Course at a Glance
Course: HIST 218J (1 Credit)
Location: Ardennes Battlefield Sites in Belgium and Luxembourg
When: 7 June to 20 June 2023
On-Site: 10 June 2023
Register By: 1 June 2023
Highlights
- La Roche Museum
- Siegfried Line and the initial point of the German artillery barrage
- Follow the route of the 6th Panzer Army
- Infamous Kampfgruppe Peiper who aimed to seize the bridges on the Meuse River
- Site of the Malmedy Massacre (17 December 1944)
- Village of Foy
- Foxholes of the Bois Jacques
Tuition and Fees
- $250.00 Undergraduate 1-credit hour tuition cost
- $150.00 Field Study Additional Fee (round-trip bus transportation to excursions from UMGC Headquarters and entry fees)
- Not included: Meals
The Battle of the Bulge was the finale of the 1944 Western European campaign. Learn more in this field study program at UMGC Europe.
The Battle of the Bulge was fought from December 1944 to January 1945. This battle was the finale of the 1944 Western European campaign and the last major offensive of Nazi Germany. Because of its significance, the "Bulge" can be viewed as a vital signpost event in European and military history. You will learn about this significant episode using maps of strategic movements, Army organizational charts, and slides illustrating the equipment of the period. A course highlight is a day bus tour to the battlefield regions in Luxembourg and Belgium, as well as visits to battlefield museums.
Topics include:
- The role of Ardennes Campaign of 1944-1945 (commonly known as the Battle of the Bulge) for the outcome of World War II
- The importance of terrain and weather on the battlefield
- The role of specific weapons systems and equipment, along with strategic movement, organization, and leadership
- The role of war crimes, including crimes perpetrated against both prisoners of war and civilians
Faculty member: Dr. Michael Mulvey, email michael.mulvey@faculty.umgc.edu
May apply toward the history major or minor, an associate degree or certificate in foreign language area studies with a focus in German, or electives.
Course Details
Pre-Course, Week 1 & 2
You will gain access to the online LEO classroom on 31 May 2023. The official course start date is 7 June 2023. Class meets on-site on 10 June 2023. Once you gain access to the classroom, take a virtual walk-through of the course and begin reading assignments.
Week 1
Access online LEO classroom; complete readings and all assignments
Saturday, 10 June 2023 Tentative Itinerary
- 0715 - Meet at UMGC Headquarters building, Hertelsbrunnenring 10, Kaiserslautern, Germany, to board the bus
- 0730 - Bus leaves UMGC Headquarters
- 1800 - Bus arrives back to UMGC Headquarters (approximately)
Travel to Belgium-German border villages and towns into Luxembourg. Tentative travel schedule:
German defensive line known as the Siegfried Line and the initial point of the German artillery barrage.
Follow the route of the 6th Panzer Army and the infamous Kampfgruppe Peiper
A stop at the site of the Malmedy Massacre (17 December 1944)
Waffen-SS execution of U.S. POWS
A stop at the La Roche Museum of the Battle of the Ardennes
Lunch
Village of Foy and the foxholes of the Bois Jacques.
Bastogne for the Mardasson Memorial and Bastogne War Museum/Bastogne Barracks.
Visit to the Luxembourg American Cemetery and the Sandweiler German Cemetery.
Transportation
For your convenience, UMGC coordinates the transportation from UMGC Headquarters to areas in the itinerary. The cost for the transportation arrangements is $150 for this field study. This fee will be charged to your student account and covers transportation to and from and entry to all excursions.
The $150 fee does not include travel to the UMGC Headquarters to board the bus. Students must make their own travel arrangements to the UMGC Headquarters in Kaiserslautern.
Students are required to have proper documentation to cross borders to Luxembourg and Belgium.
Students are encouraged to bring snacks and drinks.
No children. This is a university seminar course for academic credit. Available to students enrolled with University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC).
How is a field study course different from a regular course?
A field study course packs all of the 48 contact-hours of other courses into adventure-filled days on location, so you can earn one to three credits at an accelerated pace. In addition, rather than taking place in an education center, a field study course takes place in a historical European city where the subject being studied has its roots. You will visit historical sites and museums as well as participate in lectures that bring it all together for a one-of-a-kind learning experience.
For more information, please visit the Field Study Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.
Helpful Hints
Before you leave:
- Contact your travel agency concerning insurance coverage for cancellations.
- Contact your health insurance company for information concerning coverage at your destination.
- Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of your destination country.
- Check the weather forecast for your destination.
- Obtain city maps for your destination.
- Leave contact information with people at home who may need to reach you during the course.
- Make sure your legal affairs are in order and leave a short-term power of attorney with someone you trust.
- Make two photocopies of your passport and the contents of your wallet--leave one copy at home and bring the other with you.
For more information, please visit the Field Study Resources page.