JUDAIC STUDIES


The Jean and Samuel Frankel Center for Judaic Studies now offers both a concentration and minor in Judaic Studies for the Undergraduate level. We are also happy to announce a new M.A. program in Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan.

To learn more about the concentration in Judaic Studies, please read below.

To learn more about the minor in Judaic Studies, please click here.

To learn more about the M.A. in Judaic Studies, please click here.




Concentration



The Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan offers students an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Jewish civilization and thought. Judaic Studies courses explore the rich culture and historical experience of the Jewish people, their unique traditions, interaction with other cultures, and impact on world civilizations. The Center draws on academic expertise of faculty in many disciplines including history; political science; Near Eastern studies; Hebrew and Yiddish; Germanic languates and literatures; English and comparative literature; sociology; social work; religious studies; and law.

Students who are interested in a concentration in Judaic Studies should meet with the concentration advisor as early as possible and plan a coherent course of study. The concentration advisor's name, phone number, and office hours are available in the LSA Counseling Office, 1255 Angell Hall, or in the Frankel Center for Judaic Studies, 3032 Frieze Building.

The Center offers an Honors concentration to qualified Judaic Studies students. Application for an Honors concentration is usually made at the beginning of the third year. Participation requires a 3.5 grade point average. Graduation with Honors is recommended for students who complete all College and Judaic Studies graduation requirements, maintain a 3.5 GPA, and write a substantial Honors thesis which is judged worthy of Honors designation by the thesis advisor and at least one other faculty reader. An Honors concentration is not limited to students who have been in the College Honors Program in the first and second years. The name, phone number, and office hours of the Honors concentration advisor are available in the Honors Office, 1228 Angell Hall, or in the Center for Judaic Studies, 3032 Frieze Building.

The Academic Minor in Judaic Studies: There are no prerequisites. Requirements include Judaic Studies 205 (Introduction to Jewish Civilization and Cultures); two courses in Jewish history, chosen from among History 306, 307, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385; and two additional courses from among those listed in the Judaic Studies Concentration (see below). Students should not elect this minor if they are concentrating in Hebrew and Jewish Studies (HCJS) in the Department of Near Eastern Studies.

PREREQUISITES FOR CONCENTRATION

Fourth semester proficiency in Hebrew or Yiddish, achieved either through course work or placement examination.

Hebrew and Jewish Cultural Studies 101 (Hebrew 201): Elementary Modern Hebrew, I

Hebrew and Jewish Cultural Studies 102 (Hebrew 202): Elementary Modern Hebrew, II

Hebrew and Jewish Cultural Studies 201 (Hebrew 301): Intermediate Modern Hebrew, I

Hebrew and Jewish Cultural Studies 202 (Hebrew 302): Intermediate Modern Hebrew, II

Judaic Studies 101: Elementary Yiddish

Judaic Studies 102: Elementary Yiddish

Judaic Studies 201: Intermediate Yiddish

Judaic Studies 202: Intermediate Yiddish

 

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Judaic Studies concentrators are required to take 27 hours of approved courses. At least 15 of the 27 credits must be elected in residence. Three of these courses are to be elected from Jewish history survey courses. Another course must be in the field of rabbinic literature. In addition, all concentrators must take Judaic Studies 205/505, Introduction to Jewish Civilization and Culture.

Courses currently being offered that fulfill the Jewish history survey requirement are:

History 306/ACABS 321/Religion 358: History and Religion of Ancient Israel

History 307/ACABS 322/Religion 359: History and Religion of Ancient Judaism

History 381: The History of the Jews from the Moslem Conquests to the Spanish Expulsion

History 382: The History of the Jews from the Spanish Expulsion to the Eve of the Enlightenment

History 383: Modern Jewish History to 1880

History 384: Modern Jewish History, 1880 to 1948

  

Courses currently being offered that fulfill the rabbinic literature requirement are:

Judaic Studies 270/HJCS 270: Introduction to Rabbinic Literature

Judaic Studies 317: Topics in Judaic Studies, appropriate sections

HJCS 291, 491, 591, 592: Topics in HJCS, appropriate sections

 

APPROVED COURSES

The following is a list of courses currently approved for the concentration in Judaic Studies. During most academic years, additional courses offered by visiting faculty in these and other disciplines can be approved for a concentration. Transfer course work from colleges or universities in Israel or elsewhere may also be approved. Consult the concentration advisor about these options. Cross-listed courses are included in the listings for each department in which they may be elected. This list was current at the time of printing. Due to ongoing curriculum development, course numbers and titles are subject to change at any time. Please contact the appropriate department for verification of this information.

Courses under other numbers may also fulfill concentration requirements by permission of the Director of Judaic Studies. Please check each semester's Judaic Studies course offerings.

 

ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS AND BIBLICAL STUDIES (ACABS Division 314)

ACABS 101

Elementary Biblical Hebrew I

3

ACABS 102

Elementary Biblical Hebrew II

3

ACABS 121

Introduction to Tanakh/Old Testament

4*

ACABS 200

Introduction to World Religions: Near Eastern

4*

ACABS 201

Intermediate Biblical Hebrew I

3

ACABS 202

Intermediate Biblical Hebrew II

3

ACABS 277

The Land of Israel/Palestine Through the Ages

4

ACABS 321

History and Religion of Ancient Israel

3

ACABS 322

History and Religion of Ancient Judaism

3

ACABS 483

Aramaic I

3

ACABS 484

Aramaic II

3

ACABS 542

Literature of the Hebrew Bible

3

ACABS 543

Bible in Jewish Tradition

3

ACABS 544

Tannaitic Literature

3

ACABS 591

Topics in Ancient Civilizations and Biblical Studies (appropriate sections)

3

ACABS 592

Seminar in Ancient Civilizations and Biblical Studies (appropriate sections)

3

 

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (Division 361)

Eng 317

Modern Jewish Literature

3

Eng 383

Topics in Jewish Literature

3

Eng 417

Senior Seminar: Jewish Culture in America, 1945 to the Present

4

Eng 553

20th Century American Literature on the Holocaust

3

GERMANIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES (Division 357)

GL&L 322

The Origins of Nazism

4*

HEBREW AND JEWISH CULTURAL STUDIES (HJCS Division 389)

HJCS 200

Introduction to World Religions: Near Eastern

4*

HJCS 270

Introduction to Rabbinic Literature

3

HJCS 276

Introduction to Jewish Civilizations and Culture

3

HJCS 277

The Land of Israel /Palestine Through the Ages

4*

HJCS 296

Perspectives on the Holocaust

4*

HJCS 301

Advanced Hebrew I

3

HJCS 302

Advanced Hebrew II

3

HJCS 373

Israeli Culture and Society

3

HJCS 379

Jewish Civilization

4*

HJCS 381

Hebrew Literature in Translation

3

HJCS 401

Hebrew of the Communications Media I

3

HJCS 402

Hebrew of the Communications Media II

3

HJCS 471

Introduction to Modern Hebrew Literature I

3

HJCS 472

Introduction to Modern Hebrew Literature II

3

HJCS 477

Modern Jewish Thought

3

HJCS 478

Jewish Mysticism

3

HJCS 489

The Cycle of the Jewish Year

3

HJCS 491

Seminar in Hebrew and Jewish Cultural Studies

3

HJCS 542

The Literature of the Hebrew Bible

3

HJCS 543

The Bible in Jewish Tradition

3

HJCS 544

Tannaitic Literature

3

HJCS 545

Medieval Jewish Literature

3

HJCS 571

Israeli Literature I

3

HJCS 572

Israeli Literature II

3

HJCS 577

Seminar: Topics in the Study of Judaism

3

HJCS 591

Topics in Hebrew and Jewish Cultural Studies

3

HJCS 592

Seminar in Hebrew and Jewish Cultural Studies

3

HISTORY (Division 390)

Hist 306

History and Religion of Ancient Israel

3

Hist 307

History and Religion of Ancient Judaism

4*

Hist 322

The Origins of Nazism

3

Hist 381

The History of the Jews from the Moslem Conquests to the Spanish Expulsion

3

Hist 382

The History of the Jews from the Spanish Expulsion to the Eve of the Enlightenment

3

Hist 383

Modern Jewish History to 1880

3

Hist 384

Modern Jewish History 1880 to 1948

3

Hist 385

History of Zionism and the State of Israel

3

Hist 386

The Holocaust

4

Hist 396

History Colloquium (appropriate sections )

3

Hist 397

History Colloquium (appropriate sections )

3

Hist 406

The Church and the Jews

3

Hist 407

History of the Jews in Spain

3

Hist 435

History of the Jews in Eastern Europe

3

JUDAIC STUDIES (Division 407)

JS 205

Introduction to Jewish Civilization and Culture

3

JS 270

Introduction to Rabbinic Literature

3

JS 277

The Land of Israel/Palestine Through the Ages

4*

JS 296

Perspectives on the Holocaust

4*

JS 317

Topics in Judaic Studies

3

JS 333

Yiddish Literature in Translation

3

JS 373

Israeli Culture and Society

3

JS 379

Jewish Civilization

4*

JS 381

Hebrew Literature in Translation

3

JS 401

Readings in Yiddish Texts

3

JS 407

The Cycle of the Jewish Year

3

JS 451

The Politics and Culture of Modern East European Jewry

3

JS 467

Seminar: Topics in the Study of Judaism

3

JS 468

Jewish Mysticism

3

JS 478

Modern Jewish Thought

3

JS 495

Independent Studies

1-3

JS 496

Independent Studies

1-3

JS 497

Senior Thesis

3

JS 498

Senior Thesis

3

JS 500

Independent Study (graduate students only)

1-3

JS 505

Introduction to Jewish Civilization and Culture (same as JS 205, but for graduate students)

3

 

POLITICAL SCIENCE (Division 450)

PS 353

The Arab-Israeli Conflict

4

PS 451

The Politics and Culture of Modern East European Jewry

3

PS 452

Israeli Politics and Society

3

RELIGION (Division 457)

Rel 121

Introduction to Tanakh/Old Testament

4*

Rel 201

Introduction to World Religions: Near Eastern

4*

Rel 277

The Land of Israel/Palestine Through the Ages

4*

Rel 296

Perspectives on the Holocaust

4*

Rel 358

History and Religion of Ancient Israel

3

Rel 359

History and Religion of Ancient Judaism

3

Rel 360

Studies in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament): The Primary History

4

Rel 361

Studies in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament): The Prophets

4

Rel 362

Studies in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament): The Writings

4

Rel 444

Myth in the Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern World

3

Rel 469

Jewish Mysticism

3

Rel 471

Topics in the Study of Judaism

3

Rel 478

Modern Jewish Thought

3

SOCIAL WORK

SW 600

Jewish Communal Services in North America and Abroad

3

SW 645

Contemporary Issues in the Jewish Communal Services

3

SOCIOLOGY (Division 482)

Soc 410

The American Jewish Community

3

Soc 412

Ethnic Identity and Intergroup Relations

3




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