COURSE SYLLABUS
Mary Raum, PhD
Professor, National Security Affairs Department
Conolly Hall Room 328
Meeting Times and Place: Thursdays, Winter Trimester
Contact: mary.raum@usnwc.edu (360) 689-2182
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The female in the military has a long and unique history of nearly four hundred centuries and is found in the stories of considerably diverse cultures and nations. Students will read about, analyze and discuss a variety of biographies and articles as well as utilize art and watch films related to ancient and modern women and their roles in the profession of arms. The course is primarily biographical in scope.
JOINT PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (JPME) APPLICATION: The following are representative of JPME tools and concepts to which this curriculum has application. (1) Levels of learning-knowledge, evaluation and valuing. (2) Learning areas-gender in operating environments, strategic concepts, ethics and the profession of arms, critical thinking and analysis, evaluation of ethical and legal ramifications of historic and contemporary decisions, evaluation of roles/relations/functions in security situations, leadership in times of stress, historical nature of war, minorities in war. (3) Military situational knowledge-special operations, airpower, frontline battles and technology. (4) Time frames-ancient history to modern times. (5) Typology of war: revolutions, civil wars, world wars.
GRADING: Students are graded as LP (low pass), P (pass) or HP (high pass) with no more than ten percent high pass grades distributed to any one seminar.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLO’s): (1) Develop an increased understanding and knowledge about the history of females in the profession of arms. (2) Comprehension of facts, truths, principles, myths and interpretations of the role of women in conflict environments from ancient to modern times. (3) Analyze, synthesize and evaluate a variety of personalities from the history of women in conflict.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- A one page paper and verbal presentation due during classroom time. The subject for this presentation is derived from the topics of that days sessions. Students will not utilize the individuals or readings from required assignments but must go beyond what is required for that day’s discussion for their topic/person of choice. The student will turn in their written, one page, twelve pitch font single space summary to the instructor (800 words or approximately one page 12 point font single spaced). These presentations begin during the second meeting and continue throughout the course. PowerPoints or Prezi are acceptable as part of your verbal summary to the class but do not substitute for the written portion of this assignment.
- Artifact and presentation. Students will select a physical artifact of personal value that is part of their history in the military or security sector or relative to any of the topics found throughout the curriculum as the base for this presentation. All students will turn in a written two page, twelve pitch font single space summary to the instructor (approximately 1,350 words 12 point font single spaced) and present a ten to fifteen minute talk (approximately 1250 to 2000 words in length) during the last class meeting that describes the artifact and why it is important to themselves and the history of women in war and combat. PowerPoint or Prezi, videos, interviews, photographs, artwork, visits to historical sites are acceptable background materials to add to the verbal portion of this assignment.
- In-Class Exercises and Guests. At the discretion of the instructor, guests may be invited to class or in-class exercises may be required.
- Field trip, Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Date TBD. Students will work as teams and discover an item of interest relative to the theme of the history of women in war and combat within the museum. Using their iPads, the class will reconvene and share a photo of their chosen item in an informal group setting and describe why the artifact was chosen and how it related to some portion of the course. No formal presentation or written material is required.
- Supplemental materials as well as Supplemental Spotlights have been carefully selected for those who desire to read or review additional information more deeply about topics relative to each unit.
CONDUCT OF CLASS: Students meet one time for three hours each week over one trimester. Each class will include one or more of the following formats: required readings, films, YouTube, interviews, guests.
BOOKS: You will be issued the following books with a majority of readings and information coming from online sources.
- David E. Jones. Women Warriors: a History. Potomac Books: Reprinted 2002.
- Judith Perrson. The Wolves at the Door: The True Story of America’s Greatest Female Spy. The Lyons Press, Oct 2005.
- Bruce Myles. Night Witches: The Amazing Story of Russia’s Women Pilots in World War II. Chicago Review Press, 1997.
- Jos Sharrer. The Journalist: The Jameson Raid * The Klondike Gold Rush * The Anglo Boer War * The Founding of Nigeria * Flora Shaw was there. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (2014)
- Martha Gelhorn. The View From the Ground. Atlantic Monthly Press (reprint 1998)
