New York's Cold War

July 21-31, 2025 Rose Hill

4-Credit Course

This course will provide students with an understanding of the Cold War era of U.S. history through the intensive lens of New York City. Students will analyze the ideology, politics, and culture of the Cold War in the United States through the distinct eyes of New Yorkers – including immigrants, social activists, and local and international government officials. Through that analysis, they will gain a close understanding of major issues that New Yorkers faced related to the Cold War including McCarthyism and censorship, the United Nations and the international Cold War, the fear of nuclear war and the movement for disarmament, and the Vietnam War and antiwar protests. Students will also have the opportunity to explore these questions in visits to archives, museum exhibits, and the analysis of historical artifacts from the Museum of the City of New York and the Tamiment Library and Wagner Labor Archives.

Skills/Learning Outcomes

In this course, students will be able to:

  • Define and understand the ideological and geopolitical origins of the Cold War.
  • Assess historical materials and weigh evidence regarding important conclusions about the Cold War.
  • Understand the effect of the Cold War on the U.S. government and U.S. society.
  • Understand in greater detail the questions of McCarthyism and nuclear disarmament in the Cold War.

Overall Takeaways

The students in this course will leave with knowledge about the trajectory of the Cold War in the United States from early twentieth century until its end in 1991, a greater understanding of the key periods of the Cold War (per the meeting schedule below), precise knowledge about specific historical figures (also in the meeting schedule below), and a view of how professional historians use localized experience to forge interpretations about impactful trends in history.

Course Schedule

  • Morning: Course Introduction: What is the Cold War?

    Afternoon: The Origins of the Cold War: Ideology and Geopolitics

  • Morning: NYC and early 20th C. American Radicalism 

    Afternoon: SITE VISIT: Emma Goldman and Mother Earth buildings

  • Morning: Reflection paper, Goldman's Social and Political Views

    Afternoon: American Communism during the Great Depression

  • Morning: World War II: Allies or Adversaries?

    Afternoon: Cold War Geopolitics, 1947-1953

  • Morning: Understanding Cold War McCarthyism 

    Afternoon: McCarthyism and Its Discontents

  • ALL DAY SITE VISIT: Tamiment Library

  • Morning: Reflection on McCarthyism

    Afternoon: New York and the International Cold War

  • Morning: Power and Protest: N

    Afternoon: SITE VISIT: Museum of the History of New York

  • Morning: Work on small group projects

    Afternoon: Present small group scripts

Course Details

New York's Cold War
July 21-31, 2025, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Rose Hill Campus
Instructor: Dr. Christopher Dietrich

Course Number: HIST 3881 RP3
CRN: 16540

Please note that this is a college course and that Fordham students may also be enrolled in this class, which will be a great opportunity for you to learn more about life at Fordham. Final assignments may be due after your time on campus.

 

Immersion 3 Resident Move-In/Move-Out

Move-in for Resident students is Sunday, July 20.

Resident students can move out on either of the following dates:

  • Thursday, July 31 (after 5pm)
  • Friday, August 1 (before 11am)

Tuition

Residential: $5,500.00 (2024 rate; 2025 rate will be available by December 15)
Tuition for the residential program includes the course, course materials, housing, meals, and excursions in and outside of class. Move-in is Sunday afternoon, the day before classes begin. Please click here for a more detailed calendar of important dates.

Commuter: $4,550.00 (2024 rate; 2025 rate will be available by December 15)
Tuition for commuters includes the course, course materials, lunches, and excursions in and outside of class. Additional meals are available on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Students may wish to bring funds for incidentals, shopping at the Fordham Bookstore, souvenirs, and any personal items they wish to purchase.

Apply

Application deadlines:

Course and housing: April 15, 2025; course only: May 15, 2025. Please note that admission decisions are rolling until the class is full, and course caps are around 20 students. Apply by April 1, 2025 to be considered for a limited number of need-based discounts. We recommend early application.

Application Requirements: this non-credit course is open to high school students who have completed their first year. The course is recommended for those with a 3.0 or better. No prior experience with the subject matter is required.

To apply, you will need a copy of your high school transcript and your fall report card if the grades are not reflected on your transcript.

If you are applying for housing, a brief letter of recommendation from a guidance counselor, coach, instructor, or supervisor, attesting to your maturity and responsibility as a student is required.

Please make note of the course details above because you will select your course as part of your application.

Apply

If you are not ready to apply, you can sign up to stay informed about the Fordham Summer Leaders Academy too, or email us with questions!