Course at a Glance
Course: HIST 319Z (1 Credit)
Class and Credits: Nuremberg: The Third Reich and the Rise of Nazism (1 Credit)
Location: Nuremberg, Germany
When: 28 January - 10 February 2026
On-site in Nuremberg: 31 January 2026
Register By: 14 January 2026
Status: Open
Highlights:
Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally
Parade Grounds
Nuremberg Museum Permanent Exhibit
Tuition and Fees:
$250.00 Undergraduate 1-credit-hour tuition rate
$40.00 Field Study Additional Fee (Museum tickets, excursions, tour guide).
Nuremberg played a key role in the emergence and establishment of Nazism in the 1920s and 1930s. Learn more in this field study program at UMGC Europe.
Nuremberg played a key role in the emergence and establishment of Nazism in the 1920s and 1930s. The field study course HIST 319Z The Third Reich and the Rise of Nazism examines Nazi Germany by focusing on three main components of its rise and fall: policy and law; culture and propaganda; genocide and aggression. Each of these components is related to the city of Nuremberg, and the course is structured around the city’s role in the Nuremberg Laws, the Nuremberg Rallies, and the Nuremberg Trials.
The 1935 Nuremberg Laws codified the Third Reich’s use of anti-Semitism and racism and dictated daily life for Germans. Discrimination and paranoia about “national loyalty” and “Jewish degeneration” fueled the Nuremberg Laws. The Third Reich’s propaganda and its use of performance and pageantry brings us to the Nuremberg Rallies. Hitler had declared Nuremberg the "City of Nazi Party Rallies" in 1933, and its relationship to Nazi propaganda was irrevocably fused together.
This course provides an overview of this terrifying era and the emergence of Nazism, the establishment of the Third Reich, and its eventual defeat by the Allies in World War II.
Topics include:
- The history of the Eugenics Movement
- Art or architecture during the Third Reich
- Use of mass media as a tool of war
- History of German Jewry
- The Weimar Republic and Hitler’s rise
Faculty member: Dr. Michael Mulvey, email: michael.mulvey@umgc.edu
Students should consult an academic advisor to determine how the course fits into their program.
Course Details
Pre-Course & Week 1
The official course start date is 28 January, 2026. Students will gain access to the online classroom one week prior to the start of the course and should take a virtual walk-through to become familiar with the content and syllabus.
On-site date in Nuremberg
31 January 2026
Sample Itinerary (Final confirmed itinerary will be available in the course syllabus)
Meeting point in Nuremberg will be provided by the faculty member teaching the course
Walking tour of parade grounds; it is outside, so dress appropriately for the weather
Visit the permanent exhibit at the museum with a guided tour
Lunch
Visit the propaganda exhibit
Textbooks and Course Materials
Please refer to the current course syllabus found on the schedule for details about course materials.
Registration Details
You may register for the 1-3 credit field study course with your local program coordinator or online at MyUMGC. Tuition assistance or financial aid can be applied toward tuition costs. For more information, contact the UMGC Field Study Office at CIV +49-(0)631-56000-90000, or email fieldstudies-europe@umgc.edu.
Before completing your travel plans, please verify with your local program coordinator or the Field Study Office at fieldstudies-europe@umgc.edu. that the course will be held as scheduled. If you drop/withdraw from a field study course after the registration deadline, you will be charged a fee of $100. A one-credit hour field study will be charged the amount equal to the pre-purchased tickets. Please see the additional field study fee.
How is a field study course different from a regular course?
A field study course packs all of the 48 contact-hours of other courses into adventure-filled days on location, so you can earn one to three credits at an accelerated pace. In addition, rather than taking place in an education center, a field study course takes place in a historical European city where the subject being studied has its roots. You will visit historical sites and museums as well as participate in lectures that bring it all together for a one-of-a-kind learning experience.
For more information, please visit the Field Study Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.
Helpful Hints
Before you leave:
- Contact your travel agency concerning insurance coverage for cancellations.
- Contact your health insurance company for information concerning coverage at your destination.
- Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of your destination country.
- Check the weather forecast for your destination.
- Obtain city maps for your destination.
- Leave contact information with people at home who may need to reach you during the course.
- Make sure your legal affairs are in order and leave a short-term power of attorney with someone you trust.
- Make two photocopies of your passport and the contents of your wallet--leave one copy at home and bring the other with you.
For more information, please visit the Field Study Resources page.