by our College Data Analytics TeamThe holocaust involved the murder of two-thirds of all European Jews. Many want to ensure this horrific historic event is never repeated. For those who want to learn more about history as well as preventing atrocities in our own time, a major in Holocaust Studies is ideal.
Holocaust Studies focuses on human history with an emphasis on the Nazi Holocaust and the broader topic of genocide. You will explore the culture, society, politics, ethics, science, and religion surrounding the events of the Holocaust. You will also study issues of discrimination, racism, and prejudice.
Be prepared to take courses in a variety of subjects. You will study ethics, communist ideology, politics, Nazi Germany, history of the Holocaust, modern Jewish history, sociology, ethnic and race relations, perspectives on terrorism, and comparative genocide.
Holocaust Studies was the 358th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 66 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 13.6% increase in Holocaust studies degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 57.
Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of Holocaust studies programs later in this article.
This major explores controversial and painful issues. You will learn how to research emotional events to discover the truth. Coursework will you develop critical reading and writing skills. It is important that you are able to summarize information to clearly develop and define your argument. It helps to be detail oriented as you research historical events, analyze scholarly articles and write lengthy papers on your findings.
Students should have empathy toward survivors and current people in similar situations. You may have the opportunity to hear an actual Holocaust survivor speak or interview those with experience in the topic. Work on your critical thinking skills as you analyze world views, ethics and politics of the time period as well as today. Be ready to study abroad in Poland or Germany to get a more a closer look at the Holocaust and actually visit concentration camps.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most Holocaust studies degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific Holocaust studies careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different Holocaust studies degree levels. You can get anything from a in Holocaust studies to the highest Holocaust studies degree, a . Depending on the Holocaust studies degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to Holocaust studies, with approximately 23.9% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for Holocaust studies workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 23.9% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 20.4% |
| Some College Courses | 18.0% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 15.2% |
| High School Diploma | 9.4% |
See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in Holocaust studies have received.
This of course varies depending on which Holocaust studies career you choose.
A Holocaust Studies degree will allow you to work as a historian. This can be a very competitive field to get into, especially for those with a niche major. Most historian positions are paid for by public funding and donations, so job growth will depend on the funding available. However, due to well-developed critical thinking and analytical skills, graduates should be able to find work in a variety of other occupations as well. You could find a job as an educator, museum director, researcher, public service or social worker.
Want a job when you graduate with your Holocaust studies degree? Holocaust Studies careers are expected to grow 6.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to Holocaust studies.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Historians | 3,500 | 6.1% |
As you might expect, salaries for Holocaust studies graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for Holocaust studies graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers Holocaust studies grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Historians | $66,380 |
With over 13 different Holocaust studies degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased Holocaust studies school rankings to help you with this.
One of 44 majors within the Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies area of study, Holocaust Studies has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Other Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 34,975 |
| Biological & Physical Science | 30,075 |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | 9,074 |
| International Studies | 7,368 |
| Nutrition Science | 5,330 |
