M.A. in Holocaust & Genocide Studies
The MAHG 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.
About the Program
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 MAHG program’s diverse and growing faculty work to ensure the success of our students. Two faculty members are devoted solely to Holocaust and Genocide Studies, with an additional core faculty member from the history program, and two associated faculty members from the programs in communications and political science. We also host a distinguished senior visiting scholar every year.
Message from the Coordinator
The challenges that MAHG faculty and anyone working in this field face are immense. Genocidal violence is currently unfolding in a number of places around the world. The government in Myanmar has been conducting a campaign of destruction against Rohingya Muslims since 2012, which has pushed more than 700,000 to flee to neighboring Bangladesh where they languish, unwanted, in refugee camps. More than five million people have fled the civil war and mass violence in Syria since 2011, with almost half a million people dead and destruction of unprecedented dimensions. Rohingya Muslim and Syrian refugees count among more than 65 million refugees today; around half of them are under the age of 18.
The MAHG program is designed to help students explore and understand central historical processes in the making of this reality—our world in which the post-Holocaust cry of “never again” has remained an empty slogan, certainly for these tens of millions of refugees. We strive to fill these words with meaning. To this end, we study the Holocaust as an integral part of modern genocide and mass violence—before, during, and after World War II. Students read and learn about European empire building, settler colonialism, and destruction of indigenous societies around the world; the trans-Atlantic slave trade and slavery in the US; the rise of exclusionary nationalism and the nation-state system in the twentieth century, including post-colonial states in the Global South; and the threat of nuclear weapons. And they discuss issues and questions that intersect with the dynamics of genocide, including human-induced environmental destruction, sexual violence, human security, and genocide prevention. Indeed, the program includes the first university-based Genocide Prevention Certificate Program in the world, a 15-credit online program founded and directed by Dr. Elisa von Joeden-Forgey and taught by the best minds in the field. The Certificate can be taken on its own or as a track within the Master’s program. The Certificate program has allowed us to offer the option of completing the entire Master's program online.
The MAHG program emphasizes excellence in scholarship, teaching, and student learning. We are proud of our small classes, our seminars designed to meet student interests and needs, our generous fellowships and scholarships, our partnerships with university programs and organizations across the globe, and the diverse learning experiences we offer, which include internships with institutes throughout the United States and beyond, independent studies, lecture series and workshops at Stockton University, study tours, and research opportunities.
I invite you to contact my office at 609-652-4542 or e-mail Raz.Segal@stockton.edu for further information and with any questions.
Sincerely,
Raz Segal, Ph.D.
Coordinator, Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies (MAHG)
Assistant Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Endowed Professor in the Study of Modern Genocide
School of General Studies
Stockton University
Curriculum
The MAHG degree requires the completion of 36 credits and the submission of a capstone project: 2 core courses (3 credits each), 8 or 9 elective courses (3 credits each), and 1 or 2 capstone courses (3 credits each). A minimum of 2 Holocaust electives (H) and 2 Genocide electives (G) are required. All the online courses in the Genocide Prevention Certificate (GPC) program are open to MAHG students. Please refer to the GPC website.
Please note that the MAHG/GPC program offers each semester 3 courses on campus and 2 or 3 online courses.
Core Courses- 6 credits total (3 credits each) (H= Holocaust Electives; G= Genocide Electives, GPC= Genocide Prevention Program) |
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MAHG/GPC 5000 The History of the Holocaust (online) |
MAHG 5001 The History of Genocide (online) |
Electives- 3 credits each |
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MAHG 5002 Rescuers and Bystanders (H) |
MAHG 5035 Contemporary Genocides in Africa (G) |
Additional MAHG elective courses that are offered less frequently (3 credits each) |
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MAHG 5003 Holocaust and Genocide Education |
MAHG 5019 The Holocaust in Literature and Film (H) |
Capstone Experience- minimum 3 credits A student may choose to complete a Master’s Thesis for the equivalent of 6 credit hours that he or she will defend as part of the degree requirements. Students choosing to complete a Master’s Thesis will engage in a Research Tutorial directed by the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor. The alternative track is to take 33 hours of graduate course work and an additional 3 credits of course work to complete a capstone project in the frame of independent study or an internship. These courses can be taken in person or online (with approval). |
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MAHG 5880 Thesis (6 credits)
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MAHG 5850 Independent Study Capstone Project |
Admissions Criteria
Application Deadline
Fall: July 1
Spring: November 26
Summer: March 15
To be considered for admission to the Master of Arts in Holocaust & Genocide Studies Program, applicant must submit the following:
- Discover Stockton Online Application (you must create a Discover Stockton Account)
- If you are a recent Stockton graduate, check to see if you qualify for the Direct Entry Option.
- Application Fee: $50 (non-refundable), submitted with your online application
- Graduate application essay
- Three current letters of recommendation sent electronically via the Discover Stockton Application
- Resume
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended (including Stockton) showing a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher mailed or dropped off directly to the Office of Graduate Studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, however, applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. If you are a recent Stockton graduate, you may qualify for the Direct Entry Option.
No standardized tests are required.
Yes, the program can be completed as a part-time student.
Students with additional questions are encouraged to call the Office of Graduate Studies at 609-626-3640 or email gradschool@stockton.edu.
Listing of Program Faculty
Core Faculty

Dr. Elisa von Joeden-Forgey, Associate Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies


Dr. Raz Segal, Program Coordinator, Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies (MAHG) & Assistant Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Affiliated Faculty

Dr. Christina Morus, Associate Professor of Communication & Genocide Studies

Dr. Lauren Balasco, Assistant Professor of Political Science
Ida E. King Distinguished Visiting Scholar: Fall 2018 - Spring 2019
The Ida E. King Distinguished Visiting Scholar in Holocaust and Genocide Studies brings
to Stockton on a rotating basis, for one or two semesters each year, scholars of international
renown to teach about the Holocaust and other genocides and to pursue scholarly work
in their field. Faculty who teach in the area of Holocaust and Genocide Studies come
from a variety of disciplines and from various schools of their universities.

Dr. Ann Millin, Historian in the Educational Initiatives Division of the Levine Family Institute for Holocaust Education
Fall 2015 Dr. Lawrence Baron
Fall 2014 Dr. Robert Skloot
2012-2013 Dr. Nili Keren
Spring 2011 Dr. Nili Keren
Spring 2009 Dr. Joyce Apsel
Spring 2008 Dr. Dalia Ofer
2005-2006 Dr. Myrna Goldenberg
Fall 2003 Dr. Paul Mozjes
Spring 2002 Dr. Yehuda Bauer
1999-2000 Dr. Michael Berenbaum
1996-1998 Dr. Franklin H. Littell
1994-1995 Dr. Carol Rittner, R.S.M.
1993 Dr. Hubert G. Locke
1990 – 1991 Dr. Franklin H. Littell
Spring 2015 Dr. Nili Keren
2013-2014 Dr. Patrick Henry
2011-2012 Dr. Paul Bartrop
2009-2010 Dr. Samuel Totten
2006-2007 Dr. Michael Phayer
Fall 2004 Dr. Elizabeth R. Baer
2002-2003 Dr. Dan Bar-On
Fall 2001 Dr. Hubert G. Locke
1998-1999 Dr. Dan Bar-On
1995-1996 Dr. Yehuda Bauer
1993-1994 Dr. Henry Huttenbach
1992 Dr. Mordecai Paldiel
Alumni Spotlight
College Educators/Higher Education
Michael Dickerman (2011) – Michael Dickerman is a scholar of the Holocaust and genocide. He teaches at Stockton University, Galloway, New Jersey, covering a range of courses relating to such topics as the Holocaust in comparative perspective, the Armenian Genocide, and moral and ethical aspects of the Holocaust. He also teaches graduate courses in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Gratz College, Pennsylvania. He was educated at Temple University, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Galloway.
He has presented papers at professional conferences, including the Annual Scholars’ Conference on the Holocaust and the Churches, the Midwest Jewish Studies Association, the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University, and the Annual Conference on the Holocaust and Genocide at Millersville University, Pennsylvania. He has contributed articles to The Reconstructionist: A Journal of Contemporary Jewish Thought & Practice, and Mercywords: A E-Journal. Michael worked with Dr. Paul Bartrop as co-editor of the four-volume The Holocaust: An Encyclopedia and Document Collection published in September 2017. Link: https://www.abc-clio.com/ABC-CLIOCorporate/product.aspx?pc=A4908C
Steven Marcus (2002) – Steven taught history and Holocaust and genocide studies at Egg Harbor Township High School for thirty years. He is currently the Coordinator of the Dual Credit High School Consortium for Holocaust and Genocide Studies as well as an adjunct professor in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Stockton University.
PhD and beyond
- Matthew Hone (2001) – After the MAHG program Matthew Hone had a six month internship as a press
assistant with the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
at The Hauge, The Netherlands. He served in the U.S. Army for 5 years as a Serbian
Croatian linguist and an Intelligence Analyst. He earned an MA at Arcadia University
in International Peace and Conflicts Studies to include a semester abroad in Castellon,
Spain at the University Jaime II. Finally, he completed his Ph.D. at the Universidad
Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) in Mexico City in Latin American Studies. The focus
of his investigation was an analysis of the U.S. counterinsurgency in El Salvador
in the 1980s during the Salvadoran civil war. Furthermore, he did a 6 month investigation
in El Salvador.
Cyanne E. Loyle, Ph.D. (2004) – Cyanne Loyle is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Indiana University. Dr. Loyle’s current research focuses on transitional justice adopted both during and after armed conflict and the strategic use of justice processes in Rwanda and Uganda. She is an East African specialist and has done field work in Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as Nepal, Northern Ireland and Turkey. Dr. Loyle received her M.A. in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from Stockton University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Maryland. In 2014, she was a Fulbright scholar at the Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO) and from 2009-2011 she was a visiting researcher at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Loyle is the Co-Director of the Northern Ireland Research Initiative and co-creator of the Post-Conflict Justice (PCJ) and During-Conflict Justice (DCJ) databases. From 2016-2017, Dr. Loyle served as the Leonard and Sophie Davis Fellow for the Prevention of Genocide at the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Loyle’s work on during-conflict justice has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the US Institute of Peace. Her research has been published with the Social Science Research Council, Conflict Management and Peace Science, Journal of Human Rights, Journal of Peace Research, International Journal of Conflict and Violence, International Interactions, Genocide Studies and Prevention and Global Public Health. Additional information can be found on her website: cyanneloyle.com or on Indiana University’s website.
Holocaust Museums and Centers
- Trinity Johnson (2008) – Since graduating from The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey's (now University)
MAHG program in 2008, Trinity Johnson has worked in education, except for a brief
period where she was a fashion merchandiser. She taught adult GED and Citizenship
courses for Kettering's Adult Basic Literacy Education Center. She currently works
at The Center for Holocaust & Humanity Education (CHHE) as their Education Coordinator.
CHHE impacts 100,000 students and community members each year through innovative programs
and partnerships which seek to challenge injustice, inhumanity and prejudice, and
foster understanding, inclusion and engaged citizenship. Her responsibilities include
coordinating CHHE's permanent exhibit, Mapping Our Tears, tour program for student
and community groups, as well as overseeing the Speakers' Bureau and Traveling Exhibits
programs. She also is a facilitator for their adult education programs and works closely
with the Director of Education to create other educational programming for students
and community organizations, designing education guides, and exhibits. Trinity became
a Jewish Foundation for the Righteous Alfred Lerner Fellow in 2015. Link: http://www.holocaustandhumanity.org
- Jessica Hulten (2013) – Jessica Hulten started interning at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education
Center in September 2013 and was hired a year later as the Education Outreach Coordinator.
Jessica handles all outreach efforts to educators, manages data collection, and analytics
for the Field Trip Program, Teaching Trunk Program, Group Tours Program, Teacher Professional
Development and leadership programs. Her outreach efforts helped the education department
reach over 100,000 educators and students with the Museum’s education programs in
the 2014-2015 school year. During her time at the Museum, she has facilitated special
exhibition trainings for the Museum’s docents, specifically on the exhibitions, Three
Years, Eight Months, and Twenty Days: The Cambodian Atrocities and the Search for
Justice and Abandoned at Srebrenica: Photographs from the Aftermath. She has aided
in the coordination of education events and special commemoration programs, as well
as co-facilitated teacher trainings for educators in the Chicagoland community. Link:
https://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org
- Amanda Solomon (2019)–
Amanda Solomon graduated in May 2019, after completing an MA thesis titled “From Warsaw to Chicago: Escaping Nazi and Contemporary United States Ghettos.” As she writes in the Introduction, her work traces how “ghettos emerged as a ‘solution’ to an increase in an unwanted population, and how the targeted group’s collective public identity as dangerous and criminal prevents or impedes a successful escape. This thesis therefore aims to challenge our understanding of how ghettos emerge and function as a structure of oppression, and to demonstrate the need and value of including the Holocaust within a broader history of mass violence.”
While working on her thesis, Amanda Solomon was offered a position she could not pass on: Manager of Museum and Holocaust Education at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (OJMCHE). What drew Amanda to OJMCHE was their core exhibition, Discrimination and Resistance: An Oregon Primer. This exhibition allowed Amanda to implement an integrative approach and connect the Holocaust to Oregon's history through tools of discrimination and resistance. In October 2018, she relocated to Portland, Oregon and has since worked on developing and overseeing all education programming. This includes tours, student workshops, professional development workshops, book clubs, Speakers' Bureau, and volunteer docent programs.
Within her first week on the job, Amanda was asked to help develop content for a bill that would mandate Holocaust and genocide education in the state of Oregon. On 28 May 2019, the bill unanimously passed its final vote on the House floor, and it will go into effect in the 2020-2021 school year. Amanda will now be collaborating with the Department of Education to develop curriculum and grade-specific content standards.
NGOs and other organizations
Andrea Heymann (2016) – Andrea Heymann worked as the Hillel/Young Leadership Director for the Jewish Federation of Atlantic and Cape May Counties. She currently serves as Program Director for the Hillel Graduate Student Network of the Greater Philadelphia area. Link: https://www.jewishgrads.org/
Vincent Rodgers (2016) – Vincent worked as a marketing and communications specialist for Rotor Clip Co., Inc. He currently serves as the Development and Communications Associate for Challah for Hunger in Philadelphia. Link: https://challahforhunger.org/
Apply today. If you have further questions or would like to Request More Information please call the Office of Graduate Studies at (609) 626-3640 or E-mail gradschool@stockton.edu.
Raz Segal, Ph.D.
Coordinator, Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies (MAHG)
Assistant Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Endowed Professor in the Study of Modern Genocide