About the Armenian Studies Program

The Armenian Studies Program offers courses on Armenian history,  Armenian language and literature, art and architecture, film, William Saroyan, the Genocide, and contemporary issues. Courses in Armenian history are also offered under the Department of History.

The Minor in Armenian Studies prepares students for teaching careers in one of the 25 Armenian schools in the United States, for administrative positions in Armenian cultural, social, and benevolent organizations, for study and volunteer work in the Armenian Republic, or for graduate work in Armenian doctoral programs at UCLA, Harvard, Columbia, Tufts, the University of Michigan, or Oxford University.

The Haig and Isabel Berberian Chair of Armenian Studies. The Berberian Endowed Chair provides financial support for a distinguished Armenologist. The endowment honoring the Berberians was established by a major gift from their son-in-law and daughter, Dr. Arnold H. and Dianne Gazarian. Other friends have made significant contributions to this endowment.

The Henry S. Khanzadian Kazan Visiting Professorship in Armenian Studies. This specially designed endowment allows the Armenian Studies Program to invite, for one semester each year, an internationally recognized scholar in contemporary Armenian affairs. The distinguished professor will teach a single course on a subject related to modern Armenian history, including the Genocide of 1915 and the formation of the Armenian Republic. In addition, the scholar will present three public lectures on a single topic; these will be published as a volume in the Kazan Armenian Studies series.

The M. Victoria Karagozian Kazan Endowment Fund for the Armenian Studies Program. Thanks to a generous donation by Henry and Victoria Kazan, the university has received a special endowment to support Armenian Studies Program activities and to provide financial resources for research, publications, and conferences related to Armenian studies.

Pete P. Peters Endowment. In 1998, Mr. Pete Peters, a long-time supporter of Armenian Studies, offered the university a substantial endowment exclusively for helping with the program's outreach activities. For the first few years proceeds from the endowment will be used for student scholarships.

The Harry and Mary Topoozian Armenian Studies Merit Scholarship Fund was established by a gift from Mr. Harry Topoozian. An Outstanding Achievement Scholarship will be awarded to a student who has excelled in scholarship, leadership, and community service. Any student enrolled in Armenian Studies courses is eligible.

The Armenian Studies Program Dickran Kouymjian Writing Award. In 1997 the Armenian Studies Program Advisory Board decided to establish an endowment fund for excellence in writing from the proceeds of the 20th Anniversary Banquet honoring Professor Kouymjian. Each year a prize will be given for the best student essay, term paper, or literary work in any discipline on a topic related to Armenia or the Armenians.

The Norma and Bob Der Mugrdechian Armenian Studies Endowed Scholarship has been established to provide scholarships for students who are studying, or have declared a major, in the area of Armenian Studies.

The Armenian Studies Program supports the Armenian Students Organization, the student and program newspaper Hye Sharzhoom, and the Armenian Studies Program Lecture Series.

Thanks to an exchange agreement between Fresno State and Yerevan State University, qualified students can study up to one year in Armenia while registering and paying tuition in Fresno.