Holocaust & Genocide Studies, MA
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Program Description
Mission Statement
This program is committed to innovative and challenging research and teaching on the Holocaust, other genocides, the prevention of mass atrocities, and the promotion of human rights. The MAHG faculty guide students in developing and completing original capstone projects such as MA theses, internships, and special projects that prepare them for success in professional advancement. Furthermore, the significant public engagement opportunities that the MAHG program offers support Stockton University’s mission to develop engaged and effective citizens, both locally and globally.
Introduction
The Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies (MAHG) at Stockton University, founded in 1998 as the first program of its kind in the country, offers a rigorous interdisciplinary and wide-ranging education on genocide and mass violence. Through face-to-face and online courses taught by internationally renowned faculty, the program prepares its graduates for employment in education, museums, and organizations that aim to stop and prevent mass atrocities. The M.A. in Holocaust & Genocide Studies program’s diverse and growing faculty—with expertise in history, political science, communication studies, criminal justice, and education—work to ensure the success of our students. Students can complete the MAHG program fully online or through a combination of face-to-face and online courses.
Stockton University offers many facilities to support the study and teaching of the Holocaust and other genocides. Since 1986, the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center has been actively collecting the oral testimonies of Holocaust survivors, liberators, and rescuers, as well as assisting survivors in writing and publishing their memoirs. The Center also provides support to K-12 teachers in southern New Jersey, including workshops, in-service opportunities, and access to Stockton’s Holocaust and Genocide Studies events. The library boasts an extensive English-language holdings on the Holocaust, other genocides, and mass atrocities. In addition, students and faculty have access to video collections, online databases, electronic resources, and inter-library loan services. MAHG seminars are held in the Liviu Librescu room of the Holocaust Resource Center, which is outfitted with state-of-the-art instructional technology.
Admission Requirements
Students who wish to apply must hold a B.S. or B.A. degree from an accredited institution and must submit transcripts from all institutions of higher learning previously attended. The undergraduate grade point average should be 3.0 or higher. Other factors that will be considered include the professional experience of the candidate, the candidate’s overall undergraduate record, an essay (500 words) stating their reason(s) for wanting to enroll in the program, a writing sample (2,000-2500 words), and three letters of recommendation. A personal interview may be required. A faculty Admissions Committee, including the MAHG Director, recommends admission.
The writing sample should be an academic or professional paper, preferably related to the study of genocide and mass atrocities. In exceptional cases – and only upon approval by the MAHG director – applicants would be permitted to submit an expanded statement of interests, which should include research and professional ideas and plans related to Holocaust and Genocide Studies, broadly defined.
Applicants need to make sure that the people writing on their behalf submit a letter of recommendation in addition to completing the online form. Please note that simply writing a short sentence, such as “I have known the applicant for a few years. They are excellent,” does not count as a letter of recommendation. A letter of recommendation should include specific information about the academic and/or professional qualifications, experience and achievements of the applicant in relation to the study of genocide and mass atrocities. At least one of the three letters of recommendation must be from a faculty member in a university or college, and we accept letters from professional supervisors, internship coordinators, etc. Note that letters from friends will not be accepted. If an applicant cannot obtain at least one letter from a faculty member in a university or college, they should contact the MAHG director to discuss and request approval for the submission of another letter instead.
Applicants who completed their undergraduate degrees outside the US will need, in addition, credential evaluation of their transcripts and degrees. See, for instance, SpanTran, which provides fully online service: https://spantran.com/web/services/evaluations
Direct Entry
Stockton students who have earned a cumulative Grade Point Average (G.P.A) of 3.2 in their undergraduate courses and a G.P.A. of 3.4 in at least three Holocaust and Genocide Studies courses may apply for Direct Entry by completing the electronic Direct Entry Request Form made available through the Office of Graduate Admissions. Once they have completed the Bachelor of Arts Degree, Direct Entry students will be admitted to the MAHG program without submitting the traditional online graduate school application; the application fee will also be waived.
Transfer Credit
The University accepts up to 9 credits of appropriate graduate study from other colleges and universities, subject to approval by the MAHG Director. Graduate Credits earned from Holocaust and Genocide Studies courses taken prior to matriculation in the program (see “Non-Degree Option” below) are treated as Stockton credits. The combined credits from transfer courses and classes taken at Stockton University in the Master of American Studies program or one of the Master of Arts in Education programs, including MAIT and MAED, may not exceed nine credits for candidates for the MAHG degree.
In addition, uniquely qualified undergraduate students at Stockton with senior status who meet specific requirements, may be qualified to enroll in a MAHG elective courses. They could obtain “dual credit” that they can then apply towards the MAHG degree, if they decide to enroll in the MAHG program. Contact the MAHG program Director for more information.
Non-Degree Option
Non-matriculated individuals may enroll in graduate Holocaust and Genocide Studies courses provided they meet the admission requirements, subject to approval by the MAHG Director. Non-matriculated students will be limited to a maximum of nine credits of graduate study toward the M.A. Registration in classes for non-matriculated students and qualified undergraduates will be on a space-available basis once all matriculated students have registered. Students are advised to consult with the MAHG Director to have credits earned as a non-matriculated student and a qualified undergraduate count toward their degree.
Academic Progress, Degree Completion
To be awarded a graduate degree, a student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in courses applied toward the graduate program. MAHG students must also complete a capstone project or MA thesis in order to graduate.
Graduation with Special Honors
Program Distinction constitutes recognition of outstanding graduate work in the MAHG program for graduating students. Program Distinction will be awarded to those students whose combination of coursework, capstone projects or theses, and extracurricular activities merit special recognition. The award is based on a consensus of the MAHG faculty, including affiliated faculty who are familiar with students’ work.
The following criteria are used to assess the awarding of Program Distinction.
A minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.9 at the time of graduation.
Superior performance in program courses.
Significant contributions to the program through program and community service.
As judged by the faculty, any other exceptional academic achievement in the area of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, e.g., curriculum design for K-12 education, outstanding performance in an internship, or the quality of a MA thesis or capstone project.
The Franklin H. Littell Book Award
The Franklin H. Littell Book Award constitutes recognition of outstanding graduate work in the MAHG program for graduating students. The Franklin H. Littell Book Award will be awarded to no more than one graduating student per semester whose combination of coursework, capstone project or thesis, and extracurricular activities merit special recognition. The award is based on a consensus of the MAHG faculty, including affiliated faculty who are familiar with students’ work.
The following criteria are used to assess the awarding of the Franklin H. Littell Book Award.
A minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.8 at the time of graduation.
Superior academic performance.
Significant contributions to the program through program and community service.
As judged by the faculty, any other exceptional academic achievement in the area of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, e.g., curriculum design for K-12 education, outstanding performance in an internship, or the quality of a MA thesis or capstone project.
Academic Standing, Probation and Dismissal
A graduate student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to remain in good academic standing in the program. A student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 will be notified that they are on Academic Probation. Such a student must work with their advisor or the program Director to create a plan to bring their GPA up to 3.0 by the time they have completed an additional 9 credit hours. A student on Probation who does not accomplish this is subject to dismissal from the graduate program and from the University.
In addition, only courses with grades of B- or above can be used toward the degree requirements. The MAHG faculty members may consider, in exceptional cases, to allow a course of C+ to count towards degree requirements.
MAHG Program Requirements and Curriculum
The MAHG degree requires the completion of 35 credits and the submission of a MA thesis or capstone project: one 3-credit core course (Introduction to Holocaust and Genocide Studies), two 1-credit required courses (Introduction to Graduate Studies and Thesis/Capstone Proposal), one 3-credit methods course (Research Methods in Holocaust and Genocide Studies), one or two 3-credit thesis or capstone courses, and eight or seven 3-credit elective courses.
Required Courses
MAHG 5064 Introduction to Holocaust and Genocide Studies (3 credits; core course, offered every fall semester)
MAHG Introduction to Graduate Studies (1 credit; offered every semester)
MAHG Research Methods in Holocaust and Genocide Studies (3 credits; offered once every two years in the spring semester)
Elective Courses
Please note that the MAHG program offers 2 courses on campus and 1 or 2 online courses each semester, with one or two online courses offered in the summer. Depending on course availability, a student could pursue an independent study course (MAHG 5800 Independent Study) on a specific topic or enroll in 1 graduate course at Stockton outside the MAHG program only if approved by their advisor and the program. In exceptional cases and pending approval by an advisor and the program, a student could pursue 1 additional independent study course or 1 additional graduate course at Stockton outside the MAHG program.
In addition, the program will recognize one advanced language course as a 3-credit MAHG elective, if approved by an advisor and the program.
MAHG students must take 2 elective courses (6 credits) with a focus on the Holocaust:
MAHG 5000 History of the Holocaust
MAHG 5055 Topics in Holocaust Studies
MAHG students need to take 5 or 6 additional elective courses (15 – 18 credits):
The following 6 electives are offered at least once every four years and address key issues and questions in the field today:
MAHG 5010 Gender, War and Genocide
MAHG 5521 Borders and Displacement (cross-listed with MACJ)
MAHG 5074 Critical Security Studies
MAHG 5043 Pseudoscience and Eugenics
MAHG 5355 Environmental Destruction, Climate Change, and Mass violence
MAHG 5057/GIS 3102 Genocide, Education, Liberation
The following are Topics electives. Faculty members who teach them, decide on a focus, so that they are repeatable for credit, provided that the focuses are different --- for instance, different case studies in Spotlight courses. Topics courses provide flexibility for MAHG faculty members to offer elective courses that reflect a fast-changing and multidisciplinary field and respond to students’ interests
MAHG 5028 Spotlight (specific case studies)
MAHG 5028 Topics in Genocide Studies
MAHG 5016 Topics in Twentieth Century Europe
MAHG 5062 Topics in Human Rights, International Law, and Transitional Justice
MAHG 5036 Topics in Memory and Commemoration
MAHG 5353 Topics in Literature and Culture
MAHG 5007 Selected Topics with Ida E. King
MAHG 5022 Study Tour Seminar
MAHG 5889 Summer Intensive Research Experience
Capstone Courses
A student may choose either to complete a thesis (6 credits) or a capstone project (3 credits). In either case, students are required to choose an advisor and take a 1-credit thesis/capstone proposal course with them, preferably in their second semester and no later than their third semester in the program. Once a student's thesis/capstone proposal is approved by their advisor and the program, they will need to schedule either one 3-credit independent study or internship capstone project course or two 3-credit thesis courses with their advisor(s).
Students are required to have completed 15 credits towards their degree before they can enroll in a thesis or capstone course.
All MAHG students are expected to make a presentation about their thesis or capstone project to the faculty of the MAHG program; the presentations are open to the public. MAHG Capstone/Thesis presentations are usually scheduled at the end of the fall and spring semesters. MAHG students who plan to complete their coursework in the summer could arrange to present their capstone project or thesis at the end of the spring semester before they graduate.
Full details about the MA curriculum are accessible on the MAHG website.
Full details about the Genocide Prevention Certificate curriculum are accessible on the Genocide Prevention Certificate website.
