This course examines the military as a human institution and explores the relationship between armed forces, society, culture, and politics in the United States and around the world. Using classic and contemporary civil-military theories, concepts, and research, cadets analyze how military organizations are shaped by historical, political, economic, and cultural forces, while also influencing the societies they serve. The course covers three major areas: foundations of military sociology; core topics such as recruitment, retention, socialization, culture, morale, cohesion, communication, artificial intelligence, and war; and comparative studies of foreign militaries and military academies. A central theme is civil-military relations, including who serves, why people serve, and how military institutions interact with civilian society.
Lessons
30 @ 75 min (2.000 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
Research paper that applies course concepts to analysis of the current military.
This course examines the intersection of armed forces and society, focusing on two key domains: the relationship between military organizations and the broader societal context, and the study of the military as a distinct social institution with unique demands on its members. Grounded in a military sociological perspective, cadets will analyze the military's role within society and culture in the United States and internationally. The course emphasizes critical reading, writing, and discussion of contemporary military and societal issues, and challenges cadets to apply their understanding to address real-world problems. Cadets will integrate course concepts into a focused research project that explores an aspect of the human dimension of the armed forces and society.
Lessons
30 @ 75 min (2.000 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
Research paper that applies course concepts to analysis of the current military.
The intersection of armed forces and society involves the examination of two domains: the intersection of any armed force and the larger societal context and the focused study of the military as a unique social institution with a set of demands placed on the people making up the institution. Our principal focus is sociological as we use sociological theories, concepts, and research to study the military and society and culture both in the United States and abroad. PL482 is a capstone course that requires cadets to apply their sociological knowledge at the intersection of the armed forces and society . The course expects cadets to read, write, and discuss military and society issues in-depth and practically apply their knowledge to solve real world problems. Cadets integrate the knowledge gleaned from the course into a coherent and focused research project addressing some aspect of the human dimension of the armed forces and society.
Lessons
30 @ 75 min (2.000 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
Research paper that applies course concepts to analysis of the current military. This paper is written in stages throughout the semester.
The intersection of armed forces and society involves the examination of two domains: the intersection of any armed force and the larger societal context and the focused study of the military as a unique social institution with a set of demands placed on the people making up the institution. Our principal focus is sociological as we use sociological theories, concepts, and research to study the military and society and culture both in the United States and abroad. PL482 is a capstone course that requires cadets to apply their sociological knowledge at the intersection of the armed forces and society . The course expects cadets to read, write, and discuss military and society issues in-depth and practically apply their knowledge to solve real world problems. Cadets integrate the knowledge gleaned from the course into a coherent and focused research project addressing some aspect of the human dimension of the armed forces and society.
Lessons
40 @ 55 min (2.500 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
Research paper that applies course concepts to analysis of the current military. This paper is written in stages throughout the semester.
The intersection of armed forces and society involves the examination of two domains: the intersection of any armed force and the larger societal context and the focused study of the military as a unique social institution with a set of demands placed on the people making up the institution. Our principal focus is sociological as we use sociological theories, concepts, and research to study the military and society and culture both in the United States and abroad. PL482 is primarily a discussion course. The course expects cadets to read, write, and discuss military and society issues in-depth. Cadets integrate their knowledge gleaned from the course into a coherent and focused research project addressing any aspect involving the human dimensions of the armed forces and society.
Lessons
40 @ 55 min (2.500 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
Research paper that applies course concepts to analysis of the current military. This paper is written in stages throughout the semester.
This course applies a sociological framework for analysis of the military within society. There are five levels of analysis: military as a product of societal and historical impact; military in relation to other societal institutions; military as an organization and profession; causes of small group combat effectiveness; and contemporary social issues as they affect the military (e.g., changing roles and missions, gender issues, civil-military relations). Cadets will leave this course with a better understanding of the range of issues confronting the military institution in a world of rapid societal change.
Lessons
40 @ 55 min (2.500 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
Research paper that applies course concepts to analysis of the current military. This paper is written in stages throughout the semester.
