Holocaust and Genocide Studies – (M.A.)

Contents

The Master Programme in Holocaust and Genocide Studies is a cross-disciplinary course of study drawn from:

• history,
• political science,
• cultural and social anthropology,
• international law,
• sociology,
• peace and conflict studies,
• psychology, and
• the history of ideas.

The history and memory of the Holocaust is central to this field of study, but you will also study other episodes of genocide, genocidal violence and other forms of mass violence and their historical, political and cultural contexts.

These violent events have occurred most often in conjunction with major economic, social and political crises, mobilization of ethnic identities, formation of new states, colonial processes and modernization. While closely studying different cases of genocide and mass violence, you will also learn methodologies and analytical perspectives from various disciplines.

You will write a master thesis worth 45 credits (30 credits if you choose to end after one year). You will also have the possibility of combining the course of studies with methods courses and other courses at different departments.

First semester:

The first semester you will study obligatory courses in Holocaust history, and other episodes of genocide and mass violence from cross-disciplinary perspectives.
Other case studies analyzed include Armenia, Cambodia, Rwanda and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Episodes of genocidal violence that have occurred in Latin and North America, Africa and Asia will also be studied.

You will also study the historical, political and cultural processes and contexts within which mass violence has occurred, including fascism, colonialism, and communism.

Second semester:

The second semester will commence with an obligatory course on theories of genocide and mass violence, to be fol-lowed by the opportunity to choose from different courses covering specific aspects of mass violence, including psychology, social psychology, cultural and social anthropology, peace and conflict studies, international law and the study of (historical) memory.

You will also have the opportunity to take relevant courses from other cooperating departments within the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences.

Third semester:

During the third term you will choose a specific methodological direction for the writing of the master thesis, take a methodology course at the relevant department, and commence the drafting of the thesis

Fourth semester:

The fourth term is devoted to writing and successfully defending the thesis.

Instruction for this course of studies will take the form of lectures, seminars, independent group work, individual and group tutorials.

All course instruction will be in English.

All course instructors are highly qualified in their fields and have published widely internationally and in Sweden. This ensures a close connection between on-going research and course instruction.

Your active participation in all phases of the course of instruction is obligatory. You are entitled to an instructor´s advising only during regular term time. Grading will be based on active participation in seminars, minor written assignments and other minor written and oral examinations. You will also be graded for the completed thesis, defending it orally and leading a discussion of another student´s thesis.

The instruction offered in this MA will provide you with knowledge and theories present within the most up-to-date research and educational trends in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. This will benefit you whether you wish to pursue a PhD or a career outside academia. A variety of international organizations actively seek students equipped with such knowledge and analytical skills.

These include

• UN organizations,
• the European Union and Council of Europe,
• governmental ministries including defense and foreign services,
• a wide variety of international NGOs also recruit amongst students with these qualifications, such as Amnesty International, Save the Children, Human Rights Watch, IDEA, etc,
• museums and other institutions of commemoration are also potential employers,
• in Sweden, institutions such as UD, SIDA, Forum for Living History and others are also potential employers for holders of this master degree.

If you chose to pursue a PhD, this master programme will qualify you to apply. The master thesis in particular will facilitate a successful application for doctoral studies.

Accreditation

Uppsala University is accredited by the Swedish National Agencyof Higher Education

Funding details

Uppsala University offers a few scholarships to cover the tuition fee. Read more on www.uu.se/scholarships.