The Judaic and Near Eastern Studies department offers the two required introductory courses for the major (Judaic studies majors must complete Judaic 101 and 102). Students are encouraged to take these introductory courses at UMass, but they can be fulfilled with equivalent courses offered through the Five College consortium, upon the academic advisor’s permission. Similarly, upper-level requirements can be fulfilled by taking a wide range of courses in the department, the Five Colleges and, with advance permission, approved study abroad programs.
(All courses carry three credits unless otherwise noted.)
Judaic Studies
- 101 | The Jewish Experience I: Ancient to Medieval (HS, DG) 4 cr (Required)
- 102 | The Jewish Experience II: Medieval to Modern (HS, DG) 4 cr (Required)
- 189 | Culture and Immigration in Israel (HS, DG) 4 cr
- 301 | The Bible and Archaeology
- 305 | Judaism and Christianity in the Ancient World (HS)
- 313 | Transformation and the Jews: Jewish History Through Biography
- 318 | Family and Sexuality in Jewish History and Culture (HS, DG) 4 cr
- 319 | Representing the Holocaust (AL, DG) 4 cr
- 320 | Jewish Humor (AT, DG) 4 cr
- 322 | American Diversity (HS, DU) 4 cr
- 323 | Jewish Utopia/Dystopia
- 324 | Slavery in Comparative Religious Perspective (HS, DG) 4 cr
- 325 | Jews, Christians and Muslims in the Middle Ages (HS, DG) 4 cr
- 326 | Sustainability in Comparative Religious Perspectives (HS, DG) 4 cr
- 327 | Jewish Food in Historical Perspective (HS, DG) 4 cr
- 328 | Mediterranean Mosaic (HS, DG) 4 cr
- 333 | Jewish Philosophers of the 20th Century
- 335 | The Jewish Experience in Europe
- 343 | American Jewish Diversity (HS, DG)
- 344 | Film and Society in Israel (AT, DG) 4 cr
- 345 | Jews and the Challenges of Modernity (HS, DG) 4 cr
- 350 | Jewish Law and Society (SB, DG) 4 cr
- 351 | Crossing Borders in Israel & Palestine (AL, DG) 4 cr
- 353 | Sephardic Cultures and Literatures of the Spanish Diaspora
- 354 | Film, Theater, Jews
- 357 | Israeli Television, Global Reach (AT, DG) 4 cr
- 360 | Biblical Tales and Legends
- 363 | Religion and State (4 cr)
- 364 | Cinema of the Holocaust (HS, DG), 4 cr
- 365 | Antisemitism in Historical Perspective (HS, DG), 4 cr
- 366 | Modern Israel: History, Society, Culture
- 367 | Israel in the 20th Century: Society and Literature
- 373 | Jewish Travelers and Travel Liars: Exploration and Imagination, Ancient to Modern Times (HS, DG)
- 375 | The Jewish Experience in America (HS, DU), 4 cr
- 376 | Post-Holocaust Thought, 4 cr
- 377 | Israel & Palestine Through Film & Pop Culture (AT, DG) 4 cr
- 383 | Women, Gender, Judaism, 4 cr
- 385 | The Jews of Eastern Europe (HS, DG) 4 cr
- HISTORY 387 | History of the Holocaust
- 390B | World Jewry Since 1945
- 390C | Jewish Mysticism
- 390G | Women in Patriarchy (HS, DG)
- 390I | Popular Culture in Israel and Palestine
- 390K | Jews in the Age of the Atlantic Slave Trade
- 391B | Jewish-American Literature, 4 cr
- 391C | The Proverb
- 391E | The Holocaust and Jewish Identity
- 391F | Jewish Women Writers
- 392D | Judaism, Secularism, Modernity
- 392F | Secularization in Modern Israel
- 392K | World Jewish Cultures
- 392L | Jews of Muslim Lands: Responses to Modernity
- 392M | Jewish Labor Movement in America
- 392N | History of the Jewish Graphic Novel
- 393B | Comic Art in North America
- 393C | International Graphic Novel
- 393J | American Jewish History
- 394C | Ritual and Belief in Judaism
- 394MI | Major Issues in Jewish Life and Culture (IE)
- ANTHRO 397AA | Archaeology of Israel & Palestine
- 397B | Jewish Art, 4 cr
- 397 E | Jews, Medicine, and Healing 3cr
- 397F | The Holocaust in Holland 4 cr
- 397J | Observing Jewish Cultures
- 397R | Jewish Folklore
- 398W | Junior Year Writing Requirement 2 cr
- 491J | Holocaust Cinema: History, Memory, Narratives 3 cr
- 492M | History, Evidence, Memory: The Case of 1948 in Palestine/Israel 3 cr
- 492P | War for Palestine, 1948: New Interpretations & Approaches 3 cr
- 494JI | Jews in Greco-Roman Antiquity 4 cr
- 497B | Bad Fences: Trauma, Memory, and Desire in Israeli & Palestinian Cinemas 3 cr
- 497P | Cinema Paranoia: Epidemics/Upheavals/Catastrophes 3 cr
Hebrew
Twelve credits of Hebrew (HEBREW 110–120–230–240, or 126–246, or the Biblical Hebrew four-semester sequence) fulfill the College of Humanities and Fine Arts language requirement. Judaic studies majors must take 18 credits of Hebrew to fulfill major requirements (see above). No more than six degree credits may be earned in courses at the Intermediate level (HEBREW 230/240 or 246).
Note on Elementary and Intermediate Hebrew: No more than six credits may be earned for any combination of courses at the Elementary level (HEBREW 110, 120, 126). No more than six credits may be earned in courses at the Intermediate level (HEBREW 230, 240, and 246).
- 110 | Elementary Modern Hebrew I
- 111 | Elementary Biblical Hebrew I
- 120 | Elementary Modern Hebrew II
- 121 | Elementary Biblical Hebrew II
- 126 | Intensive Modern Hebrew I 6 cr
- 230 | Intermediate Modern Hebrew I
- 231 | Readings in Hebrew Bible
- 240 | Intermediate Modern Hebrew II
- 241 | Readings in Classical Hebrew Text
- 246 | Intensive Modern Hebrew II 6 cr
- 298 | Practicum 1-18 cr
- 301 | Advanced Modern Hebrew I
- 302 | Advanced Modern Hebrew II
- 344 | Hebrew Through the Media I
- 345 | Hebrew Through the Media II
- 351 | Readings in Modern Hebrew I
- 352 | Readings in Modern Hebrew II
- 361 | Modern Hebrew Literature I
- 362 | Modern Hebrew Literature II
- 398 | Practicum 1-18 cr
- 411 | Hebrew Linguistics
Yiddish
- 101 | Elementary Yiddish I
- 102 | Elementary Yiddish II
- 190C | Introduction to Yiddish Culture
- 190D | First Year Yiddish
- 190E | Second Year Yiddish
- 190F | First Year Yiddish II
- 190G | Second Year Yiddish II
- 197S | Yiddish Songs
- 397A | Readings in Yiddish Literature and Culture