Interdisciplinary Studies: Jewish Studies, BALAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Interdisciplinary Studies, Jewish Studies Concentration
The Program in Jewish Culture & Society sponsors this concentration. This concentration provides the student with knowledge of the Hebrew language, the opportunity to begin a study of Yiddish, and a broad appreciation of Jewish religion, culture, and history.
A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Academic Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your advisor.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Interdisciplinary Studies, Jewish Studies Concentration
All substitutions must be approved by the Advisor in the Program in Jewish Culture and Society Office. Substitution for specific courses listed will be approved by the concentration advisor only in exceptional cases.
A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Academic Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your advisor.
Departmental distinction: To be eligible for graduation with distinction, a student must have a college grade point average of 3.5, a major concentration grade point average of 3.5, completion of HUM 498 with a grade of A, and completion of a semester paper in HUM 498 that is judged to be deserving of "distinction" by a committee of at least two faculty members.
High distinction: To be eligible for graduation with high distinction, a student must have a college grade point average of 3.5, a major concentration grade point average of 3.7, and must have completed HUM 492 (instead of HUM 498 ) with a grade of A and a thesis in HUM 492 that is judged to be deserving of "high distinction" by a committee of at least two faculty members.
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
Minimum hours required major and supporting course work: normally equates to 45-51 hours. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
University Requirements
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English, or completion of the third semester in two different languages other than English is required) | 0-20 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| JS 199 | Undergraduate Open Seminar (An Independent Study experience to be arranged with a Jewish Studies affiliated faculty member) | 3 |
| Hebrew and/or Yiddish language courses, including: | 26-29 | |
| Elementary Modern Hebrew I | ||
| Elementary Modern Hebrew II | ||
| Intermediate Modern Hebrew I | ||
| Intermediate Modern Hebrew II | ||
| Advanced Modern Hebrew I | ||
or YDSH 101 | Beginning Yiddish I | |
| Intensive Biblical Hebrew | ||
or HEBR 406 | Advanced Modern Hebrew II | |
or YDSH 102 | Beginning Yiddish II | |
| One course at the 100 or 200 level from each of the following clusters in the Jewish Studies Minor: Religion, Culture, and History. List maintained by the Advisor in the Program in Jewish Culture and Society Office. | 9 | |
| Three courses at the 300 level or above from any of the four clusters in the Jewish Studies Minor: Religion, Culture, History, and Language. List maintained by the Advisor in the Program in Jewish Culture and Society Office. | 9 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Interdisciplinary Studies, Jewish Studies Concentration
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| Free Elective course | 1 |
| HEBR 201 | 5 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| General Education course | 3 |
| HEBR 202 | 5 |
| Language Other Than English (4th level) | 4 |
| General Education course or Composition I 4 | 4 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| HEBR 403 | 5 |
| 100 - 200 level Jewish Studies History course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 4 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| JS 199 | 3 |
| HEBR 404 | 5 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 14 | |
| Total Hours 14 | |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| HEBR 405 or YDSH 101 | 3 |
| 100 - 200 level Jewish Studies Religion course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 12 | |
| Total Hours 12 | |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| REL 205, HEBR 406, or YDSH 102 | 5 |
| 100 - 200 level Jewish Studies Culture course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 17 | |
| Total Hours 17 | |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| 300 - level or above Jewish Studies Cluster course | 3 |
| 300 - level or above Jewish Studies Cluster course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| 300 - level or above Jewish Studies Cluster course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 | |
Total Hours: 120
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Interdisciplinary Studies, Jewish Studies Concentration
- Acquire knowledge of the main concepts in Judaism and Jewish culture.
- Become conversant in the most significant events in Jewish history from antiquity to the present.
- Acquire fluency, or almost fluency, in Jewish languages, such as Hebrew and Yiddish.
- Develop critical reading skills, including the ability to approach primary texts and secondary literature with critical analysis.
- Enhance their ability to identify the main argument of scholarly books and articles.
- Develop rhetorical skills and strategies to convey their opinion on matters in Jewish history, culture, and religion.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Interdisciplinary Studies, Jewish Studies Concentration
The Program in Jewish Culture & Society
Jewish Culture & Society faculty
Jewish Studies advising
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Overview of Admissions & Requirements for the college of LAS