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 335 History of Jewish Women (3) H
JWSH 336 Jewish American Literature and Culture (3) H; KU Core Goal 4.2
JWSH 338 Languages of the Jews (3) H
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 343 The Holocaust in History (3) H
JWSH 344 Modern Jewish History (3) H
JWSH 350 Contemporary Jewish Identities (3) SC H
JWSH 361 Jewish Film (3) HL 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 560 Modern Jewish Thought (3) H
JWSH 572 Jewish Folklore (3) H
JWSH 573 Jewish Folklore, Honors (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
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 320 The Bible Then and Now (3)
JWSH 321 Religion of Ancient Israel (3) H/W
JWSH 325 Introduction to Judaism (3) H
JWSH 326 The Talmud: Its Origins, Nature, and Evolution (3) H
JWSH 330 Mystical Tradition in Judaism (3) H
JWSH 337 Religious Zionisms (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 523 The Dead Sea Scrolls (3) H
JWSH 525 Jews and Christians (3) H
JWSH 562 Judaism and Political Theology (3) H
JWSH 563 Judaism and Sexuality (3) H
JWSH 570 Studies in Judaism (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
Congratulations Elizabeth Wenger!
Elizabeth Wenger has won the Jack and Lavon Brosseau Creativity Award in writing! Elizabeth was recognized for one of her creative-nonfiction essays “Still Frame,” which is part of her larger undergraduate thesis “Dancing to Utopia.” Wenger’s writing combines personal experiences, quotations, research, and visual markers that guide readers through this creative-nonfiction essay. Wenger is a senior majoring in both English and Slavic Languages and Literatures, and a minor in Jewish Studies and in History. 
Congratulations Elizabeth!
Congratulations Elizabeth!Upcoming Program Events
Department News
KU Today
Nondiscrimination Policy
In the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at The University of Kansas, we understand that an equitable and safe multiracial, multiethnic, and multicultural environment produces innovative thinking, research, and learning. Click here for the University's nondiscrimination policy.
