Program: Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention, MS

Jun 04, 2024

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2024-2025 Binghamton University Academic Guide

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The Master of Science in Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention (GMAP) is the first and only graduate degree of its kind. This professional degree prepares graduates to analyze risk factors, formulate strategies, and implement policies and practices to reduce the occurrence, severity, and potential for reoccurrence of genocides and other mass atrocities around the world. With a focus on the application of an atrocity prevention lens, the program educates students to recognize opportunities to engage in upstream (before conflict), midstream (during conflict) and downstream (post-conflict) prevention measures. Through a University-wide interdisciplinary approach integrating classroom learning, applied research, engagement with practitioners and a funded intensive field placement, the program prepares graduates to be prevention actors at the micro (individual), meso (organizational) and macro (societal) levels. The program is University-wide and overseen by the Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention (I-GMAP) which reports to the provost.

The MS in GMAP program aims to prepare ethical and competent prevention agents for the public, nonprofit and private sectors who are well-educated, theoretically-informed and practically-focused and who are prepared to bridge traditional divides to generate creative and effective solutions. They will be equipped to bring together evidence from history and the present day, from domestic and international contexts, from academic and practitioner worlds, from governmental, civil society and corporate sectors, and from a wide range of disciplines and professions.

Admission Requirements

Prospective students apply through the Graduate School. In addition to the standard requirements of the Graduate School, a résumé, a personal statement and two letters of recommendation are required.

Program Requirements

The curriculum requires completion of 45 credit hours, which include a combination of required courses, electives within categories of classes, individualized tailoring of the curriculum to meet student interests, a funded field placement, project work linked to the Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention (I-GMAP), and a final capstone project.

Core Courses

Students are required to complete five core courses with a grade of B or better:

GMAP 500 - Essentials of GMAP
GMAP 501 - Micro-Dynamics - Mass Atrocity
GMAP 502 - Comparative Genocides
GMAP 503 - Intro to Nongovt Organizations
GMAP 504 - Transitional Justice

Required Categories of Electives

Each student must complete one course from the following three Special Topics categories:

1. GMAP 518 (A-Z) Special Topics in Politics and Policy for Atrocity Prevention (3-4 credits)

These courses will generally be cross-listed as GMAP 518 (A-Z) but may also be approved for credit by the GMAP Curriculum Committee without cross-listing. The following courses are pre-approved as of 2021:

PAFF 520 - 21st Century Governance
PLSC 663P - Topics in Compar Intl Politics
PLSC 663Q - Topics in Compar Intl Politics
PLSC 663W - Topics in Compar Intl Politics
SOC 603 - Structural Inequalities
SOC 690D - SocialistTheoristsonCapitalism
Other courses may be added to this list with approval from the I-GMAP CurriculumCommittee.

2. GMAP 528 (A-Z) Special Topics in Tools and Technologies for Atrocity Prevention (3-4 credits)

These courses will generally be cross-listed as GMAP 528(A-Z) but may also be approved for credit by the GMAP Curriculum Committee. The following courses are pre-approved as of 2021:

ANTH 544 - Methods In Forensic Anthro
CS 532 - Database Systems
CS 533 - Information Retrieval
CS 535 - Introduction To Data Mining
GEOG 544 - GIS And Spatial Analysis
GEOL 553 - Environmental Geophysics
NURS 581E - Medicolegal Death Investigatn
PAFF 523 - Intro To Policy Analysis
Other courses may be added to this list with approval from the I-GMAP Curriculum Committee.

3. GMAP 538 (A-Z) Special Topics in GMAP (2-4 credits)

This requirement is fulfilled by completing one or more courses totaling 4 credits from among the following or other approved courses. These courses may be cross-listed as GMAP 538(A-Z), but may also be approved for credit by the GMAP Curriculum Committee:

AAAS 531 - Unresolved Issues:Wars in Asia
AAAS 580F - Topics in Asian-Americ Studies
ANTH 572C - Anth Approaches to HumanRights
COLI 581 - Colonization, Mass Violence, Genocide & Cultural Memory
HIST 501U - Topics in World and Comp Hist
HIST 560G - Topics In Mod Eur Since 1815
HIST 572C - Topics in Middle Eastern Hist
NURS 581G - Forensic Health of Victims
NURS 581J - Forensic Pediatrics
PAFF 538A - Advanced Topics in Public Mgmt
Other courses may be added to this list with approval from the I-GMAP Curriculum Committee. Students may also fulfill this requirement by completing an extra course from either the GMAP 518 or 528 categories.

Advanced Methods for GMAP

Students will complete 8 credits in one or twoof the options below selected in consultation with their GMAP advisor:

Option A: Advanced quantitative analysis
Option B: Advanced qualitative analysis
Option C: Advanced languages and cultural proficiency
Option D: Advanced computing technologies

GMAP 550 Mechanisms of Atrocity Prevention (MAP) Project (1-6 credits per semester for a total of at least 3 credits)

The Mechanisms for Atrocity Prevention (MAP) Project engages students in evaluating alternative approaches to promoting prevention, including but not limited to national mechanisms. National mechanisms for prevention are multi-agency and comprehensive systems within a country for detecting and responding to early warning signs, integrating proactive prevention strategies and monitoring effectiveness. The Mechanisms of Atrocity Prevention (MAP) Project evaluates national, subnational, civil society and private sector mechanisms for prevention. Under the supervision of the I-GMAP assistant director, students will work as part of a team to participate in stages of the project underway at the time of enrollment. Students may complete the minimum 3 credits in a single semester or over time; given the annual cycle of the project, students are encouraged to enroll for multiple semesters and may repeat the course for up to 6 credits. This requirement may also be fulfilled through GMAP 597 - Independent Studycredits.

GMAP 580 GMAP Field Placement (1-4 credits)

Under the supervision of the I-GMAP assistant director, students will be matched with an appropriate prevention-focused governmental, civil society or private sector organization to work full-time for a minimum of three months and up to a period of six months. A basic travel and living stipend will be provided by the institute to ensure that placements are not limited to those organizations with the capacity to pay or those students with the financial means to volunteer. Based on student interests and professional aspirations, visa considerations for international students and language proficiencies, students may be placed within or outside the United States.

GMAP 590 GMAP Capstone Project (4 credits)

Under the supervision of one of the I-GMAP co-directors or other designated GMAP faculty member, each student will conceptualize, research and write a report with specific recommendations and a plan for implementation, targeted to an appropriate governmental or nongovernmental official or organization, which draws upon the GMAP program coursework and the student’s individual field placement. The capstone process will review with students the issues of professional ethics, reflective practice and self-care to protect the mental health of prevention practitioners.

Total minimum required credits: 45*

*Note: The actual number of credit hours may be reduced as a result of Prior Learning Assessment or may be higher based on a student’s course selection or a decision to register for additional field placement credits (and completing a corresponding increased level of academic work) if necessary to satisfy requirements associated with financial aid or visa status.

Academic Advising

All students are assigned a faculty advisor at the start of their first semester. Faculty advisors assist students in planning their curriculum and provide additional academic counseling as needed. Students are required to meet with their advisors once a semester. Failure to meet this requirement may result in severance from the program.

Individualized Prior Learning Assessment

The MS in GMAP allows for prior learning assessment for a limited number of credit hours for select components of the degree program. With the exception of the core courses (GMAP 500,GMAP 501,GMAP 502,GMAP 503, andGMAP 504) and the Capstone Project (GMAP 590), students may fulfill up to 12 credits of program requirements through a process of Individualized Prior Learning Assessment (IPLA) based on prior experience resulting in graduate-and professional-level learning and corresponding competencies. That is, students may demonstrate prior graduate- and professionallevel learning to fulfill the requirements in: special topics in politics and policy for atrocity prevention, special topics in tools and technologies for atrocity prevention, special topics in GMAP, advanced methods for GMAP, mechanisms for atrocity prevention applied research projects or the field placement. The sources of appropriate and acceptable prior learning differ for the different program components. Additional information and instructions for applying for IPLA are available on the I-GMAP website.

Graduation

Following the student’s satisfactory completion of coursework, the field placement and the capstone project, the program recommends to the Office of Student Records that the candidate be awarded the MS in GMAP degree.

Double Degree Programs

Drawing on resources from across Binghamton University, we offer three double degree programs that allow students to earn a Master of Science in Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention (GMAP MS) and another master’s degree from Binghamton in just three years. Students in these programs gain knowledge, skills and perspectives in fields other than genocide and mass atrocity prevention. Each double degree program leads to the award of two professional degrees in significantly less time (and tuition costs) than if the two degrees were pursued separately. The double degree options are as follows:

Double Degree in Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention and Public Administration (MS-MPA)
Double Degree in Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention and Systems Science (MS-MS)
Double Degree in Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention and History (MS-MA)

The Master of Science in Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention (MS in GMAP) is housed within the University-wide Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention at Binghamton University and the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is housed within the College of Community and Public Affairs at Binghamton University. Both are considered professional terminal degrees. By carefully structuring the sequence of courses and using courses in one program to count as electives in the other, the MS in GMAP/MPA double degree program will allow students to complete both degrees in three years of full-time study without compromising the professional standards of either program.

The double degree program will prepare students for administrative positions that focus on atrocity prevention. Topics students learn about in the MS in GMAP program include analyzing risk factors, formulating strategies, and implementing policies and practices to reduce the occurrence, severity and potential for recurrence of genocides and other mass atrocities around the world, while the MPA provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary for management in the public and nonprofit sectors. View the course sequencing template.

Double Degree in Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention and Systems Science

The Master of Science in Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention (MS in GMAP) is housed within the Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention at Binghamton University and the Master of Science in Systems Science (MS in Systems Science) program is housed in the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science at Binghamton University. Both are considered professional terminal degrees. By carefully structuring the sequence of courses and using courses in one program to count as electives in the other, the MS in GMAP/MS in Systems Science dual degree programs will allow students to complete both degrees in three years of full-time study without compromising the professional standards of either program. The double degree program will prepare students for positions that focus on understanding, modeling, analyzing, optimizing and improving various forms of complex systems for atrocity prevention. Topics students learn about in the MS in GMAP program include analyzing risk factors, formulating strategies, and implementing policies and practices to reduce the occurrence, severity and potential for recurrence of genocides and other mass atrocities around the world, while the MS in Systems Science provides students with knowledge and skills skills to enact systems thinking and problem solving methodologies. View the course sequencing template.

Double Degree in Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention and History

The Master of Science in Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention (MS in GMAP) is housed within the University-Wide Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention at Binghamton University, while the Master of Arts in History (MA in History) is housed within the Harpur College for Arts and Sciences. By carefully structuring the sequence of courses and using courses in one program to count as electives in the other, the MS in GMAP/MA in History double degree program will allow students to complete both degrees in three years of full-time study without compromising the professional or academic standards of either program. The double degree program will prepare students to enter the workforce with a deep understanding of the past in order to help prevent future acts of collective violence. The Department of History offers graduate students the opportunity to specialize in geographic regions, such as American, European, Latin American and Ottoman history, in addition to thematic areas of studies, such as imperialism, medicine and technology, and women, gender and sexuality. As part of the MS in GMAP program, students will also learn how to analyze risk factors, formulate strategies, and implement policies and practices to reduce the occurrence, severity and potential for recurrence of genocides and other mass atrocities around the world. In doing so, students who graduate from the double degree program in Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention and History will be able to directly apply historical knowledge for social good. View the course sequencing template.

Additional Information About the Program

For more information on the GMAP MS program, please refer to the Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention website. To apply to the GMAP MS program, please visit the University Admissions website.

Program: Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention, MS - Binghamton University (2024)