Program of Jewish Studies

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

The program has grown out of the conviction that Judaic civilization merits its own comprehensive and thorough treatment and that proper understanding of any culture is inconceivable without adequate knowledge of the language, literature, and history of the people that created it. Accordingly, the offerings in the areas of Jewish languages and literatures have been considerably expanded, and courses in ancient, medieval, and especially modern Jewish history and culture have been added to the program.

It is a broadly based, interdisciplinary program, bringing together faculty from various Cornell departments and colleges.

The scope of the Jewish Studies curriculum covers Jewish civilization from its ancient Near Eastern origins through its contemporary history and culture in Israel and the diaspora communities around the world. It is a secular, academic program, the interests of which are diverse and cross-cultural. The program recognizes its special relationship to teaching and research in classical Judaica and Hebraica pursued by the members of the Department of Near Eastern Studies.

It presently enables students to obtain basic instruction and specialization in the fields of Semitic languages; the Hebrew Bible; medieval and modern Hebrew literature; ancient, medieval, and modern Jewish history; and Holocaust studies. In some of these fields students may take courses on both graduate and undergraduate levels. Faculty throughout the university provide breadth to the program by offering courses in related areas of study.

JEWISH STUDIES CONCENTRATION

For students interested in constructing or satisfying a concentration in Jewish Studies, the following requirements must be fulfilled.

The precise sequence and combination of courses chosen to fulfill the major is selected in consultation with the advisor. All majors must satisfy the following requirements (no course may be used to satisfy two requirements: S/U OPTIONS NOT PERMITTED):

1. JWST 251 or equivalent introductory survey in Jewish Studies..
2. Two 200-level Program of Jewish Studies survey courses, one whose chronological parameters fall with in the period 3000 B.C.E. to 600 C.E. to the present.
3. One 300-level Program of Jewish Studies course.

BREADTH REQUIREMENTS

Students must include in their undergraduate curricula at least one course that focuses on an area or a people other than those of the United States, Canada, or Europe, and one course in an historical period before the twentieth century.
(Courses focusing on the Native American cultures may count toward the breadth requirement.)
Courses that satisfy the first breadth requirement, geographical breadth, are marked with a @.
Course that satisfy the second, historical breadth, are marked with a #.
Refer to Program of Jewish Studies Descriptions of Courses.

STUDY ABROAD

Students concentrating in Jewish Studies may choose to study abroad in their junior year. There are various academic programs in Europe and Israel that allow for the transfer of credit. Archaeology field work on Cornell-sponsored projects in the Near East or recognized field schools in Israel may also qualify for course credit.

Jewish Studies Home | General Information | Faculty | Courses| NES Home | Links