BA War Studies and History

About this course

War studies and history is a combination that approaches armed conflict as both a military and a profoundly human phenomenon. War studies examines the causes, conduct and consequences of conflict through the overlapping lenses of politics, strategy, sociology, philosophy and ethics, asking not just how wars are fought but why they happen and what they leave behind. History provides the depth and the evidence, situating conflict within the social, cultural and political processes that both produce it and are transformed by it. At York St John University you will explore warfare across a wide chronological and geographical range, examining how conflict has been organised and experienced from ancient times to the modern era. You will engage with questions of strategic thought, the ethics of violence, the role of technology, the experience of soldiers and civilians, and the political uses to which war has been put. The programme is part time and includes a foundation year, a sandwich year in industry and a year abroad, alongside work placement opportunities, giving you a richly varied combination of academic depth, professional experience and international exposure. Graduates from this combination move into careers in defence analysis, security policy, journalism, intelligence, the civil service, education, heritage and museum work, and the voluntary sector. The analytical skills developed through studying conflict from multiple disciplinary perspectives are valued in any professional context that requires understanding complex situations, weighing evidence carefully and communicating clearly about difficult subjects. Postgraduate study in war studies, international security, history or political science is a well-established route for those seeking specialist or research-focused careers.

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