The purpose of a BA in Studies in War and Peace (SWAP) is to offer students an opportunity to examine the origins and development of military institutions and the impact of those institutions upon the social order. A particular emphasis is on the “Western Way of War”—the experiences and characteristics that distinguish warfare in the West from the rest of the world.

Intellectually, the program is intended to promote critical analysis of phenomena relating to military and diplomatic affairs. Practically, the program is intended to prepare students for a career in government service or for entry into graduate or professional school.

This academic program is equally suitable for civilian students or cadets and aims at providing an interdisciplinary examination of the enduring and close interconnections among military, political, economic, and social institutions. The SWAP program is an extension of the Norwich University tradition of producing educated citizens who are prepared for either military or civilian pursuits, and who are knowledgeable about diplomatic and military affairs.

BA Program in Studies in War and Peace


Bachelor of arts degree requirements

Fourteen courses:

  • EN101 and EN102 Composition and Literature I and II
  • EN201 and EN202 World Literature I and II
  • Laboratory Science (2 courses)
  • Mathematics (2 courses other than MA005 or MA103)
  • Modern Language (2 intensive courses)
  • Humanities Electives (4 courses), including:
  • EN270 Military Literature or EN251 Literature of the Sea or EN244 Literature of Leadership
  • PH340 Philosophy of Non-Violence or PH303 Survey of Ethics
  • Any two of the following:
    • CM109 Intro to Mass Media
    • CM261 Interpersonal Communications
    • CM335 Television Criticism
    • CM436 Communications Law and Ethics
    • Any English course above EN206 (except EN240, EN241, or EN242)
    • FA221 History of Visual Arts I
    • FA222 History of Visual Arts II
    • FA240 History of American Art
    • FA250 Topics in Art History
    • MU101 Music Appreciation
    • Any Philosophy course
    • Any Modern Language above 112
    • Any Chinese Course

Core courses for Studies in War and Peace

Eleven courses:

  • HI107 & HI108 The History of World Civilization (2 courses)
  • HI235 & HI236 Military History (2 courses)
  • PO101 Introduction to Politics or GE104 Introduction to Geography
  • PO105 American Government
  • Core electives (four courses chosen from the following)
    • H222: American History II
    • HI343: Recent History of the US
    • HI338: US Diplomatic History I
    • HI339: US Diplomatic History II
    • HI334: The Citizen-Soldier
    • HI332: The American Revolution
    • PO333: American Foreign Policy
    • PO330: American Citizenship
    • PO305: Geopolitics
    • SO300: Topics in Sociology (Sociology of the Military)
  • Seminar (choose one of the following)
    • HI403, 431, 432, 433 or 434: History Seminar
    • HI490: Honors in History
    • PO410: Capstone Seminar in Political Science
    • PO490: Honors in Political Science

International affairs/area studies

Four Courses:

  • Any three of the following courses:
    • GE300: Topics in Geography
    • HI300: Topics in History
    • HI312: The Far East in Modern Times
    • HI314:The Middle East in Modern Times
    • HI316: Latin America: The Republican Period
    • HI318: Problems in African History
    • HI326: Nazi Germany and the Holocaust
    • HI329: Soviet and Post-Soviet Russia
    • HI352: Early Modern Europe
    • HI353: Europe in the 19th century
    • HI354: Europe since 1914
    • HI355: Modern Wars (may be taken twice with different topics)
    • PO202: Comparative Politics
    • PO320: Topics in Area Studies
    • PO348: Asian Politics
    • PO310: European Politics
    • PO415: International Law
    • PO405: International Organizations
    • PO340: Revolution and Forces of Change
    • PO412: War and Peace
  • One course in pre-modern history, chosen from the following:
    • HI301: Classical Greece
    • HI302: History of Rome
    • HI306: The Crusades
    • HI313: Islamic Civilization to 1453

Program coordinator: Reina Pennington

For further information about the major:

Director, Studies in War and Peace
Department of History and Political Science
Norwich University
158 Harmon Dr
Northfield, Vermont 05663
(802) 485-2360