heritage management. We look forward to working with you as you embark upon this new and exciting chapter of your academic life. Dr James Cooper Subject Director: History, American Studies and War Studies
JOINT HONOURS Students often find that their interests overlap more than one of the academic disciplines on offer. Because we recognise that your interests may be broader than a single subject area, there is the option to study different combinations of these courses as a Joint Honours Degree. You can study War Studies as a joint honours degree with: — History — Politics
LEARNING THROUGH WAR GAMING
A war game is a device for modelling real-world conflicts in order to facilitate research and understanding. As American veteran game designer and military consultant Jim Dunnigan put it, “A wargame is a combination of ‘game’, history and science. It is a paper time machine.” In the Year 1 Introduction to War Studies module, we used a simulation developed by Professor Philip Sabin of King’s College London to help our students engage with the strategies of the Second World War. This proved extremely popular with the students, to the extent that they repeated the exercise in their own time!
OUR MODULES INCLUDE: Introduction to War Studies This is a specialist foundation module for the War Studies programme. It will explore the fundamental question ‘what is war?’. You will familiarise yourself with a variety of disciplinary approaches to the subject, and be introduced to some of the techniques required for its analysis. Why Wars Begin This module aims to answer the complex question of why wars occur (and do not occur). You will be introduced to a diverse range of historical and theoretical arguments relating to the causes of war that will have relevance and application throughout the War Studies programme. War and the Media War makes good copy, but the intersection between war and the media is a contested space where the impartiality and power of the media is the subject of frequent and often heated debate. The Face of Battle This module looks at the experience and impact of war on both civilians and soldiers. You will examine a series of case studies and draw from the practical ‘laboratory’ represented by York and its surrounding area.
US Conflict on the East Asian Mainland
This is an opportunity to explore the rich historical debates surrounding both the Vietnam War and the somewhat less well known conflict on the Korean peninsula. Conflicting Words This module will examine a range of texts produced between 1914 and the early twenty-first century, considering each text as a response to and representation of war and conflict. You will examine relationships between text and context, personal and political. Origins of the Second World War This module examines the challenge to international order presented during the 1930s by Germany, Italy and Japan, the response of Britain, France, Russia and the USA, and the reasons why tensions between these nations escalated into the Second World War. It also assesses the historiographical debates concerning international relations in the 1930s and the origins of the Second World War.
Peace Organizations This module will examine the origins and evolution of a range of international peace organisations, including the League of Nations, the United Nations, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
France during the Napoleonic Wars This module explores the influence that the Napoleonic Wars had on French society, and how French populations responded to the changes brought by these global conflicts. In exploring these transformative moments from below, the module offers interdisciplinary perspectives on the social and cultural history of France and French colonies, including settlements in the Caribbean and Mascarene Islands.
OUR RESEARCH The War Studies team are experts in their specialist fields and regularly publish with British and International journals and publishers. Teaching on the war Studies programme is research-led, which means that you are always at the cutting edge of our investigations. Our research specialisms include: — The logistics and economics of war
— Nuclear strategy
— Conscription
— Asymmetric warfare
— The social impact of war
YORK: WHERE HISTORY HAPPENS York has been the focus of royal power, rebellions and revolution as Britain developed into an industrial power and ultimately part of a globalised world. Studying in York means being able to make the most of our fantastic links with leading museums, libraries and historical sites in the city throughout your degree. You can make use of the city as a beautiful backdrop and a rich resource for the study of History. There is the option to study modules throughout these courses which focus on York’s religious, royal, military and industrial pasts. We make use of a range of original visual, material and textual sources to allow our students to connect with York’s impressive heritage.
PLACEMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY The War Studies programme works with a number of organisations in York, all offering fantastic opportunities to work on special city-focused projects. Our connections include the York Army Museum, the Rowntree Society, and Yorkshire Film Archive, where students have explored the treasures of the archives to create exhibitions about York’s Roman past or produce online resources that depict the filmed history of the City. With the Fallen Heroes of Normandy placement, students have worked on the world’s largest collection of online memorial pages commemorating the soldiers who never returned from the beaches of Normandy during the D-Day landings. At York Explore, students researched the many exciting stories that make up York’s long history, from its forgotten past as a major port, to telling the stories of some of the lesser-known women in York’s history.
A CLASSROOM IN THE ARCHIVES We work with an organisation in York who offer fantastic opportunities to work on special city-focused projects. Our connections include York Museums Trust and Yorkshire Film Archive, where students have explored the treasures of the archives to create exhibitions about York’s Roman past or produce online resources that depict the filmed history of the City. Students on the Year 2 War Studies module Faces of Battle have the chance to visit various sites to explore the ‘sharp end’ of conflicts which have left their mark on North Yorkshire, from the Wars of the Roses to the World Wars.
At York St John University we’ve been changing lives through education since 1841. We have a long history of championing social justice and expanding opportunities. Our research and our teaching reflect this.
97% of York St John University graduates were in work or further study six months after graduation (DLHE 2017).
People from almost
60
different countries study at York St John University. When you graduate you will become part of a global community who are proud to be part of the YSJ Family.
/YorkStJohnUniversity @YorkStJohn @YorkStJohn ADMISSIONS INFORMATION E: admissions@yorksj.ac.uk T: 01904 876598 www.yorksj.ac.uk
OVER 200 COURSES
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York is the safest city in the region for students The Complete University Guide (2017).
PLACEMENT YEARS Almost all of our Undergraduate courses can now be studied with a placement year in industry, giving you more real-world experience to boost your career.
STUDY ABROAD Most of our courses include the option to study abroad for a year or a semester without adding extra time to your degree. We have links with partner institutions all around the world.