Current and Potential Students: Major

Major in Jewish Studies


Coordinator: Dr. Rachel N. Baum, Curtin 879, x5156; email: rbaum@uwm.edu

The Jewish Studies major has two tracks: Hebrew Studies and Jewish Cultural Studies. Hebrew Studies focuses on the foundations of Judaism, as well as the reading of Biblical and classical Jewish texts. Jewish Cultural Studies focuses on modern Jewish history, literature, film and politics, and does not require Hebrew language.

Hebrew Studies Track

  • 24 credits beyond the language requirement. Students must earn credit for four semesters of Hebrew.
  • 15 credits must be in courses at the 300-level or above, taken in residence at UWM.

Requirements:

Hebrew Language
Students must earn credit for Hebrew 101, 102, 201 and 202. Students coming to UWM with prior study in the language may take a test to determine correct placement.

Religious Foundations, 3 credits
One of the following, or substitution approved by the coordinator:

Hebrew Studies 100 - Introduction to Judaism
Hebrew Studies 231 - Introduction to the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible

HebStu/His/Phil 275 - Introduction to Middle Eastern and Western Religions

History, 3 credits
One of the following:

Hebrew Studies 249 - History of Jewish Civilization: Biblical Period
Hebrew Studies 250 - History of Jewish Civilization: The Greek and Roman Periods
Hebrew Studies 251 - History of Jewish Civilization, Medieval and Modern Periods
History 370 - Topics in the History of Religious Thought

HebStu/History 274 - Ancient Egyptian Civilization

History 101 - Western Civilization: Ancient World to 1500
History 102 - Western Civilization: 1500 to the Present
History 282 - The Modern Middle East in the 19th and 20th Centuries
History 319 - The Era of the Crusades

History/Jewish 379 - Introduction to Jewish History

Literature, 6 credits
Two of the following:

Hebrew Studies 131 - Introduction to Biblical Studies
Hebrew Studies 231 - Introduction to the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible
Hebrew Studies 232 - Survey of the Literature of the Post-Biblical Period
Hebrew Studies 235 - The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible
Hebrew Studies 236 - The Biblical World
Hebrew Studies 238 - Topics in Hebrew/Jewish Literature, Art, and Culture:
Hebrew Studies 254 - Studies in Hebrew Culture:
Hebrew Studies 268 - Jewish and Christian Responses to the Holocaust
Hebrew Studies 331 - Topics in Biblical Literature:
Hebrew Studies 332 - Women in the Bible

Research, 3 credits
Jewish 599 Methods in Jewish Studies
Or approved upper-level course with research paper (see research requirement)

Electives, 9 credits
A variety of courses related to Judaism, Israel, Holocaust, and the Bible can be used to fulfill the electives requirement.

Jewish Cultural Studies Track

  • 30 credits
  • 15 credits must be in courses at the 300-level or above, taken in residence at UWM
  • This track does not include a language requirement beyond the Letters & Science language requirement. All Jewish Studies majors & minors must fulfill the L&S language requirement. Students may consult the Jewish Studies coordinator to discuss their language plans in the context of their work in Jewish Studies.

Requirements:

Core Courses, 9 credits:
Jewish 101 - Jewish Cultural America: History, Literature, Film
History/Jewish 379 - Introduction to Jewish History,
Jewish 599 - Research Methods in Jewish Studies (under development) or approved upper-level course with research paper.

History, 6 credits
Hebrew Studies 238 - The Arab-Israeli Conflict
Jewish 273 - U.S. Israel Relations
History 282 - The Modern Middle East in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
Hebr St/Political Science 328 - The Arab-Israeli Conflict
History/Jewish 358 - The Jews of Modern Europe: History and Culture
History 363 - Germany: Hitler and the Nazi Dictatorship
History 364 - Holocaust: Anti-Semitism and the Fate of Jewish People in Europe, 1933-1945
History 370 - Topics in the History of Religious Thought:
History 401 - Topics in Middle Eastern History:

Other Required Courses, 6 credits
Film Studies/Jewish 350 - Global Jewish Film and Television
Hebrew Studies/Jewish 261 - Representing the Holocaust in Words and Images
Hebrew Studies 321 - The Holocaust and the Politics of Memory
Hebrew Studies 449 - Seminar on Modern Jewish Thought
JMC/Jewish 210 - Jewish and Ethnic Narratives and Identities in Media
Jewish 260 - Negotiating Religion & Nationalism: Jewish Experience in Europe/Mid. East
Political Science 371 - Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict
Sociology 495 - Seminar in Sociology: Spatiality of the Holocaust

Electives, 9 credits
A variety of courses related to Judaism, Israel, Holocaust and the Bible can be used to fulfill the electives requirement