Students examine both the Holocaust and the broader topic of genocide. The graduate in Holocaust and Genocide Studies is prepared to support curriculum development in the social studies and history and to pursue careers in social and governmental service. The major also prepares students for graduate studies in history, as well as Holocaust and genocide studies, and for other postgraduate work, such as law.
The program in Holocaust and Genocide Studies is rooted in the conviction that the Holocaust was a cataclysmic episode in the course of Western history impacting culture, society, politics, ethics, science, and religion, and that there is no discipline in the academy un-touched by its shadow. In a world still tormented by mass murder and genocide, the program also rests on the moral imperative that learning from both the past and present may serve as a basis of hope for the future. The program combines historical background with an interdisciplinary exploration of both the Holocaust and other genocidal events through film, literature, philosophy, psychology, sociology, religious studies, women's studies, and other offerings. With an understanding of such issues as prejudice, discrimination, and racism, students are equipped to analyze contemporary political situations, think critically about ethical responsibility, and respond actively to injustice.
Students selecting a Holocaust and Genocide Studies major are required to complete 36 credit hours in the field, 12 of which (e.g., three courses) are specified below. Of the remaining six course electives (24 credits), one must be a Holocaust elective (4 credits) and one must be a genocide elective (4 credits), as designated by course title (see below). Three of the six electives (12 credits) must be at the 300 level or higher.
INTEGRATIVE STUDIES REQUIREMENTS
44 credits minimum
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
Each student must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English as specified by the Language Requirement for Students with Majors in the School of Arts and Humanities.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE STUDIES
12 credits
- IHHGS 252/IHHIST 252 The Holocaust
- IIHGS 255 Genocide
- HGS 495 Seminar or HGS 499 Senior Project
ELECTIVES
24 credits
Of the remaining six courses (24 credits), one must be a Holocaust elective (4 credits) and one must be a genocide elective (4 credits), as specified by course title. Three electives (12 credits) must be at the 300 level or higher.
- Holocaust-Specific Electives
4 credits minimum
Select one from the following courses:
- IHHGS 251/IHENG 251 Literature of the Holocaust
- IIHGS 254/IIWS 254 Women in the Holocaust
- HGS 289 Teaching the Holocaust and Genocide (may count for Holocaust or Genocide, not both)
- HGS 290 Special Topics (Holocaust must be specified by course title)
- HGS 313/PHIL 313 Philosophy and the Holocaust
- HGS 326/SOC 326 Sociology of the Holocaust
- HGS 340 Film and the Holocaust
- HGS 353/HIST 353 Nazi Germany and the Holocaust
- HGS 356 The Holocaust and the Christian World
- HGS 490 Advanced Special Topics (Holocaust must be specified by course title)
- HGS 497 Internship (Holocaust must be specified by course title)
- HGS 498 Independent Study (Holocaust must be specified by course title)
-
Genocide-Specific Electives
4 credits minimum
Select one from the following courses:
- HGS 289 Teaching the Holocaust and Genocide (may count for Holocaust or Genocide, not both)
- HGS 290 Special Topics (Genocide must be specified by course title)
- HGS 327/SOC 327 Sociology of Genocide
- HGS 374 Comparative Genocide
- HGS 427/SOC 427 Sociological Topics in Genocide
- HGS 490 Advanced Special Topics (Genocide must be specified by course title)
- HGS 497 Internship (Genocide must be specified by course title)
- HGS 498 Independent Study (Genocide must be specified by course title)
-
OTHER ELECTIVES:
- IHPHIL 220 Ethics
- PHIL 231 Comparative Religion
- IHHGS 232 Introduction to Judaism
- IHHGS 233 A History of the Jews
- IHHIST 253 The Second World War
- HHHGS 256 Religion and Violence
- HIST 351 19th-Century Germany
- HGS 373/HIST 373 Race, Disability, and Eugenics
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
120 credits
