HIST 3071 - History of Warfare
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2025
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code HIST 3071 Course History of Warfare Coordinating Unit Historical and Classical Studies Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Prerequisites At least 6 units of Level II undergraduate study Assessment Primary source analysis, Research mission, Take-home test Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Gareth Pritchard
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
1 x 1-hour weekly lecture.
1 x 2-hour weekly workshop. -
Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the evolution of warfare. 2. Demonstrate an understanding of a range of relevant theories about the character and evolution of warfare. 3. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a specific military conflict in the context of wider issues pertaining to the evolution and character of warfare. 4. Gather relevant data from a wide range of primary and secondary sources for the purpose of analysing a specific military conflict. 5. Develop independent analytical positions based on a systematic evaluation of relevant primary and secondary sources. 6. Work effectively as part of a research team the context of a larger collaborative research project. 7. Communicate findings in a range of formats. University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1, 2, 3 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
3, 4, 5 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
4, 7 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
5, 6 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
5, 6 Attribute 7: Digital capabilities
Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.
5, 6, 7 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
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Learning Resources
Required Resources
There are no required resources for this course.
Recommended Resources
The sources that relevant to students will vary greatly depending on the conflict on which they want to focus. It is anticipated that most students will want to study either the Napoleonic Wars, World War I, World War II, or post-war conflicts. Useful general books on these topics are:
David Gates, The Napoleonic Wars, 1803-1815 (2011).
Peter Hart, The Great War: A Combat History of the First World War (2013)
Gordon Corrigan, The Second World War: A Military History (2010)
Sterling Pavelec, War and Warfare Since 1945 (2017)Online Learning
The Canvas site for this course contains a wide range of relevant materials, including:
Bibliographies.
Discussion threads.
Examples of students' work.
Links to relevant external websites and databases.
Quizzes.
Recordings of lectures.
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Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
The course is divided into three modules. In the first module, we look at the military history of World War I, not just in terms of military developments, but also in terms of the lived experiences of ordinary military personnel and nurses. In the second module, we do the same for World War II. In the final module, students choose a third conflict to study from range of conflicts, e.g. the Hundred Years War, the English Civil War, the Napoleonic Wars, the American Civil War, and the Vietnam War.
In addition to looking at specific conflicts as case studies, we also explore general themes across the history of warfare, e.g. generalship, military medicine, prisoners-of-war, military technology, violence against civilians etc.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
The course is designed on the assumption that each student will devote 156 hours to the course.
1 x 2-hour workshop per week = 24 hours per semester
1 x 1-hour lecture per week = 12 hours per semester
3 hours reading per week = 36 hours per semester
2 hours writing exercises and practice per week = 24 hours per semester
5 hours assignment prep per week = 54 hours assignment prep per week
TOTAL = 150 HOURSLearning Activities Summary
The lectures will give basic historical background information, but they will also cover issues that the students themselves have raised in the workshops. As the course proceeds, students will have more and more control over what is covered in the lectures.
In the workshops, we cover a variety of topics that are related to (i) military history, and (ii) the social history of warfare.Specific Course Requirements
N/A -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
The assessment regime for HIST 3071 History of Warfare consists of THREE assignments.
ASSESSMENT TASK TASK TYPE WEIGHTING COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES Primary Source Exercise Formative and Summative 30% 3, 4, 5, 7 Research Mission Formative and Summative 30% 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Take-Home Test Formative and Summative 40% 1, 2, 3, 7
N.B. The Research Mission assignment is normally taken as a group assignment. However, it can be replaced with a comparable individual assignment. No student will be compelled to undertake a group assignment.Assessment Related Requirements
N/AAssessment Detail
- Primary Source Analysis (30%). The course is very primary source orientated. This assignment, taken early in the course, equips students with the methodology that they will use when analysing primary sources. Students will be given a choice of over 30 excerpts from primary sources, drawn from various wars in history. They will write short document analyses of any two documents.
- Research Mission (30%). This is designed as a group project, though students can take it as individuals if they prefer. The Research Mission is designed to simulate the work that historians actually do. Groups of students can choose from a range of activities, including: (i) a battle analysis exercise of the kind undertaken by students at officer training colleges; (ii) an archival research project, utilising some of the wonderful databases that are now available; (iii) a teaching challenge, in which the students have to design a unit plan and lesson plan that aligns either with the SACE curriculum or the Australian National Curriculum. (This choice was designed with current teachers and is aimed at students who are planning to work in teaching.)
- Take-home test (40%). The test is designed to get the students to think about big issues in the history of warfare, e.g. why soldiers commit egregious acts of brutality against prisoners and civilians. Students will have to draw explicitly on ‘situation reports’ that are generated by the students themselves in our workshops, and which are lodged in in a course wiki in Canvas.
Submission
Submission of written assignments is the relevant submission portal in Myuni.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.Final results for this course will be made available through .
Submission of written assignments is the relevant submission portal in Myuni. -
Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
At the very end of the course, the convenor will issue a written response to the eSELF feedback that was submitted by students. -
Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
The convenor will offer regular office-hours for the duration of the course. -
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
Further guidelines, specific to the course, will be available in the Canvas site for HIST 3071. -
Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.
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