University of Texas at Dallas

Fall 2005
History 4378 – 001 MW: 9:30 -10:45; Green 2.510
U.S. Military History 1890s to the present
Instructor: Erik D. Carlson, Ph.D.
Office Hours: B y drop in or appointment anytime during the week, M-Th:9-6;F:9-
5.
McDermott Library, Special Collections Department - 3rd Floor
Email: carlson@utdallas.edu
Phone: (972) 883-2570

Course Description:

This class covers the period in U.S. military (land and air) history from the 1890s
to the end of the Cold War. During this period of turmoil and change the United
States transformed from a continental power to the only superpower on the earth.
Lectures will cover broad topics such as war and peacetime, strategy and tactics
and the new military history. The professor uses a combination of lecture,
discussion, and audio-visual (films and artifacts) to develop and illustrate the
major themes and interpretations of American military history from the 1890s to
the present.

Course Objectives:

1. An appreciation of historical interpretation

2. Knowledge of personalities and events

Success/Failure in Class:

Keys to Success

1. Regular class attendance

2. Read assignments before class
3. Take lecture notes
4. Meet with instructor if academic problems arise
5. Command of notes
6. Timely study for exams

Reasons for Failure

1. Inadequate study
2. Ineffective study
3. Non-attendance
4. Outside distractions
Required Texts:

Textbook:

Matloff, Maurice. American Military History, 1902-1996, Vol. 2

Secondary readers:

Freidel, Frank. Over There: The Story of America's First Great Overseas
Crusade.

Sledge, Eugene. With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa

Summers, Harry. On Strategy: The Vietnam War in Context

Grade Breakdown:

First Exam: 20%

Second Exam: 20%
Third Exam: 20%
Book essays: 20%
Oral History Project: 20%

Important Dates:

Book Review 1: September 21

Book Review 2: October 19
Book Review 3: November 23

First Exam: September 28

Second Exam: October 26
Third Exam: November 30

Oral History Project: November 7, and 28, 2005

Exam Format:

Will be a combination of historical IDs, short answers, and essays. Material on

the exam will come from the lectures, textbook, and secondary readers. If you
attend class, take good notes, and read the textbook there should not be any
surprises on the exams.
Book Review:

For the secondary reading books, each student will write a 4 -5 page typed review
of the book. The review will based upon a group of questions from the professor.
The review will be graded on content and writing.

Oral History Project:

Each student will conduct, tape, and transcribe (Word document) an oral history
of a World War II, Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, or Peacetime U.S.
military aviation, (pilots, aircrews, ground personnel, etc.) veteran. Interviews
must be for 1-1.5 hours long. Your interviews (tape and transcription) will be
placed in the History of Aviation Collection for future researchers and historians
to use as sources. The professor has many contacts and will help find
interviewees. If you have a possible interview candidate please tell the professor.

Makeups:

Only students with an excused absence will be allowed to take a makeup. Time
for makeup exams will be determined at a later date.

Attendance Policy:

Because we meet twice a week, attendance is vital to success in the class. If

you have more than two unexcused absences your Third Exam grade will be
dropped a letter grade for each unexcused absence. Please provide
documentation within a week. If your have problems please call me!

Conduct:

This is a university level class and students are expected to conduct themselves
in an adult manner. No picnics, sleeping, telephones, pagers, or reading
newspapers. PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE!!

Cheating:

Any instance of cheating will result in an "F" for the exam. The instructor reserves
the right to pursue the matter further.

Other information:

There is no extra credit. If you miss the final without an excuse, you fail. With an
excuse you will receive an incomplete until the final is made up. You can not
receive an Incomplete (I) if you are failing.
Course syllabi are intended to provide students with basic information concerning
the course. The syllabus can be viewed as a 'blueprint' for the course; changes in
the syllabus can be made and students will be informed of any substantive
changes concerning examinations, the grading or attendance policies, and
changes in project assignments.

University of Texas at Dallas adheres to a disability policy which is in keeping

with relevant federal law. The University will provide appropriate accommodation.
Students must notify instructors of any permanent or temporary disabilities and
must provide documentation regarding those disabilities prior to the granting of
an accommodation.

Students should read the current University of Texas at Dallas Catalog and
Student Handbook to become familiar with University policies. This includes but
is not limited to grade appeal, sexual harassment, student access to records, and
others; policies specified in the current catalog are applicable unless otherwise
stated in this syllabus.

IF YOU NEED HELP DURING THE SEMESTER, PLEASE SEE ME

IMMEDIATELY!!!