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.
Studying Holocaust Studies involves the study of Holocaust And Related Studies. Read on to learn the key facts every holocaust studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering holocaust studies programs.
Nationwide, holocaust studies is a widely-pursued major, with 51 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Holocaust Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 11 schools to determine the best overall colleges for holocaust studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of holocaust studies programs later in this article.
Programs in Holocaust Studies develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations holocaust studies graduates commonly enter.
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.
Skills built by a holocaust studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a holocaust studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several holocaust studies degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 10 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 33 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 8 |
People currently working in careers related to holocaust studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 63.9% |
| Master’s degree | 32.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 2.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in holocaust studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
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.
A degree in holocaust studies can lead to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to holocaust studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to holocaust studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 1,421,275 | 11.1% |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,269,153 | 10.5% |
| Historians | 66,368 | -1.5% |
| Transportation Planners | 43,539 | 4.1% |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | 24,588 | 6.1% |
Salaries for holocaust studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers holocaust studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Historians | $89,780 |
| Transportation Planners | $50,855 |
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | $47,617 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $42,168 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $38,484 |
With 11 different holocaust studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased holocaust studies school rankings to help you.
Students interested in holocaust studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Holocaust and Related Studies | 51 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 30,141 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 28,033 |
| Data Analytics | 12,891 |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 10,355 |
| Data Science | 7,716 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 5,740 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 5,456 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 5,391 |
| Sustainability Studies | 4,374 |
| Cognitive Science | 3,121 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
