UWM Undergraduate Catalog 2009-2010

College of Letters and Science

Foreign Languages and Linguistics

Hebrew/Jewish Studies

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  • College of Letters and Science
    Hebrew/Jewish Studies

• Course of Study: Jewish Studies Major
• Option A. Hebrew Studies
• Option B: Jewish Cultural Studies
• Course of Study: Jewish Studies Minor
• Related Programs
  Courses: Hebrew Studies (HEBR ST)

The Department of Foreign Languages and Linguistics, in cooperation with the Center for Jewish Studies, offers a major in Jewish Studies. The major offers two tracks: Hebrew Studies, which requires proficiency in the Hebrew language and focuses on the texts and history of early Judaism, and Jewish Cultural Studies, which focuses on modern Jewish culture and history. 

Course of Study: Jewish Studies Major

All majors in Jewish Studies are required to register with the program at the beginning of their candidacy. To be accepted into the major, students who wish to pursue the Hebrew Studies option must have a GPA of 2.5 in the first two years of Hebrew language courses. Students who wish to pursue the Jewish Cultural Studies option must have earned a grade of B- or better in Jewish 101.

Language Requirement

Students in the major are required to achieve proficiency in a language other than English, defined as completion of the fourth semester of language studies or its equivalent. For the Hebrew Studies option, students must complete this requirement in modern Hebrew (Hebr St 202 Fourth-Semester Hebrew). Credits earned in completing this requirement count in the major option A GPA. The Jewish Cultural Studies option requires proficiency in French, German, Hebrew (modern or Biblical), Italian, Polish, Russian, or Spanish. Students in this option who are considering advanced studies in Jewish Studies or a career in Jewish education are encouraged to take modern or Biblical Hebrew. Credits earned in completing the language requirement for the Jewish Cultural Studies option do not count in the major GPA.

Research Requirement

To satisfy the College of Letters and Science research requirement, students must complete Jewish 599, Research Methods in Jewish Studies, or, with the consent of the major coordinator, an upper-level course approved for the Jewish studies major in which students will write a research paper. The contents of the paper will be arranged with the faculty member teaching the course.

Option A. Hebrew Studies

The Hebrew Studies option allows students to study Biblical and modern Hebrew, as well as the literature, history, and cultures based on the Hebrew language. Study in Hebrew and in translation allows students to delve into the foundations of Judaism, Biblical and classical literature, and modern Jewish and Israeli literature and culture.

The Hebrew Studies option requires a total of 24 credits beyond the fourth semester of language studies; 15 credits must be completed in courses numbered 300 or above taken in residence at UWM. The College requires that students attain at least a 2.5 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.5 GPA on all major credits attempted, including transfer work. The following requirements must be satisfied.

A.  Religious Foundations, 3 credits

One of the following:

B.  History, 3 credits

One of the following:

C.  Literature, 6 credits

Two of the following:

D.  Research, 3 credits

E.  Electives, 9 credits

Students may choose courses not on this list in areas related to Hebrew, Israel, Judaism, or the philosophy of religion with the approval of the Jewish Studies coordinator.

Option B. Jewish Cultural Studies

The Jewish Cultural Studies option provides the opportunity for students to study modern Jewish culture through its history, art, literature, politics, and social contexts. This option draws from a variety of disciplines to provide for students a broad perspective on the modern Jewish experience.

A.  Core Courses (9 cr):

B.  Two of the following History courses (6 cr):

C.  Two of the following courses (6 cr):

D.  Electives (6 cr): Courses may be selected from any of the following.  

Other relevant courses may be selected with the approval of the Jewish Studies coordinator.

Course of Study: Jewish Studies Minor

The Jewish Studies minor requires the completion, with a GPA of 2.5 or above, of a minimum of 18 credits, at least 9 of which must be taken at the 300 level or above in residence at UWM. Sudents can obtain a minor in Jewish Studies by following one of two options.

Option A. Hebrew Studies

The Hebrew Studies minor option requires the following:

1. Two semesters (at least 6 cr.) in one of the following areas: Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew, or Yiddish language courses:

2. 12 credits selected from the following:

Option B. Jewish Cultural Studies

The minor option in Jewish Cultural Studies requires 18 credits distributed as follows:

1. Core Courses (6 cr):

2. Two of the following History courses (6 cr):

3. Two of the following courses (6 cr):

Other relevant courses may be selected with the approval of the Jewish Studies coordinator.

Related Programs

Hebrew/Jewish Studies students also may be interested in the Comparative Ethnic Studies and the Religious Studies programs as well as the certificate program in Middle Eastern and North African Studies.

Courses

Hebrew Studies (HEBR ST)

Jewish Studies (JEWISH)