3946 - Master of Holocaust and Genocide Studies

The aim of this course is to provide students with expert knowledge about the causes of genocide and international efforts to prevent crimes against humanity. It covers a wide range of themes, with a focus on the Holocaust as a paradigmatic case of genocide from which lessons can be learned about other instances of mass killing. Students completing this program will have advanced knowledge on the United Nations Conventions relating to Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity and on the way scholarly communities have addressed the perennial problem of genocide prevention and resolution of violent conflict. The program emphasises the possibilities for averting violent conflict through humanitarian intervention and individual acts of conscience. The units offered cover particular instances of genocidal conflict, the gender politics of violence, a consideration of the treatment of Australia's indigenous population, and the themes of memory, trauma, testimony, and reconciliation. The program highlights the importance of oral testimony and the act of witnessing, drawing on Monash's acquisition of the Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive. Students completing this program will be equipped to contribute to government and non-governmental organisations dealing with conflict resolution, and to work with international systems of justice established for the purposes of genocide prevention and prosecution.

Upon completion of this course, students will have:

• a comprehensive understanding of the United Nations genocide convention and its effectiveness as a description of the social reality of mass killing
• advanced knowledge of the origins and history of the Holocaust and its application as a paradigmatic case of genocide
• knowledge of the broad history of genocidal acts in history and how they can be distinguished from other acts of violent conflict
• an understanding of theoretical approaches to the problem of human violence from a range of disciplinary perspectives, including anthropology, ethnography, sociology and politics
• an appreciation of the experience of Australia's indigenous population in relation to the UN definition of genocide
• an ability to identify the factors that radicalise conflict into genocidal situations
• an appreciation of the possibilities for humanitarian intervention and acts of individual conscience and rescue in situations of genocide
• an appreciation of the role of scholarly communities in defining genocide and identifying the complex web of factors that lead to genocidal situations
• an understanding of the role of the law and international systems of criminal justice for preventing genocide and dealing with post-genocidal societies
• an understanding of the ethics of testimony and the themes of trauma, memory, mourning as they relate to genocide
• critical thinking about how genocidal situations are represented and probed through different forms of writing.
• highly developed critical thinking skills, particularly in regard to analysis of violent conflict and the role of governments and non-government organisations, on both the international and national level in providing responsive measures to genocide
• the ability to work and research independently on complex academic and workplace-based projects
• high level writing, communication and presentation skills.

Students commence with 24 points of level four units. The next 24 points may be either level four or level five units. The final 24 points must be level five units. Students must complete a minimum of 24 points of level five units.

The following units are available (not all are offered every year):

• HYM4290/HYM5290 Holocaust memories: Landscape, mourning, identity
• HYM4440/HYM5400 Genocidal thought
• HYM4470/HYM5470 Genocide and colonialism
• HYM4490/HYM5490 Fascism and Nazism: Racial and social utopias
• HYM4570/HYM5570 Theories of violence: Genocide, war, terror
• ITM4010/ITM5010 Global justice: Civil and human rights after 1945
• LAW7026 Overview of international human rights law
• LAW7218 International humanitarian law
• HYM5410A and HYM5410B Research project in Holocaust and genocide studies [Parts 1 and 2, 24 points]
• HYM5420 Placement for Holocaust and genocide studies [12 points]

Plus:

• up to two approved elective 12 point units from across the University.

Students completing 48 points of this course, including the 24-point research project, may be permitted to enter into a research degree.

Students who have completed studies in this course to the value of:

• 24 points may apply to exit with a Graduate Certificate in Holocaust and Genocide Studies
• 48 points may apply to exit with a Graduate Diploma in Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

Students will also exit the masters with the appropriate award if they do not maintain the required academic level.

Master of Holocaust and Genocide Studies

* Where more than one award is listed, or in the case of double degrees, where more than one award is listed for one or both components of the double degree, the actual award/s conferred may depend on units/majors/streams/specialisations studied, the level of academic merit achieved (eg in the case of 'with honours' programs), or other factors relevant to the individual student's program of study.