Understanding genocide in historical and modern contexts

Developed by nationally recognized scholars in Holocaust and comparative genocide studies, this college-level course brings ASU’s leading research, testimony-based learning and public history expertise to learners everywhere.

Genocide is often taught as something finished — a chapter closed in history.

In reality, it is a recurring human crime shaped by political systems, social pressures and ordinary human decisions.

Holocaust and Genocide (HST 194) is an online Holocaust and genocide course offered by Arizona State University that helps learners of all ages understand how genocide happens. By examining the Holocaust alongside other cases of genocide and mass violence, learners analyze the forces that enable these crimes, and the warning signs that continue to appear in the modern world.

Rather than ranking suffering or relying on hindsight, the course asks learners to study events as they unfolded, examining decisions in historical context. This approach builds historical clarity, ethical reasoning and the ability to recognize patterns that shape risk in the present.

HST 194 is offered through ASU Universal Learner Courses, a catalog of faculty-led, online ASU courses open to learners of all ages. You can take the course to deepen your understanding, prepare for future study or earn college credit.

The course was intentionally designed to make serious Holocaust and genocide education broadly accessible while preserving the historical discipline, contextual analysis and ethical care the subject requires.

What is Holocaust and Genocide (HST 194)?

HST 194 is a fully online, 3-credit ASU history course designed by faculty in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies. The course uses comparative genocide studies to examine genocide as a process — from early warning signs to escalation, participation and responsibility.

Learners engage with:

• Scholarly historical research 
• Survivor testimony and primary sources, studied in historical context 
• Comparative case studies from different historical and geographic contexts

The course emphasizes analysis, reflection and discussion rather than memorization, helping learners develop judgment and historical understanding that extends beyond the classroom. It was designed to expand universal access to rigorous Holocaust and genocide education and research.

Built by leaders in Holocaust education, testimony-based learning and public history grounded in historical inquiry

Holocaust and Genocide (HST 194) was created by faculty in ASU’s School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, drawing on the university’s nationally recognized strengths in Holocaust and comparative genocide studies.

Academic leadership

“As states across the country began mandating Holocaust education, we wanted to ensure that students and teachers everywhere could access the very best scholarship — not diluted versions, not summaries — in a format that was rigorous, accessible and credit-eligible if they chose,” said Jeffrey Cohen, dean of ASU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “Universal Learner Courses made that possible.”

The course was developed under the leadership of Richard Amesbury, director of ASU’s School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, whose scholarship and guidance were central to bringing the school’s expertise in Holocaust and comparative genocide studies to a broader audience through Universal Learner Courses.

“While it may be tempting to look away from the horror of genocide, HST 194 invites students to bear witness to some of history’s ugliest realities. There is a sense in which such evils elude comprehension, but by putting them in context and seeking to understand the forces and ideologies that give rise to them, HST 194 provides learners with tools for recognizing, naming and working to avert these crimes,” said Amesbury, who is also a professor of religious studies and philosophy at ASU.

Testimony-based learning

The course’s testimony-based and public-history approach was shaped with guidance from Claudia Ramirez Wiedeman, deputy director of ASU Learning Transformation Studios.

Drawing on more than a decade of leadership at the USC Shoah Foundation, where she directed education, research and evaluation initiatives reaching millions of learners worldwide, Dr. Wiedeman helped guide the course’s use of survivor testimony and primary-source learning tools, including iWitness, a freely available educational platform. 

“This course brings rigorous genocide scholarship together with the human depth that helps learners develop judgment, empathy and historical clarity,” Wiedeman said. “Universal Learner Courses make that level of learning accessible without lowering academic standards.”

Public history and access

Learners also benefit from the collaboration supported by Alan Arkatov, senior advisor to ASU President Michael Crow and executive director of ASU Learning Transformation Studios and Center EDGE.

Through ASU’s long-standing partnership with the National WWII Museum, a longtime partner of ASU’s WWII Studies program, Arkatov helped connect academic research, survivor testimony and public-history resources to the course’s design.

“One of ASU’s responsibilities is to translate serious scholarship into learning experiences that matter beyond the university,” Arkatov said. “By bringing together faculty expertise, survivor testimony and public history — and delivering it through Universal Learner Courses — we’re expanding who gets access to high-impact education and how it’s experienced.”

How HST 194 works

HST 194 follows the ASU Universal Learner Courses model, which allows learners to begin coursework at low upfront cost and decide later whether earning college credit fits their goals.

Learners start the course for $25, complete the 8-week session and receive a final grade. After the course ends, they can choose whether to add the course to their ASU transcript for $400. Transcripting is optional, and choosing not to add credit does not affect an academic record.

For full course details, schedules and enrollment steps, visit the Holocaust and Genocide (HST 194) course page.

Course format, credit and requirements

• Credits: 3
• Delivery: Fully online
• Course length: 8 weeks

Assessment in HST 194 emphasizes reflection, discussion and analysis rather than memorization. Learners complete discussion posts, lecture quizzes and a reflective diary that encourages thoughtful engagement with course material.

Learners should review the published technical requirements before enrolling to ensure their device and internet connection meet minimum specifications.

What you’ll study in HST 194

HST 194 uses comparative historical analysis to examine genocide as a process rather than an isolated event. 

Defining genocide
Learn how genocide is defined and debated, and why precise language matters when analyzing mass violence.

The Holocaust in historical context
Examine the political, cultural and social conditions that contributed to the Holocaust, including nationalism, racism, industrialization and state power.

Comparative genocide studies
Analyze multiple historical cases of genocide to develop a nuanced understanding that goes beyond surface-level comparisons of suffering.

Modern causes and warning signs
Critically assess contemporary social and political tendencies — such as exclusionary nationalism, racial ideology and colonial legacies — that can contribute to mass crimes.

Prevention and responsibility
Identify strategies and frameworks that scholars and institutions use to reduce the risk of genocide and respond to early warning signs.

How this course applies beyond history

HST 194 builds skills that extend beyond the history classroom, including:

• Evaluating complex evidence and competing narratives
• Engaging in ethical reasoning and critical self-reflection
• Recognizing how historical patterns inform present-day risks
• Participating in informed, respectful discussions about difficult topics

Who this course is for

HST 194 is commonly taken by learners who want a structured, college-level approach to understanding genocide and mass violence, including:

• High school students earning optional college credit
• College-bound learners completing humanities or history coursework
• Future educators and social science students building historical and ethical analysis skills
• Adult and lifelong learners of all ages seeking deeper understanding of global history and human rights

Learners decide for themselves whether the course is taken for enrichment, preparation or credit.

Credit, transcript and transfer details

If you choose to transcript HST 194, the course appears on your ASU transcript the same way it does for students who take the course on campus. The transcript includes course attendance dates and session information. HST 194 carries 3 credit hours.

Transfer policies vary by institution. Learners who plan to use the credit elsewhere should confirm transfer applicability with the receiving school before requesting a transcript.

FAQs

How much does HST 194 cost to start?
Registration costs $25. Adding the course to your ASU transcript is optional and costs $400.

Is this course fully online?
Yes. HST 194 is delivered entirely online over a 8-week session.

Do I have to earn credit?
No. Universal Learner Courses can be taken with or without transcripted credit.

Is this course appropriate for high school students?
Yes. The course is college-level and appropriate for motivated high school learners, with content presented in a structured academic setting.

Next steps

Explore the Holocaust and Genocide (HST 194) course page to register and learn more.