All students pursuing one of the majors in Judaic Studies are required to complete the Harpur College Requirements as well as the requirements for their particular major, listed below.
Harpur College Requirements
Harpur College students must complete the following requirements in addition to those listed for the major:
- 126 credits
- 94 liberal arts and sciences credits
- Minimum of 46 upper-level credits
- Completion of the Harpur College writing requirement (four to five courses as described in the All-College Writing section of the Harpur College Undergraduate Information section of the Bulletin. Maximum of one C/J course and two W courses may be transferred).
- Minimum of 44 credits in residence in Harpur College
- 2.0 or higher GPA
Harpur College requirements are described in detail in the Requirements for Graduation section of the Harpur College Undergraduate Information section of the Bulletin.
Judaic Studies Major:
The Judaic Studies major requires students to take at least 10 courses, of which at least five are taken at the 300-400 level and at least five have to be taken at °®¶¹´«Ã½ University. The distribution of the required courses is as follows:
- One Introductory Course
- JUST 101 Introduction to Judaic Studies
*JUST 111 Introduction to Philosophy of Religion and RELG 101 World Religions may be substituted for JUST 101.
- Two Core Survey Courses
- JUST 201 History to 1500
- JUST 202 History 1500 to Modernity
*Relevant upper-level courses may be substituted for survey courses.
- Four Area Courses
- Students focus their coursework in an area of their choosing, in consultation with faculty.
- Possible areas of study include Jewish history, philosophy, Jewish social justice, communal service, Sephardi studies, Holocaust studies, Yiddish language and culture, Jewish literature and culture, Hebrew, Israel studies, American Judaism and others. Students may consult with faculty to create their own area of study.
- Three Elective Courses
- Any three courses, including language courses.
- Language Proficiency
- Students must complete coursework in Hebrew or Yiddish through the 203-level.
Students who have not met their General Education foreign language requirement are advised to take Hebrew or Yiddish.
*Courses in these languages above the 203-level may be counted toward the major.
Note: Depending on prior exposure to the language, HEBR 101 and 102 may be required prerequisites for the major.
No Pass/Fail courses may count toward the major.
No courses with grades lower than C may count toward the major.
Hebrew Studies Major
The Hebrew studies major requires students to take ten courses, of which 24 credits must be at the 300-400 level.
- Two core survey courses in Judaic Studies:
- JUST 201 History to 1500
- JUST 202 History 1500 to Modernity
- Required language sequence:
- HEBR 203 Hebrew III
- HEBR 204 Intermediate Hebrew
- HEBR 311 Texts and Conversations I
- HEBR 312 Texts and Conversations II
Four HEBR electives. Israeli literature, Yiddish language, Arabic language and Israel Studies may be applied toward the major in consultation with the chair or director of undergraduate studies.
Notes: HEBR 101 and HEBR 102 do not count toward the major but may be required as prerequisites toward the major.
Students who place out of Hebrew language courses may substitute courses in Israeli literature, Yiddish language, Arabic language and Israel studies in consultation with the chair or director of undergraduate studies
No Pass/Fail courses may count toward the major.
No courses with grades lower than C may count toward the major.
Honors
The Honors Program in Judaic studies includes both a four-credit fall research seminar and a four-credit spring honors thesis. Students complete their thesis in the spring under the direct supervision of a faculty thesis advisor. The program is open to seniors majoring in Judaic studies who carry a GPA in the major of 3.5 or higher. The fall research seminar may not count toward the major. The spring honors thesis is in addition to the 10 required courses for the major.
Admission to the program is by application, including a personal statement, brief writing sample and résumé. For more information, contact the director of undergraduate studies or the department chair.
Minors
Judaic Studies Minor
The Judaic studies minor requires that a student take at least six courses. Students minoring in Judaic studies must take Introduction to Judaic studies and two survey courses, or three survey courses, for a total of six courses.
Notes:
- Relevant upper-level courses may be substituted for survey courses.
- Half of the courses for the minor must be at the 300- or 400-level.
- At least three courses used for the minor must be taken at °®¶¹´«Ã½.
- No course with a grade lower than C and no Pass/Fail courses can be counted toward the Judaic studies minor.
Hebrew Studies Minor
The Hebrew minor requires that a student take at least six courses. Only courses above HEBR 102 count toward the minor. At least two of the courses have to be in the 300-400 level. At least two of the courses have to be taken at °®¶¹´«Ã½.
(Students interested in a Hebrew major should discuss the minor requirements with the Hebrew language coordinator, the Judaic studies director of undergraduate studies or the chair.)
Notes:
- Courses in Yiddish language and literature may be counted toward the Hebrew minor.
- No course with a grade lower than C and no Pass/Fail courses can be counted toward the Hebrew minor.
Israel Studies Minor
The minor complements majors in anthropology, Arabic, art history, comparative literature, geography, history, Judaic studies, political science and sociology. Students who are pre-law or pre-health but interested in modern Israeli history, politics and culture will find a home in Israel studies.
Israel provides a case study in the sociology of multi-ethnic and multi-religious relations, as well as international and multilateral conflict and conflict resolution. For this reason, the Israel studies minor serves students with a wide range of interests and backgrounds.
The program of study for the minor in Israel studies consists of:
- Two courses above the 102-level in either Hebrew or Arabic language or literature
- A course on the history of modern Israel
- A course on politics, cultures, and societies of modern Israel
- Two elective courses in Israel Studies
Students may focus their work in Israel studies in history, politics, literature or another area in consultation with faculty.
Notes:
- Half of the courses for the minor must be at the 300- or 400-level.
- At least three courses used for the minor must be taken at °®¶¹´«Ã½.
- Students who pass the test of language proficiency in either Hebrew or Arabic will be required to substitute two courses for the language requirement.
- No course with a grade lower than C and no Pass/Fail courses can be counted toward the Israel studies minor.