Judaic Studies
Program Components
The Judaic Studies Department offers two BA degrees and two minor concentrations: a major and minor in the history and culture of the Jewish people as interpreted in modern scholarship and a major and minor in Hebrew language and literature. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of Judaic studies, the department draws on faculty from other departments, including the departments of history, sociology, political science, philosophy and Romance languages, in order to offer a wide variety of courses in all periods of Jewish civilization. Internships for credit in local Jewish agencies are also possible.
Judaic studies courses given by the Israeli universities in the SUNY study-abroad programs are applicable to the Judaic studies major and minor. SUNY programs in Israel are available through Albany, Buffalo and Oneonta.
Judaic Studies Major
Judaic studies has as its subject of study the history and culture of the Jewish people. The Judaic studies major, therefore, seeks in the first instance to acquaint the student with the breadth of Jewish history, with emphasis on intellectual and cultural developments. A second focus of the major is a knowledge of Hebrew, which has always served Jews as their primary literary vehicle. With these goals in mind, and in an attempt to accommodate varied emphases, two tracks are offered within the Judaic studies major.
Common to Both Tracks
Three of the following core courses:
• JUST 241. Biblical History: Hebrew Origins to the Exile
• JUST 242. Jewish History: Second Temple Period
• JUST 243. Medieval Jewish History
• JUST 244. Modern Jewish History
Track 1: Concentration in Judaic Studies
• All four of the core courses listed above;
• an additional four departmental offerings, exclusive of HEBR 101 through 261. Electives must be approved by the departmental adviser for their inclusion as major requirements. A senior thesis may be substituted for one of these courses.
Language Proficiency Requirement
• Hebrew language proficiency at HEBR 204 level.
TOTAL COURSES: eight (plus language proficiency requirement).
Track 2: Concentration in Hebrew
Three of the four core courses listed above.
• HEBR 204. Readings in Hebrew
• HEBR 261. Israeli Poetry and Prose
(HEBR 221. Hebrew Conversation and Composition, may be substituted with consent of the department.)
• HEBR 331, or another course in rabbinic or medieval literature;
• HEBR 351, or another course in modern Hebrew literature;
• one course in biblical literature;
• another upper-level Hebrew course, or
— a fourth core course, or
— a course in Yiddish or
— ARAB 102. Elementary Arabic II
Students who place out of HEBR 204 or 261 must substitute an equivalent number of upper-level Hebrew courses. In addition, substitutions for HEBR 204 and 261 may include:
• a fourth core course
• courses in Yiddish
• ARAB 102. Elementary Arabic II
TOTAL COURSES: nine
Judaic Studies Minor
Parallel to the major, two tracks are offered for a minor concentration in Judaic studies.
Track 1 allows for a concentration in Judaic studies without a language requirement. Track 2 allows for a concentration in Hebrew.
Track 1: Minor in Judaic Studies
Three of the following core courses:
• JUST 241. Biblical History: Hebrew Origins to the Exile
• JUST 242. Jewish History: Second Temple Period
• JUST 243. Medieval Jewish History
• JUST 244. Modern Jewish History
Three other non-language-department offerings. The fourth core course may be substituted for one of them. Advanced Hebrew courses, if they are primarily literature courses rather than language courses, may be substituted with the prior consent of the department.
Track 2: Minor in Hebrew
Six courses in Hebrew, at least two above the 204 level. HEBR 101 and 102 may be included among the required six courses.