List of Fall 2025 Courses for the Program in Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Studies (HGHRS)
CAS JS 257: Antisemitism After the Holocaust
Prof. Dotan Greenwald
W 2:30 – 5:15 PM
4 credits
Are there new forms of antisemitism that have developed since the Holocaust? How have old forms persisted and reappeared indifferent guises? Did the Holocaust change our understanding of possible consequences of bigotry and hatred? These questions are discussed, along with similarities to other forms of bigotry and racism, and the relationship of anti-Zionism to antisemitism.
BU Hub Units: Historical Consciousness, Social Inquiry I, Critical Thinking
CAS HI 271: The Nazis
Prof. Jonathan Zatlin and others TBA
Lecture: TR 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Discussions: W 11:15 AM – 12:05 PM T 3:35 – 4:25 PM W 3:35 – 4:25 PM
4 credits
Explores the rise and fall of Europe’s most notorious mass movement through film, diaries, party documents, and other sources. Considers the impact of Nazi rule on art, finance, politics, and family life. Analyzes the mass murder and destruction caused by Nazi rule.
BU Hub Units: Ethical Reasoning, Historical Consciousness, Critical Thinking
CAS PO 346: Bombs and Bombshells: Gender, Armed Conflict, and Political Violence
Prof. Sandra McEvoy
R 3:30 – 6:15 PM
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: sophomore, junior, or senior standing.
Interdisciplinary course surveying women’s relationship to political violence with a focus on the evolution of women’s international participation in non-state, religiously-motivated groups. Women’s roles in political violence throughout Western Europe, North America, and the Middle East are explored.
BU Hub Units: Global Citizenship, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Teamwork/Collaboration
CAS JS 367: The Holocaust Through Film
Section A1: Prof. Nancy Harrowitz TR 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Section B1: Prof. Ofra Amihay MWF 10:10 – 11:00 AM
4 Credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120)
An examination of film using the Holocaust as its central topic. What are the political and cultural effects when genocide is represented through film’? Can feature films portray history, and if so, what are the consequences for an informed society?
BU Hub Units: Historical Consciousness, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Writing- Intensive Course
CAS HI 384: History of Genocide
Prof. Simon Payaslian
TR 2:00 – 3:15 PM
4 credits
History and comparative analysis of genocidal mass murder with focus on the twentieth century. Hereros, Armenians, holomodor, Holocaust, Cambodia, Rwanda, Darfur. Attention to political leaders, state ideology, dehumanization of victim groups, geopolitical competition, war, empire building and decline.
CAS IR 453: Forced Migration and Human Trafficking: Virtual Policy Incubator
CAS IR 653
Prof. Noora Lori
T 3:30 – 6:15 PM
4 Credits
Causes and impact of forced migration and human trafficking. Role of conflict and state formation; emergence of international human rights and domestic asylum laws; role of international organizations, private sector and security forces in both combating and enabling human trafficking.
CAS RN 460: Seminar on the Holocaust
CAS JS 460, STH TX 805
Prof. Steven Katz
M 2:30 PM – 5:15 PM
4 credits
This course will examine historical, ethical and religious issues arising from the Holocaust. We will discuss antisemitism and ideology; what communities were considered “other”; human motivation regarding collaborators, perpetrators and bystanders; the role of individuals, organizations and governments; the treatment of women; the ethics of resistance; the behavior of the Jewish Councils; and attitudes to the existence of God during and after the Holocaust. We will also compare the Holocaust to contemporary crises now occurring around the world.
BU Hub Units: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Ethical Reasoning, Historical Consciousness
CAS PO 519: Inequality and American Politics
Prof. Katherine Einstein
R 8:00 – 10:45 AM
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120)
This course examines the role of income inequality in shaping American politics and policy. Combining research from history, political science, economics, and public policy scholars, we will consider a range of important topics, including inequality in public voice, money and politics, and attitudes towards redistribution. We will apply this knowledge as part of a final paper project in metropolitan Boston.
BU Hub Units: The Individual in Community, Writing-Intensive Course, Research and Information Literacy
CAS PO 560: Rwanda: Genocide and its Aftermath
Prof. Timothy Longman
M 2:30 – 5:15 PM
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: Freshman Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120)
Explores the factors that led to the 1994 genocide of the Tutsi in Rwanda, how Rwanda compares to other cases of genocide and extreme violence, and the efforts in post-genocide Rwanda to rebuild, pursue justice, and promote reconciliation.
BU Hub Units: Writing-Intensive Course, Ethical Reasoning, Research and Information Literacy
SPHLW 740: Health and Human Rights
Prof. George Annas
T 10:00AM – 12:50PM
4 credits
Graduate Prerequisites: SPH PH 719 or consent of instructor.
This course focuses on health and it is closely linked to the realization of human rights. Preventable illness, infant mortality, and premature death, for example, are closely tied to societal discrimination and violation of human rights. This course explores the relationship between human rights and health by examining relevant international declarations in historical context, exploring the meaning of “human rights” and “health,” and analyzing specific case studies that illuminate the problems, prospects, and potential methods of promoting health by promoting human rights on the national and international levels.