BA Seminar: Aspects of American Diplomatic History 4219-ZS017
The seminar is intended for students interested in the history of American diplomacy and foreign policy of the United States up to the middle 20th Century. That does not, however, exclude the possibility of writing a B.A. Thesis on subjects from general American history or on events taking place after 1950. Dealing with the American past, the students will have to master the basics of writing history. That means that every thesis must be based on a set of primary sources, i.e. texts written simultanously with the events analyzed in the diplomma work (speeches, letters, orders, newspapers, stste papers, etc.) or later but in connection with them (memoirs or other narratives of witnesses).
Type of course
B.Sc. seminars
Learning outcomes
Upon completing this course student:
1. KNOWLEDGE
a/ Knows basic notions in the field of diplomatic history
b/ Ricognizes complex relations between the USA and other nations
c/ Has basic knowledge of varieties of forms of diplomacy and foreign policy of the United States
2. SKILLS
a/ Formulates hypotheses and evidences them basing on proper source materials
b/ Can compile and present results of his or her research
c/ Critically analyzes and interprets various propositions concerning the understanding of issues discussed for history of the USA
3. COMPETENCES
a/ Is able to formulate his or her own opinion on controversial issues in the history of United States
b/ Understands and appreciates the role of foreign affairs for political debates in the USA
c/ Completes and improves his or her knowledge of US foreign policy
Assessment criteria
Presence at the meetings and active participation in discussion. Approval of the subject of B.A. Thesis by the tutor. Writing and presentation of the chapters of the Thesis at the Seminar and finishing the process of writing in time.
Bibliography
Typical primary sources:
Margueritte Higgins "War in Korea. The Report of a Woman Combat Correspondent" Garden City, N.Y. 1951
Douglas MacArthur "Reminiscences" N.York 1964
Henry L. Stimson "On Active Service in Peace and War" N.York 1948
"The New York Times", years 1898-1899
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: