Holocaust and Genocide Studies, M.A.

This interdisciplinary program is intended for students who wish to pursue careers in human rights education and advocacy, and it has been developed to study the Holocaust and other genocides and to seek answers as to how they may be prevented.West Chester University has been a pioneer in Holocaust Studies since the first undergraduate course on the Holocaust was offered in 1978. WCU's program now includes a Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, a certification program, an undergraduate minor, a regional education center, and a library collection. The demand for Holocaust and Genocide Studies has grown over the past 20 years. Five states are now mandating that the subject be taught in the schools, and seven states -- including Pennsylvania -- are recommending inclusion in school curricula. It is expected that more states will institute such requirements, creating a need for specialists. The Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies is intended for students who wish to pursue careers in human rights education and advocacy. The program has been developed to help students pursue the study of the Holocaust and other genocides and to seek answers as to how they may be prevented. Because this study involves more than the history of the development of genocides, the M.A. is interdisciplinary, involving many departments across campus that provide greater understanding of the forces leading to them.