Jewish Studies Major course requirements:
30 credit hours total, 12 credit hours must be at the 300 level or higher, 15 credit hours must be in residence at KU; minimum GPA 2.0
- 2 courses in Jewish history and/or culture (6 credit hours)
- 2 courses in Judaism (6 credit hours)
- Intermediate level of Hebrew or Yiddish (usually satisfied by taking 2 courses [6 credit hours] at the 200 level)
- 3 electives (9 credit hours)
- JWSH 601, a capstone course (3 credit hours) **During the Fall 2017 semester, JWSH 601 will be attached to pre-exisitng courses. Beginning Spring semester 2018, however, JWSH 601 will be taught as its own course, and will only be taught in the Spring semester thereafter.
Click here for a checklist of frequently offered courses that satisfy the requirements for the major
The Jewish History and/or culture requirement may be satisfied with the following courses:
JWSH 177 First Year Seminar: _____ (3) U; KU Core Goal 1 *depending on the subject
JWSH 300 Topics in Jewish Studies:_____ (3) H *depending on the subject
JWSH 311 Narratives of Jewish Life (3) HL H; KU Core Goal 4.2
JWSH 315 The Spanish Inquisition (3) H; KU Core Goal 4.2
JWSH 318 Jews and Slavs in Eastern Europe (3) H
JWSH 327 Jewish Secular Culture (3) HL H; KU Core Goal 4.2
JWSH 329 Politics and Conflict in Israel and Palestine (3) H
JWSH 336 Jewish American Literature and Culture (3) H; KU Core Goal 4.2
JWSH 339 Languages of the Jews, Honors (3) H
JWSH 340 Topics in Modern Jewish Literature: _____ (3) *depending on the subject
JWSH 341 Hitler and Nazi Germany (3) H/W; KU Core Goal 5
JWSH 342 Medieval to Early Modern Jewish History (3) H
JWSH 350 Contemporary Jewish Identities (3) SC H
JWSH 371 Archaeology of Ancient Israel (3) H
JWSH 382 Jerusalem Through the Ages (3) H
JWSH 395 Study Abroad Topics in Jewish Studies: _____ (3-6) H *depending on the subject
JWSH 490 Directed Study in Jewish Studies (3) H; KU Core Goal 6 *depending on the subject
JWSH 491 Directed Study in Jewish Studies, Honors (3) H; KU Core Goal 6 *depending on the subject
JWSH 526 Jewish History and Literature in the Greek and Roman Periods (3) H/W
JWSH 600 Advanced Topics in Jewish Studies: _____ (3) H *depending on the subject
JWSH 650 Service Learning in Jewish Studies (3) S *depending on the subject
The Judaism requirement may be satisfied with the following courses:
JWSH 107 Jews, Christians, Muslims (3) HR H; KU Core Goals 3, 4.2
JWSH 109 Jews, Christians, Muslims, Honors (3) HR H; KU Core Goals 3, 4.2
JWSH 124 Understanding the Bible (3) HR H; KU Core Goals 3, 4.2
JWSH 125 Understanding the Bible, Honors (3) HR H; KU Core Goals 3, 4.2
JWSH 177 First Year Seminar: _____ (3) U; KU Core Goal 1 *depending on the subject
JWSH 300 Topics in Jewish Studies:_____ (3) H *depending on the subject
JWSH 321 Religion of Ancient Israel (3) H/W
JWSH 326 The Talmud: Its Origins, Nature, and Evolution (3) H
JWSH 330 Mystical Tradition in Judaism (3) H
JWSH 340 Topics in Modern Jewish Literature: _____ (3) *depending on the subject
JWSH 395 Study Abroad Topics in Jewish Studies: _____ (3-6) H *depending on the subject
JWSH 490 Directed Study in Jewish Studies (3) H; KU Core Goal 6 *depending on the subject
JWSH 491 Directed Study in Jewish Studies, Honors (3) H; KU Core Goal 6 *depending on the subject
JWSH 562 Judaism and Political Theology (3) H
JWSH 600 Advanced Topics in Jewish Studies: _____ (3) H *depending on the subject
JWSH 650 Service Learning in Jewish Studies (3) S *depending on the subject
Dr. Renee Perelmutter will be the first Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Jewish Studies Program! Dr. Perelmutter is Associate Professor of Jewish Studies and Slavic. She will begin her position as Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Fall 2017 semester.
Dr. Gal Levy, former Visiting Israeli Professor at KU, has won first prize for best article in Hebrew from the Israeli Political Science Association. The article looks at the post-protest protest in Israel and Dr. Levy gives acknowledgments to the KU Jewish Studies Program. Dr. Levy currently teaches at the Open University in Israel.