Judaic Studies

Director 
Jay Geller
Associate Professor of History

Advisory Board
Jane Ackerman, Religion
Robert Butkin, Law
Eduardo Faingold, Languages
Stephen Gardner, Philosophy
Jacob Howland, Philosophy
Joli Jensen, Communication
Joseph Kestner, English
Ovadia Shoham, Petroleum Engineering

The certificate program in Judaic studies is designed to provide students with an overview of Jewish history, culture, and religion. The program serves as an excellent preparation for advanced study in many fields, including religion, philosophy, and history. The program may be of special interest to students who plan a period of study abroad in Eastern Europe or the Middle East.

Certificate Requirement

Students must complete 18 hours of approved course work, including at least 12 hours at the 3000-level or above. Students must take at least one course from each of the three distribution areas. In addition to the courses listed below, topical courses eligible for credit towards the certificate may be offered periodically, and study abroad courses may be eligible for credit towards the certificate as approved by the program director.

Area I – Arts, Letters, and Film

  • Engl 3283, The Bible in English Literature to 1800
  • Engl 3293, Representations of Jews in British Literature
  • Engl/Flm 4173, The Jewish Experience in Film
  • Engl 4193, Jewish American Literature

Area II – History, Political Science, and Communication

  • Hist 2433, European Jewish History, 800-1750
  • Hist 2443, European Jewish History, 1750-2000
  • Com 3173, Media, Culture and Power: The Frankfurt School and its Legacies

Area III – Religion and Philosophy

  • Phil 3293, Jewish Thinkers in the Twentieth Century
  • Phil 4333, Jewish Philosophy and Revelation: Ancient and Medieval Approaches
  • Rel 2013, Introduction to Hebrew Bible
  • Rel 2583, Confronting the Holocaust: Questions of Life and Faith
  • Rel 3223, Critical Issues in Jewish-Christian Relations

Foreign Language Study

While the certificate in Judaic studies has no language requirement above the university requirement, students are encouraged to study a foreign language relevant to the Jewish experience, including Hebrew, if possible.