General provisions

The Programme for Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the Department of History are responsible for the course. The course was approved by the board of the Department of History 2006-04-26 and by the Faculty of Arts 2007-01-23.

Entry requirements

Admission to a magister/master programme within the faculty of arts or a Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish degree of at least 180 credits (i.e. three years of full-time studies). Proficiency in English.

Learning outcomes

The aim of this course is to study and analyse the manifold ways in which the legacies of the Holocaust – the virtually successful genocide of European Jewry during the Second World War – affected the development of post-war Western European states and their progress towards viable democracies. The shock and disruption of the Second World War in Europe was a watershed in modern world history, and provided fundamental motivation for the subsequent political, economic and social developments in Western Europe between 1945 and today. Central to this existential shock was the genocide of the Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. Arguably, one result of its absorption into the body politic has been the strengthened drive towards a peaceful and democratic Europe. The moral legacy of Nazi racial-biological-political policies on other destroyed and/or damaged European populations, including the Roma, will also be reviewed.

Content

Learning outcomes

The student will:

- gain an understanding of the impact of the Holocaust on politics, economics, demographics, culture and education in Europe.

- acquire an awareness of the diversity and complexity of the respones to the Holocaust in Europe after the Second World War.

- be able to assess the impact of the Holocaust on present-day democratic developments on the national as well as on the supra-national level.

- gain a high level of consciousness on the fragility of democratic institutions and of the relevance of citizenship and participation in the democratic process.

Competences

The student will:

- obtain a critical awareness of the relationship between current events and the processes of the past.

- attain extensive skills in problem identification and solving, communication, and knowledge sharing.

- develop creative skills.

- acquire a concern for quality.

Instruction

Extensive assigned readings, lectures and discussion seminars and/or tutorials.

Assessment

Examination will include active participation in seminars and discussions and a short- take home essay for the final examination. Grades will be given in accordance with the Swedish grading system. The following grades will be used: Pass with distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Failed (U).

Other regulations

Employability

Graduates with a Master's degree in history will be employable in a wide variety of occupations. A Master in history provides a good basis for responsible positions in secondary and higher education (PhD programme), civil service on the local, regional and national levels, personnel management, journalism, international organisations, tourism as well as enhancing cultural heritage in its various manifestations including archives, museums and libraries.