Holocaust and Genocide Studies (M.A.)
The mission of our graduate programs is to bring world-class scholars and practitioners together to lead students in the research and teaching of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, and to train stakeholders in applied strategies for global genocide prevention.
The programs are built on a belief in the ongoing importance of deep, analytical study of the genocides perpetrated in our world's history. This is the commitment of our Master's Degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, and the focus of students pursuing our Thesis Option.
The programs also advance our commitment to developing actionable and measurable prevention strategies that can be used by the practitioners we train to respond to the causes of identity-based violence and to do the work of building resilient societies. This is the work of the students pursuing the Practitioner Option of our Masters program, which embeds students directly in the ongoing work of this rich and evolving area of the field. The work is global, and our in-residence students share their classrooms with students joining us virtually from around the world.
Finally, the programs respond to the pressing need for practice-based training that's accessible to people who are ready and committed to advancing this work, many of whom live in regions affected by conflict and who for reasons of distance or cost, have been unable to engage in advanced prevention training outside of the critical work they do in their countries.
MA students will have access to our cutting-edge, fully online and asynchronous Graduate Certificate in Applied Genocide Prevention, which trains and equips practitioners to save lives in their communities.
These two programs create a new space for the critical study and application of genocide studies and prevention in which students and stakeholders work together to critically examine the effectiveness of existing approaches, develop solutions that embed local knowledge into academic theory, and implement measurable strategies that adapt to the real, practical challenges that face societies enduring identity-based violence.
This transformative learning experience centers on the well-being of individuals and collectives. It analyzes the causes of identity-based violence and leverages long-term strategies to create resilient societies characterized by positive peace within current and future human rights conflicts.
Students work closely with renowned faculty on both a local and international level to develop the skills necessary for a career in the scholarship of genocide studies and the hands-on practice of atrocity prevention.
If you aspire to gain and apply a deep understanding of genocide and the phenomenon of identity-based violence, this highly specialized, world-class course of study will equip you with the skills and opportunities to make a meaningful impact in your community and beyond.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements (32 Credits) | ||
| Core Courses (8 Credits) | ||
| HGS-650 | The Field of Genocide Studies | 4 |
| HGS-651 | Holocaust Historiography | 4 |
| Elective Courses (16 Credits) | ||
| Select four of the following: | 16 | |
| Preventing Genocide 1 | ||
| Intl. Human Rights & Security | ||
| Atrocity Intersectionalities | ||
| Communities After Trauma | ||
| Preventing Through Education | ||
| Film, Resistance, and Genocide | ||
| Archives and Human Rights | ||
| Global Refugee Crises | ||
| Holocaust Studies Topics | ||
| Genocide Studies Topics | ||
| Study Tour | ||
| Field Work | ||
| Seminar | ||
| Experimental | ||
Thesis Option
The Thesis Option is built on a belief in the ongoing importance of deep, analytical study of the genocides perpetrated in our world's history.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis Option (24 Credits, in addition to Core and Electives) | ||
| Core Courses (from above) | 8 | |
| Elective Courses (from above) | 16 | |
| HGS-670 | Thesis (4 credit course, repeat for 8 credits total) | 8 |
| Total Credits | 32 | |
Practitioner Option
The Practitioner Option advances our commitment to developing actionable and measurable prevention strategies that can be used by the Practitioner we train to respond to the causes of identity-based violence and to do the work of building resilient societies. The work is global, and our in-residence students share their classrooms with students joining us virtually from around the world. Students pursuing the practitioner option have the ability to complete the Applied Genocide Prevention Certificate.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Practitioner Option (24 Credits in addition to Core and Electives) | ||
| Core Courses (from above) | 8 | |
| Elective Courses (from above) | 16 | |
| HGS-600 | Preventing Genocide 1 | 4 |
| HGS-670 | Thesis | 4 |
| Total Credits | 32 | |
- 1
HGS-600 Preventing Genocide may not count toward elective credit for the Practitioner Option.
Upon completion of the MA in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, students will be able to:
- Trace the origins and history of the field of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, including its major thinkers, works, and organizations.
- Apply existing knowledge, theory, and practice to ongoing debates and areas of inquiry in the field of Holocaust and Genocide studies.
- Identify and critically analyze the processes, actors, and the regional and global dynamics that shape genocidal events and responses, past and present;
- Conduct original research that advances knowledge in the field of Holocaust and Genocide Studies or the applied practice of genocide prevention.