ICL: Holocaust and Human Behavior, April 04, 2025, 10:00 AM – May 09, 2025, 12:00 PM

Instructor - Dr. Bethann Bowman

The "Holocaust and Human Behavior" course is modeled closely on the curriculum built by the Facing History & Ourselves organization (facinghistory.org). The mission of the organization is to challenge students to reflect on and analyze moral questions and dilemmas that arise during the study of history and literature.  Adapted for adult learning, this course delves deeply into the history of the Holocaust. The lessons examine the political, legal, and social conditions of the Holocaust using primary source documents as well as upstander and survival testimony. We will explore human behavior and consider connections between our own actions and the actions of others. We will study the ways in which people make choices and choices make history. As James Baldwin says, "The great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways, and history is literally present in all that we do."  

Standing up to racism, prejudice, and hate is a lifelong endeavor. This course offers the opportunity to examine history through a lens that will help us become more engaged in our history making choices. 

Dr. Bethann Bowman earned her doctoral degree in English literature at the University of Tennessee. She has taught literature for over 20 years in a variety of settings from The Webb School of Knoxville to the University of Tennessee, Carson Newman University and Young Harris College. She is a lover of history, literature, people, the outdoors, and kitty cats! She is currently taking time off from full time teaching to read, write, run, spend time with family and generally enjoy life.