Judaic Studies

Judaic Studies | Courses | Judaic & Near Eastern Studies Faculty

744 Herter

Degree: Bachelor of Arts

Office: 744 Herter

Phone: 545-2550

Chair of Department:ÝProfessor James Young. Professors Berkovitz, Bolozky, Lester, Rothstein, Rubin; Associate Professor Shapiro; Assistant Professors Ben-Ur, El-Hibri; Senior Lecturer Jiyad; Lecturer Schwarz. Adjunct Professors Busi, Denny, Dienes, Ellis, Erdman, Katsh, Mednicoff, Schwartzwald, Stone, Sullivan, Swartz, Wilson.

Judaic Studies

The Field

The program in Judaic Studies seeks to cultivate an appreciation of the central role played by Jewish culture in the development of human civilization. As an interdisciplinary program, Judaic Studies exposes students to a variety of perspectives on issues of enduring importance and global concern. Students may choose from a wide selection of introductory and advanced courses in Jewish history and thought, a full program in Hebrew language and literature, and Yiddish language. Beyond the core area of instruction, the curriculum also includes courses offered by several distinguished faculty holding joint appointments in Judaic Studies.

Students may supplement the Judaic Studies course offerings with the following options: Special Problems courses in the area of a student's particular interest may be arranged with adjunct Judaic Studies faculty. Approved one-credit courses offered through the Hillel Foundation or Chabad House may be taken by enrolling in either JUDAIC 191 or JUDAIC 192. Consult the department's Course Description Guide produced each semester.

Students are also encouraged to spend one or two semesters of study at a recognized Israeli university, and may, with prior permission, apply Judaic and Hebrew credits toward their major in Judaic Studies. Information on available programs may be obtained at the Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies.

The Major

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

1. JUDAIC 101 and 102 The Jewish People I and II

2. Three years of Hebrew. Students may take Hebrew courses in a combination of language (modern and/or biblical), literature, or linguistics. However, a first-year or second-year sequence in Modern Hebrew or in Biblical Hebrew followed by its Biblical Hebrew or Modern Hebrew counterpart at the same level does not constitute an additional year in the three-year language requirement.

110, 120 Elementary Modern Hebrew

126, 246 Intensive Modern Hebrew

230, 240 Intermediate Modern Hebrew

301, 302 Advanced Modern Hebrew

111, 121 Elementary Biblical Hebrew

231, 312 Readings in Hebrew Bible, Classical Hebrew Texts

351, 352 Readings in Modern Hebrew

361, 362 Modern Hebrew Literature

411 Hebrew Linguistics 298, 398 Practica

3. Six 3-credit upper-division Judaic Studies courses (at or above the 300 level), with at least three in a field of concentration, determined in consultation with the Chief Undergraduate Adviser. Areas such as Bible, literature, or a particular period of history would be appropriate.

301 Bible and Archaeology

305 Judaism and Christianity in the Ancient World

325 Jews, Christians and Muslims in the Medi- eval World

333 Jewish Philosophers of the 20th Century

335 The Jewish Experience in Europe

345 The Making of Modern Jewry

350 Jewish Law and Society

365 Antisemitism in Historical Perspective

366 Zionism and the State of Israel

367 Israel in the 20th Century: Society and Lit- erature

375 The Jewish Experience in America

385 The Jews of Eastern Europe

390B World Jewry Since 1945

390D Sephardic Cultures and Literatures of the Spanish Diaspora

391D Women, Gender, Judaism

392 Blacks and Jews: A Comparative Study of Oppression

392A Jewish Music

394A Major Issues in Contemporary Jewish Life

395A Family and Sexuality in Judaism.

397R Jewish Folklore

497 Special Topics: The Writings of Elie Wiesel

ENGL 319 Representing the Holocaust

ENGL 320 Religion in Western Literature

HIST 387 The Jewish Holocaust

4. The Junior Year Writing requirement: two credits of the Junior Year Writing practicum course (JUDAIC 398W), or two one-credit 398W courses taken over two semesters. In either case, each single credit will be associated with a Judaic Studies course designated as "Writing-intensive."

An Honors option is available for qualified students.

5. Courses with a Pass grade or a grade lower than C cannot be accepted for major credit.

Hebrew Language

Students can fulfill the University language requirement with either modern or biblical Hebrew. For course listings, see above.

Career Opportunities

A major in Judaic Studies is suitable preparation for any preprofessional training which requires an undergraduate liberal arts education. Many of our majors have plans for a career related to Judaica or graduate study. Alumni and alumnae who have majored in Judaic Studies have gone to graduate schools such as Brandeis, Harvard, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Yeshiva University School of Social Work, and have entered fields such as Jewish communal service, social work, the arts and communications, teaching, and advanced graduate study.

The Minor

The Judaic Studies or Hebrew Minor enables students to gain grounding in some particular facet of the discipline, without fulfilling the full range of major requirements.

In Judaic Studies

1. JUDAIC 101 and 102, or their equivalent.

2. Four additional courses, at or above the 300 level, with two in a field of concentration (see course listings above).

In Hebrew

Any six courses (18 credits) in Hebrew language (beyond Hebrew 120 Elementary Modern Hebrew II), literature or linguistics (see course listings above).

Judaic Studies | Courses | Judaic & Near Eastern Studies Faculty