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Certificate of Achievement in Holocaust Studies

Certificate of Achievement Overview

The Holocaust Educational Foundation of Northwestern University (HEFNU) offers a “Certificate of Achievement” in Holocaust Studies. This is a four-course, interdisciplinary program, open to Northwestern undergraduate students enrolled in a degree program. The “Certificate of Achievement” encourages and acknowledges interest in and study of the Holocaust from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.

Certificate of Achievement in Holocaust Studies Recipients

Administration

The “Certificate of Achievement” in Holocaust Studies is administered and awarded by the Holocaust Educational Foundation of Northwestern University in consultation with a committee composed of NU faculty. This is a program of HEFNU; it will not appear on your transcript.

Certificate Application and Award Process

To be admitted to the program, students must fill out an application, including a plan of study, and meet with the Director of HEFNU. Holocaust-related courses that Students have completed prior to application may count towards the “Certificate of Achievement.” The award will be conferred around the time of a student’s graduation from NU.

Please contact Sarah Cushman, Director of HEFNU, at hef@northwestern.edu.

 
Requirements

Visiting Scholars (3/year)

In addition to four Holocaust-related courses, “Certificate of Achievement” participants must attend three quarterly lectures sponsored by HEFNU. Participants have the opportunity to meet with the Visiting Scholars to discuss their own and others’ work, and to join all Holocaust Studies Faculty and Participants for lunch with the Visiting Scholar.

Courses (4)

To earn the “Certificate of Achievement” a student must earn a satisfactory grade (at least a C-) in 4 courses: the History of the Holocaust (HISTORY 349-0); 2 Holocaust Studies Electives; and 1 Context Course. These 4 courses must be distributed between at least 2 departments or schools. At least 2 of the 4 courses must be at the 300-level or above. At most 1 of the 4 courses can be completed outside Northwestern.

Core Course: History of the Holocaust (HISTORY 349-0)

This course provides students with a comprehensive overview of the Holocaust as a historical event. This course is offered every academic year.

Holocaust Studies Electives (Two Courses)

The following courses have been offered in recent years:

Context Course (One Course)

Any course about Jewish culture, philosophy, or religion in pre-WWII Europe; any course about pre- or post-WWII Europe that has some Holocaust content; any course about genocide or mass atrocity.

The following courses have been offered in recent years:

Summary of Requirements

Attendance at 3 lectures

4 courses, including:

At least 2 of the 4 courses must be at the 300-level or above.

At most 1 of the 4 courses can be completed outside Northwestern.