The responses of Jews, Jewish institutions, and others subjected to Nazi policies have implications for our understanding of how individuals and groups respond to persecution. Finally, the ways in which the Holocaust is remembered and memorialized in different national and cultural contexts serves as a useful case study of how collective memories of important historical events emerge and evolve over time.
A minor in Holocaust studies can be pursued in conjunction with any major. The study of the Holocaust offers more than an opportunity to acquire knowledge about a singular historical event. It provides students with an opportunity to examine a range of broader issues, such as antisemitism, racism, xenophobia, militarism, homophobia, and the formation and functioning of stereotypes. It provides important insight into behaviors such as obedience to authority, conformity, altruism, and civil courage. A consideration of the bureaucratic methods employed by the Nazi regime to systematically identify, isolate, and eliminate large populations addresses questions about the potential for the abuse of power by governments.
Study Abroad Experience Leads to Deep Perspectives on the Holocaust
Alex Sherbrook ’17 was disappointed about missing her spring commencement at UVM, but she still wouldn’t trade it for her final semester of college in Augsburg, Germany. In German universities, the semester begins in April and ends in late summer, so she had to wait until September to finally collect her UVM diploma.
“My classes were all in German and there wasn’t as a big of an emphasis on homework as there is in our system, so It was a really big adjustment. But I’m really glad I did it.”
Launching an Academic Career in Holocaust Studies
Mark Alexander transferred to UVM with the intent of finishing his B.S. in education and finding a teaching job in Vermont. But after changing his major to history, his academic and career path took a fascinating detour.
Especially influential were classes with professor Jonathan Huener, who teaches in the history department and the Miller Center for Holocaust Studies. “I took several of his classes on the Holocaust and the history of Poland, and he was my academic adviser when I continued at UVM for my M.A. Dr. Huener’s insights into the issues we studied in his classes have helped to shape my understandings of the field, and he provided a consistent example of thoughtful academic professionalism that I will probably always hold up as a model for myself.”
David Scrase Student Research Grants
These grants honor the contributions of David Scrase, professor emeritus of German, during his long service as the founding director of the Center for Holocaust Studies at UVM. Grants are available to UVM students -- both graduate and undergraduate--who are pursuing serious research projects related to the mission of the Center for Holocaust Studies. Priority will be given to students working on major research projects, such as an MA thesis, an undergraduate senior thesis, or a research-intensive independent study. Read more information on this opportunity on our graduate study page.