Armenian Studies

About the Program

Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Berberian Coordinator
Peters Business Building, Room 384
559.278.2669
cah.fresnostate.edu/armenianstudies

The Armenian Studies Program offers courses on Armenian history, Armenian language and literature, art and architecture, culture, 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 Republic of Armenia, or for graduate work in Armenian doctoral programs at UCLA, UC Berkeley, 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 course 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.

The Armenian Series. The Armenian Series was established under the auspices of The Press at California State University, Fresno. Books with an Armenian theme are published in The Armenian Series. Seventeen books have been published in the Series.

Pete P. Peters Endowment. In 1998, Mr. Pete Peters, a long-time supporter of Armenian Studies, established a substantial endowment to benefit Fresno State students. Proceeds from the endowment are used for student scholarships.

The Leon S. Peters Foundation has generously supported the Armenian Studies Program by funding its Lecture Series, providing student scholarships, and providing general support for the program.

The Thomas A. Kooyumjian Family Foundation has provided general support for the Armenian Studies Program and support for special programs. It has also provided for student scholarships.

The Bertha and John Garabedian Charitable Foundation has generously supported the Armenian Studies Program by providing student scholarships and providing general support of the Program.

The Gladys Z. Ashjian Endowment supports special programs in the Armenian Studies Program.

The Anne Elizabeth Elbrecht Endowment supports special programs in the Armenian Studies Program.

The Florence Elaine Hamparson Endowment supports special programs in the Armenian Studies Program.

The Helen Zevart Peterson Endowment provides support for musical programs and speakers in the Armenian Studies Program

The Ralph Shabazian Endowment provides supports special programs in the Armenian Studies Program

The Eveleyn Sahroian Tregoning Endowment supports special programs in the Armenian Studies Program.

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.

Scholarships. Students working toward a minor or simply enrolling in Armenian courses are eligible for scholarships administered by the program. These include the George & Shenora (Kirishian) Adishian Endowed Scholarship; Armenian Professional Society of San Francisco Scholarship; the AGBU Greater Fresno Chapter Scholarship; the Jeff & Jason Ahronian Scholarship; the G. Franklin Antoyan Armenian Scholarship; the Ayvazian Family Foundation in memory of Elizabeth Ayvazian; the Nerces and Ruth Azadian Memorial Scholarship; the Valerie J. Badvelian Armenian Scholarship; the Krikor & Mary Bedoian Armenian Scholarship; the Clara Bousian Bedrosian Armenian Scholarship; the Dr. Vartan and Sossie Djabrayan Scholarship in memory of Sossie’s beloved parents, Nazareth and Nvere Ohannessian; the Bertha and John Garabedian Charitable Foundation Scholarship Fund; the Donald Garabedian Armenian Scholarship; Ronald J. Garabedian II Armenian Legacy Scholarship; the Peter Mourad Hagopian Memorial Scholarship; the John & Vars Ralph & Marian, Richard & Vartiter, Vernon & Carol Hovannisian Memorial Scholarship; the Albert and Isabelle Kabrielian Scholarship for Armenian Studies; the Armen Kandarian Memorial Scholarship; the Koren and Alice Odian Kasparian Scholarship; the Charlie Keyan Endowed Scholarship; the Elizabeth Koojoolian Memorial Scholarship; the Yervant, Rose, and Hovannes Levonian Educational Grant; the Isabel Lion Memorial Scholarship; the James & Connie Melikian Armenian Scholarship; the John and Lucille Melkonian Scholarship; the Franklin Der and Elsie Ohanesian Memorial Scholarship; the John Ohanian Memorial Scholarship; the Charles K. and Pansy Pategian Zlokovich Scholarship; the Simon and Haiganoosh Peterson Family Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund; the Robert V. Saroyan Family Scholarship; the Walter Sepetjian Memorial Scholarship; the Ralph Shabazian Endowed Scholarship; the Genevieve Tatoian Scholarship; and the James L. Melikian and L.A. Brothers Scholarship. The Warren and Lesa Paboojian Foundation “student editor award” is given annually to the editor of Hye Sharzhoom.

Annual renewals are assured for students who continue to enroll in Armenian studies courses. In addition to these, full tuition scholarships and research-assistant grants are also available.

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.

Thanks to the support of the Kashian Family Foundation, qualified students may study for one academic semester, with all expenses paid, at the American University of Armenia.

Faculty

• Barlow Der Mugrdechian,
• Berberian Coordinator, Armenian Studies Program,
• Director, Center for Armenian Studies
• Sergio La Porta, Haig and Isabel Berberian Endowed Chair in Armenian Studies
• Hagop Ohanessian

Additional Staff

• Henry S. Khanzadian Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies

Programs

• Armenian Studies, Minor