Seton Hill University will begin offering a three-course Certificate in Genocide and Holocaust Education specifically designed for teachers of grades 6-12 in Westmoreland and surrounding counties.

Through this free online nine-credit program, local educators will have access to educational resources and tools developed by the National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education at Seton Hill and learn methods and strategies for teaching this important subject to their students.

Applications for the program, which can accommodate up to 15 participants, are open through February 1, 2024. There will be no charge for tuition or class materials. The free tuition program is made possible by gifts from private benefactors.

The first course, which will begin March 2, 2024, provides instruction in pedagogical methods. The second course, offered over the summer, provides a comparative study of genocides of the 20th Century, including the Holocaust. The third and final course focuses on the role of narrative in Holocaust and genocide education, will be taught in the fall in conjunction with the Ethel LeFrak Holocaust Education Conference, an international conference hosted by Seton Hill.

This certificate is stackable and may count towards Seton Hill’s 15-credit Certificate in Genocide and Holocaust Studies or a master’s degree in Education.

For more information and to apply for the program, visit www.setonhill.edu/GHE. Students accepted into the program must have a bachelor’s degree and current teacher certification. Applicants will be enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis.