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The Major in Jewish Studies
Goals
The Major in Jewish Studies prepares undergraduate students to treat area studies such as the study of Jews and Judaism from different disciplines, i.e., history, religious studies, language and linguistics, literature, theology, political science, and anthropology. The Major thus combines the Humanities and the Social Sciences in the investigation of Jewish Studies.
The interdisciplinary approach to the Major has two objectives: first, to train students in understanding various aspects of Jews and Judaism and second, to expose students to the serious investigation of topics with different disciplines and methodologies. The program offers a great opportunity to pursue a high-quality liberal arts education. In addition, the Major provides an excellent foundation for students who would like to pursue Jewish Studies in Graduate School, enroll in a rabbinical program, or work in Jewish organizations and communities.
Students who major in Jewish Studies will take ten courses, and will also gain advanced proficiency usually in Hebrew.
Prerequisite for the major
One year of Hebrew (HEBR 101; HEBR 102)
Requirements for the major
Forty credit-hours of course of study as follows:
Core Courses
Twelve credit-hours:
1. JS 100: Survey of Jewish History
2. JS 300: Methods in Jewish Studies
3. JS 490: Senior Seminar
Electives
Twelve credit-hours in elective courses with the approval of the adviser, eight of which must be above 100 level. Students will be encouraged to take at least one comparative course (for example, REL 100, JS 356, JS 169, MES 100, etc.).
Language
Eight credit hours in Hebrew: JS 201, JS 202
Students who have high proficiency in Hebrew will still be required to take two other courses in Hebrew (upper division).
A- Language Track
Additional eight credit-hours in Hebrew: JS 301, JS 302
In this track students take three years of Hebrew. Rationale: the three-year language study is our requirement for the M.A. in Jewish Studies, so we need to provide for this in our B.A. major.
If students wish, they can replace JS 302 with a course in classical texts (Bible, Talmud, etc.), Hebrew literature (JS 430), Israeli media (JS 435), Jewish linguistics (JS 326), or other courses in which the readings are in Hebrew.
Students can replace JS 301 and JS 302 with another Jewish language (Yiddish, Judeo-Arabic, etc.) but have to arrange this with their advisor and with agreement of the relevant faculty member.
B- Culture Track
Eight additional upper division credit-hours in culture (for example, JS 320, JS 324, JS 325, JS 326, JS 341, etc.)
Honors
Students may write an Honors Thesis in accordance with the requirements of the College. In this case they may be required to take one Graduate course which will replace one of the elective courses.
In this track students take three years of Hebrew. Rationale: the three-year language study is our requirement for the MA in Jewish Studies, so we need to provide for this in our BA major.
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