Judaic Studies Minor

 


Areas of Focus:  The minor program is structured into six areas: Ancient Judaism, Jewish History: Modern and Contemporary, Holocaust Studies, Judaic Literature and Language, Jewish Religion and Philosophy, and Modern Israel. A listing of the courses within each area is available on the Judaic Studies website https://judaicstudies.umbc.edu/. For additional information, please e-mail Dr. Rosentha, Director of Judaic Studies at arosent1@umbc.edu

Requirements:  The minor in Judaic studies requires a minimum of 18 credits. This requirement can be fulfilled in several ways: (1) by taking at least 18 credits from one area of focus; (2) by taking at least nine credits from one area of focus and nine more credits from the same or another area of focus. or (3) by taking the survey of Judaic Studies that includes at least one course from each of five areas of focus plus one more course, which may include JDST 400. Selection of the courses should be made with the guidance of an academic advisor.  Note: At least 12 of the 18 credits of the minor must be from HEBR or JDST courses.  At least six credits of the minor must be from upper-level courses, and at least nine credits must be from courses taken at UMBC.

Areas of Focus Curricula:

Courses in Ancient Judaism
* Israel and the Ancient Near East – JDST 200  (ANCS 200) (RLST 201)
Introduction to the Bible – TaNaKH – JDST 230
*Judaism in the Time of Jesus and Hillel –  JDST 201 (ANCS 220) (RLST 202)
Introduction to Ancient Egypt ANCS 110
The Archaeology of the Land of Israel ARCH 320
Masterpieces of Ancient Literature ANCS 204
Septuagint GREK 350

Courses in Jewish History: Modern and Contemporary
*History of the Jews in Modern Times – JDST 273 (HIST 273) (RLST 273)
*Contemporary Jewish History – JDST 274 (HIST) (RLST)

History of the Jews in the United States – JDST 370
Modern Israel – JDST 310
*The American Jewish Experience in Film – JDST 371 (AMST 357) (HIST 377)
Ethnic Groups in America – HIST 315
Eastern Europe since 1878 – HIST 378
Jews, Christians, and Muslims in the Middle Ages – HIST 463
German History, 1789-1914 – HIST 483
German History, 1914 to Present – HIST 484
Russia to 1900 – HIST 485
Soviet History on Trial – HIST 486
Europe, 1815-1914 – HIST 487
Europe, 1914 to the Present – HIST 488
Religious Influences in American Life – RLST 315
Sociology of Religion – SOCY 349

Courses in Holocaust Studies
Contemporary Jewish History – JDST 274 (HIST) (RLST)
Origins of Anti-Semitism – JDST 340
*History of the Holocaust – JDST 373 (HIST 373)
Literature of the Holocaust – JDST 320
Europe, 1914 to the Present – HIST 488
German History, 1914 to the Present – HIST 484
The Holocaust: Social Psychological Perspectives*

Courses in Jewish Literature and Language
Introduction to the Bible – TaNaKH – JDST 230
Judaism in the Time of Jesus and Hillel – JDST 201 (ANCS 220) (RLST 202)
Jewish Writing in World Literature – JDST 321
Literature of the Holocaust – JDST 320
A Survey of Modern Hebrew Literature – JDST 323
Masterpieces of Ancient Literature – ANCS 204
The Bible and Literature – ENGL 349
Septuagint – GREK 350
Modern Hebrew – HEBR 101-202
Advanced Hebrew I – HEBR 301
Advanced Hebrew II – HEBR 302
Selected Hebrew Authors – HEBR 323
American Jewish Literature and Drama*

Courses in Jewish Religion and Philosophy
Introduction to Judaic Studies – JDST 100
Introduction to the Bible – TaNaKH – JDST 230
Judaism in the Time of Jesus and Hille – JDST 201 (ANCS 220) (RLST 273)
Jewish Ethics – JDST 330
Philosophy of Religion – PHIL 210
Introduction to Comparative Religion – RLST 220

Courses in Modern Israel
History of the Jews in the Modern Period – JDST 273 (HIST 273) (RLST 273)
Contemporary Jewish History – JDST 274 (HIST) (RLST)
Modern Israel – JDST 310
Modern Israel in Film – JDST 311
* Dynamics of the Arab-Israeli Conflict – JDST 410 (POLI 485)
Middle East International Relations – POLI 486
Modern Hebrew – HEBR 101-202
Advanced Hebrew I – HEBR 301
Advanced Hebrew II – HEBR 302
History of the Holocaust – JDST 373

* Cross listed courses

Evening Option

One or two courses usually are offered in the evening each semester. However, not all courses are offered on an evening basis.