The National WWII Museum and Arizona State University have announced the launch of a new online master’s degree program in World War II Studies. The unique program and partnership is the only of its kind in the United States, and will be offered starting in January 2019.
The graduate degree program—a fully accredited online Master of Arts in World War II Studies from Arizona State University—consists of 30 hours of coursework taught by the world’s top WWII scholars from both institutions. Classes will feature in-depth discussions on the war’s military campaigns, impact on civilians, and the Holocaust. Educational focus will also include the importance of preserving oral histories from the war, representations of World War II in film and literature, and the war’s lasting impact on democracies around the world.
The World War II Studies master’s degree program offers convenient class schedules designed to meet the educational and professional needs of various types of students: history and social studies teachers seeking a master’s degree; others interested in career advancement or degree credentials; those wishing to strengthen their research, reasoning and writing skills for new employment opportunities; as well as those seeking intellectually stimulating learning experiences.
“The Museum’s mission has always been to educate future generations on the American experience in the war that changed the world,” said Gemma Birnbaum, Director of the WWII Media and Education Center at The National WWII Museum. “By partnering with Arizona State University, we are offering students the unique opportunity to learn from leading experts who can provide the most comprehensive view of a global conflict that still shapes our society and political structures today.”
At the core of the program are courses that will be led by historians from Arizona State University—ranked the most innovative university in the United States, and known for its internationally-ranked educational programs that help next-generation innovators advance pioneering research—and The National WWII Museum’s Institute for the Study of War and Democracy. The courses will also draw upon the Museum’s one-of-a-kind collection of over 250,000 WWII artifacts and nearly 10,000 personal accounts from the WWII generation—creating an exclusive learning experience unlike any other.
“This dynamic collaboration epitomizes ASU’s commitment to innovation and accessibility,” said Penelope Adams Moon, PhD, Director of Online Programs for ASU’s School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies. “Regardless of where they live, students will be able to interact with materials in the Museum’s collection that have typically only been available to professional scholars.” As part of a team of experts from ASU and the Museum who worked together for over a year to develop the program, Moon said, “I can’t wait for students to experience our courses!”
The institutions will also partner to offer a series of online noncredit courses through Arizona State University’s Continuing and Professional Education program—a curriculum designed to give WWII enthusiasts the rare opportunity to engage and interact with historians on a subject matter that has fascinated them for decades. Noncredit courses will also be available in January 2019.
Visit the program's page on the Museum's website to meet the faculty, explore course descriptions, and get more information. Visit ASU Online to apply for the Master of Arts in World War II Studies program. Deadline for applications is December 1, 2018.
