Graduate Catalog

2011 – 2012

Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education
McKelvie Hall, 102 W. Rosedale Avenue
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
Phone: 610-436-2943
Fax: 610-436-2763
gradstudy@wcupa.edu


Revised March 2011

Holocaust and Genocide Studies


409 Main Hall
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-2789
610-436-2345
Dr. Friedman, Director and Coordinator of Graduate Studies

Professors [top]

Mary P. Brewster, Ph.D. (Criminal Justice)
Kevin Dean, Ph.D. (Communication Studies)
Jonathan Friedman, Ph.D. (History)
Paul D. Green, Ph.D. (English)
William L. Hewitt, Ph.D. (History)
Lisa Kirschenbaum, Ph.D. (History)
David G. Levasseur, Ph.D. (Communication Studies)
Deborah Mahlstedt, Ph.D. (Psychology)
Jasmine Tamahseb McConatha, Ph.D. (Psychology)
C. Jack Orr, Ph.D. (Communication Studies)
Yury Polsky, Ph.D. (Political Science)
Frauke I. Schnell, Ph.D. (Political Science)

Associate Professors

Margarete J. Landwehr, Ph.D. (Languages and Cultures)
Brian O'Neill, Ph.D. (Criminal Justice)
Christopher Teutsch, Ph.D. (English)
Joan Woolfrey, Ph.D. (Philosophy)

Programs of Study [top]

Holocaust and genocide studies offers a master of arts degree for students who complete the necessary 30 hours in the degree program. For the master's degree, field studies and a thesis are options. A graduate certificate is also offered for students who complete a 15-hour program of study.

Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies [top]

The purpose of this program is to provide its graduates with the background and intellectual skills needed to either pursue careers as teachers or as history professionals for work in museums, archives, libraries, and other institutions.

Admission Requirements

In addition to satisfying the University's general graduate admission requirements, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation and a statement of personal goals.

Requirements for the M.A. Degree


  1. Any history course with a grade of less than 3.0 GPA will not be accepted for credit toward the degree.
  2. In order to complete the program, students must pass a written comprehensive examination.

Curriculum (30 semester hours)

  1. Phase I (9 semester hours)
    One course to be selected from each of three fields of study from the following list (only one independent study may be applied):
    Communication Studies: COM 503, 505, 507, and 509
    Criminal Justice: CRJ 505
    Philosophy: PHI 512, 590, and 599
    Political Science: PSC 530, 542, and 590
    Professional and Secondary Education: EDF 589
    Psychology: PSY 509, 540, and 543
    Sociology: SOC 590
  2. Phase II (9 semester hours)
    Three courses from the following:
    Required: HIS 545 and 546
    Elective: One course from HIS 523, 543, or 602
    Written comprehensive examination
    Recommended language training in area of specialization
  3. Phase III (6 semester hours)
    Two courses from the following:
    HIS 520, 523, 536, 543, 544, 547, 549, 660; SSC 503, 540
  4. Phase IV (6 semester hours)
    Thesis Option
    HIS 691 (6)
    Thesis defense
    Nonthesis Option
    Required: HIS 651
    Elective*: One course from EGE 409; ENG 615; HIS 520, 536, 544, 547, 548, 549, 602; SSC 503, 540
    Oral examination

*The content of these courses may vary from semester to semester. These courses count toward the degree only when the topic has been approved by the program director.

Certificate in Holocaust and Genocide Studies

Curriculum (15 semester hours)


  1. Required courses (9 semester hours)
    HIS 545 and 546
    One additional course to be selected under advisement.
  2. Elective courses (6 semester hours)
    Two courses, to be selected under advisement, from the following:
    COM 503 and 507; CRJ 505; EGE 408-409; ENG 615; HIS 543, 548, 549, 602; PHI 512; PSC 542; PSY 540, 543

Course Descriptions [top]

Course titles and descriptions in holocaust and genocide studies are listed under the relevant department.