Judaic Studies (BA)

Students from many different backgrounds and diverse interests benefit from learning more about the history of Western civilization through the perspective of Judaic studies. The Harold Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies offers both a major and a minor for students. The program emphasizes the history, religion, and civilization of the Jewish people, as well as two years’ proficiency in Hebrew language and literature. The major is interdisciplinary, meaning undergraduates can take courses from a variety of departments that appeal to their unique interests. Students graduate with both advanced language skills and an increased awareness of diverse cultures and traditions.

The Judaic studies program consists of core courses taught under the HBRW, JDST, and REL subject codes and related courses taught in the disciplines of participating faculty members—anthropology, art history, comparative literature, conflict and dispute resolution, English, geography, folklore and public culture, German and Scandinavian, history, landscape architecture, music, philosophy, political science, religious studies, Romance languages, and women’s and gender studies.

The focus on Jewish cultures and experience as a lens to study the world provides a liberal arts background suitable to careers in a range of professional fields (law, education, rabbinate, social service, public policy) and prepares students for graduate work in Judaic studies, religious studies, and related fields.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Identify, describe and explain Jewish experiences, achievements, and challenges in various historical, social, religious, political, and cultural contexts.
  • Explain how Jewish communities have transformed throughout time and in different places.
  • Demonstrate at least 2nd-year language competence in Modern Hebrew; identify and explain the significance of language in assessing Jewish culture(s).
  • Read and critically analyze primary sources and current scholarly literature, applying appropriate theoretical and methodological tools in the academic study of Judaism and Jewish culture.
  • Make an effective and valid argument in speech and writing: one that successfully establishes a premise and critically supports that premise with appropriate and persuasive scholarly evidence.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

Courses used to fulfill the major requirements must be taken for letter grade and passed with a grade of C+ or better.

Lower-Division Requirements
HBRW 111
& HBRW 112,HBRW 113

and
12
REL 211Early Judaism4
JDST 212Medieval and Early Modern Judaism4
JDST 213The Jewish Encounter with Modernity4
REL 222Introduction to the Bible I4
Upper-Division Requirements
Select three of the following:12
Biblical Narrative
JDST 330American Jewish Cultures4
HBRW 399Special Studies: [Topic]1-12
Six approved elective courses 124
Total Credits69-80
1

Courses must focus on significant issues in Judaic studies from the perspective of the instructor’s academic discipline. See Electives table for a list of recently offered courses.

Electives

ANTH 429Jewish Folklore and Ethnology4
ENG 340Jewish Writers4
FLR 411Folklore and Religion4
GER 368Themes in German Literature4
HIST 415Advanced World History: [Topic]4
HIST 428Europe in the 20th Century: [Topic]4
JDST 330American Jewish Cultures4
PHIL 320Philosophy of Religion4
REL 414Biblical Book: [Topic]4

 A list of approved courses is available from the program director preceding each term; it also appears in the online class schedule and the program website.

Honors in Judaic Studies

A degree with honors in Judaic studies requires the following:

  1. Satisfaction of the requirements of the major
  2. A cumulative grade point average of 3.50 in courses taken to satisfy the major requirements
  3. Satisfactory completion of an honors thesis

The candidate for honors must register for 4 credits in Research: [Topic] (JDST 401) winter term of the senior year in order to prepare for writing the thesis, and for 4 credits in Thesis (JDST 403) spring term for its completion. A faculty committee of two supervises the project. A first draft of the thesis must be submitted six weeks before the end of the term in which the student expects to graduate and the final draft two weeks before the end of the term.

Four-Year Degree Plan

The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.

Bachelor of Arts in Judaic Studies

Degree Map
First Year
FallMilestonesCredits
100-level HBRW course 4
WR 121Z Composition I 4
REL 211 Early Judaism 4
General-education course in arts and letters 4
 Credits 16
Winter
100-level HBRW course 4
WR 122Z
Composition II
or College Composition III
4
JDST 212 Medieval and Early Modern Judaism 4
REL 222 Introduction to the Bible I 4
 Credits 16
Spring
100-level HBRW course 4
JDST 213 The Jewish Encounter with Modernity 4
General-education course in social science 4
General-education course in science 4
 Credits 16
 Total Credits 48
Degree Map
Second Year
FallMilestonesCredits
300-level HBRW course 4
General-education course in social science 4
General-education course that also satisfies a multicultural requirement 4
Upper-division elective course 4
 Credits 16
Winter
300-level HBRW course 4
General-education course in arts and letters 4
General-education course in science 4
Upper-division elective course 4
 Credits 16
Spring
300-level HBRW course 4
JDST 330 American Jewish Cultures 4
General-education course in social science 4
General-education course in science 4
 Credits 16
 Total Credits 48
Degree Map
Third Year
FallMilestonesCredits
General-education course in arts and letters 4
General-education course in science 4
Upper-division elective courses (Must begin HBRW 111 by this term) 8
 Credits 16
Winter
General-education course in arts and letters 4
General-education course that also satisfies a multicultural requirement 4
Upper-division elective course 4
Elective course 4
 Credits 16
Spring
General-education course in social science 4
Upper-division elective courses 4
Elective courses 8
 Credits 16
 Total Credits 48
Degree Map
Fourth Year
FallMilestonesCredits
Upper-division general-education courses 8
Electives 8
 Credits 16
Winter
Upper-division general-education courses 8
Electives 8
 Credits 16
Spring
Upper-division general-education courses 8
Electives 8
 Credits 16
 Total Credits 48