American History

The Master of Arts in Military History ensures that students will learn historical research methods, historiography, and historical perspectives before concentrating in American Military History, the American Revolution, the Civil War, World War II, or War since 1945.

The curriculum not only focuses on diplomacy, statecraft, strategy, command, leadership, battles, tactics, and weapons systems, but also on social structures, military attitudes, relationships between officers and the rank-and-file, and on the interrelations between military and civil society. The degree emphasizes reading, discussion, writing, and research and prepares students for advanced graduate study.

MILH699 - Master's Capstone Seminar in Military History

Preparation for the Master of Arts in Military History Capstone (Thesis) seminar begins on day one of a student's graduate program of study. The theories, research methods and analytical skills, and substantive knowledge obtained through their master's curriculum provide the basis for the thesis project. Students are required to develop primary and secondary source materials on the research topic and address the writing requirements as described in the syllabus and classroom assignments. The thesis proposal must provide a clear description of a question or problem and a proposed method of answering the question or solving the problem. Guidance on the format of the research seminar proposal and a sample proposal are contained in the APUS Thesis Manual. Students take the research seminar after all other course completions.

In addition to the institutional and degree level learning outcomes objectives, this degree also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates. With reference to each of the respective areas of military studies, graduates in this degree program will be able to:

• Appraise different approaches to history and historical method to evaluate and propose a specific methodology for a particular project.
• Define, classify, and articulate in oral or written form the major trends, events, and people that have shaped military history, and evaluate them in context by comparison and contrast.
• Define, classify, and articulate in oral or written form the major trends, events, and people that have shaped U.S. military history, and evaluate them in context by comparison or contrast.
• Examine, analyze, and evaluate at least one specialized historical sub-discipline such as American Military History, the American Revolution, the Civil War, World War II, and War since 1945.
• Synthesize historical issues into a coherent and comprehensive paradigm of the human condition.
• Analyze data, information, and concepts pertinent to various methodologies of historical research.
• Create an historical research proposal in which data, information, and concepts can be evaluated and synthesized.

Concentration Objectives

• Analyze the characteristics of leadership common to great military leaders and decision making skills that are inbred and/or learned by the great leaders throughout military history.
• Dissect and critique the American Revolution from its antecedents to its legacy to include events leading to the revolt, Declaration of Independence, strategy and tactics, campaigns, and the aftermath of war on the new nation.
• Discern and assess the political, economic, cultural, social, and military aspects of the Civil War to specifically include their impact on causative factors, conduct of the war, and post-war aftermath.
• Compare and contrast all theaters of World War II and events in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast and Southwest Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America as well as the role of diplomacy and strategy, the impact of war upon society, and the fighting on land, at sea, and in the air.
• Examine the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States, with emphasis on the actual scene of superpower conflict in the Third World and an analysis of the varied levels of power and their interrelationships that made the Cold War unique.

Many people think the only career option available to individuals with a history degree is teaching. While your degree will allow you to teach at a variety of levels, including community colleges and universities depending on what level of degree you obtain, you can also work in local, state, or national museums as a curator, guide, archivist, or consultant. Many large companies will hire historians to research the history of their field or the company itself. If you enjoy research, you may opt to be a research scholar, writing articles and books to further the field of history as a whole.

Concentration Requirements

Choose 5 from the following:

• HIST552 The Civil War: Seminal Event in American History
• HIST558 The Great War
• HIST560 World War II in Context
• MILH510 Studies in U.S Military History
• MILH536 The American Revolution
• MILH620 War Since 1945

Choose one of the following:

• MILH551 World War II in Europe
• MILH552 World War II in the Pacific
• MILH564 History of Peacekeeping: 1945 - 1987
• MILH565 History of Peacekeeping: 1988 - Present
• MILH570 American Military and Diplomatic History
• MILH621 The Cold War Era and Aftermath
• MILH668 The War in Vietnam
• MILH680 Special Topic: Military History
• MILH690 Independent Study: Military History

Our university welcomes international applicants from many countries around the world. We are an online university and students are not required to enter the U.S. Therefore, we do not issue I-20 or DS-2019 forms for the F-1 or J-1 student visas.

In addition to the admission requirements for undergraduate or graduate study, we may require additional documents related to residency, English proficiency, and educational background. Our institution maintains the right to require this documentation when needed.Master's degree and graduate certificate students with graduate-level credit to transferBachelor's degree verification required as noted above.

Students wishing to transfer credit to their master's degree or graduate certificate must submit a Transfer Credit Evaluation (TCE) application. The TCE is optional at the graduate level. Only graduate-level courses are eligible for transfer at this level of study.

Those that earned their graduate-level credit at a CHEA or AUCC accredited institution must provide an official copy of their transcript for the TCE. Those that earned their graduate-level credit at a non-CHEA or non-AUCC accredited institution must have a course-by-course evaluation for U.S. equivalency conducted by an APUS-approved agency for the TCE.

Applicants residing in the U.S. are required to have a current U.S. residency card, appropriate current Visa, or Social Security Number card and are required to submit that documentation to APUS for record retention.

Depending on the country of citizenship applicants may be required to provide documentation of English proficiency before being able to register for class.

Non-U.S. Transcripts

As an international student, you must have your non-U.S. college and university transcripts (those not accredited by CHEA or AUCC) evaluated by a credential evaluation agency, listed below, that can interpret your educational background received outside the United States and provide statements of U.S. equivalencies.

Agency Issued Reports

Evaluation agencies will complete your evaluation in one of two ways:

Degree-only verification: Verifies the type of degree earned and whether or not the non-U.S. institution degree is equivalent to one earned at an accredited U.S. institution.Course by course evaluation: Verifies whether or not the non-U.S. institution is equivalent to an accredited U.S. institution and includes a separate report that provides U.S. semester credit, grade equivalent, and level equivalent (graduate or undergraduate) for each course. This report is used for Transfer Credit Evaluations (TCE) and three year non-U.S. bachelor degrees.

Accepted Credential Evaluation Agencies

You are responsible for contacting one of these accepted foreign education evaluation agencies to have your non-U.S. transcript evaluated, and to receive procedure and fee information:Office of International Education Services, Credentials Analysis Service at the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. (AACRAO)Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). We only accept the academic report which includes the earned credential equivalency and a course-by-course report.National Association of Credential Evaluation Services National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). C

Because membership may change throughout the year, visit the NACES or AICE websites to see the most current information.Agencies Should Use the Following Address to Send Transcript Evaluations:American Public University SystemAttn: Document Services10110 Battleview Parkway, Suite 114Manassas, VA 20109Please note: Faxed evaluation reports are not considered official.

English Proficiency for International Students

Non-exempt, non-U.S. citizens must provide verification of English proficiency by submitting the results of a standardized test.The university's preference is for students to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, but we would accept the other standardized tests listed below as well.Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Paper Based Test-520 with TWE of 4.0 Internet Based TestReading 21 Writing 23International English Language Testing System (IELTS)-Academic VersionReading 6.0 Writing 6.0Tests Requiring University Approval FirstTo submit one of the following tests in place of the TOEFL or IELTS, contact international@apus.edu for approval.ACT EnglishSAT VerbalAdvanced Placement International English Language (APIEL)

General Certificate of Education

(GCE)International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGSCE)General Certificate of Secondary Education (GSCE)Transcripts and Other Documentation NeededThe following types of individuals are required to provide us additional documentation and should read the relevant sections below for details on the necessary documentation

Note: If you are an undergraduate student with no previous college credit, or if you are a non-degree seeking student, we will not need any transcripts.Undergraduate Students with Previous College CreditIf you are an undergraduate student with previous college credit and you have not earned a bachelor’s degree or above yet, we need:Official transcripts sent from all previous institutions

TCE application for transfer credit reviewIf the course work was completed at an institution not accredited by a U.S. recognized body, you will need to have a course-by-course evaluation completed by an international education agency. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 550

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

International applicants are required to pay each course in full using a U.S. credit card or money order. The Automatic Debit Plan (ADP) payment option is available when used with a credit card drawn from a U.S. institution.

Suggestions for international students seeking financial assistance to fund their studies at APUS:

• Contact their Ministry of Education - explore scholarship, grants or loan possibilities
• Contact private lenders - companies or banks
• Seek sponsorship from a personal investor

Accreditation

American Public University is part of the American Public University System (APUS), which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The HLC accredits degree-granting institutions located in a 19-state region, and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

ED formally recognizes accrediting commissions that meet all federal standards, and CHEA extends recognition to accrediting bodies and their institutions that meet these established standards. Accreditation should be important to you because it determines a school’s eligibility for federal and state financial aid, and may influence acceptance of transfer credits and admission to accredited graduate schools.

In addition to our HLC accreditation, our B.S. in Nursing program, as well as many of our business programs, have obtained specialized accreditation from external accrediting organizations in these specific disciplines.

Credits and degrees earned through APUS may be recognized for promotion, assignment, and position qualification standards within the military, federal government, and private sector. For students transferring to other colleges, APUS credit is considered transfer-eligible based on its accreditation. However, APUS cannot guarantee that its credit will be accepted, as acceptance of credit is always the prerogative of the receiving institution.

Institutional Accreditation

This level of accreditation requires a significant amount of self-study and presentation of evidence to satisfy the demanding requirements of accrediting organizations. Obtaining accreditation with HLC demonstrates our focus on providing academic excellence and the best possible experience for our students.

As an accredited institution, our university is eligible to participate in federal educational entitlement programs such as military tuition assistance, government tuition reimbursement programs, the Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill, and many corporate education assistance programs. In addition, APUS has been granted approval by the Department of Education to participate in Title IV Federal Student Aid Programs.