Jewish Studies
2014-15 General Catalog
Department of History
201 Humanities
(831) 459-2982
http://jewishstudies.ucsc.edu
Program Description
The interdisciplinary program in Jewish studies introduces students to the study of classical, medieval, and modern Jewish cultures and to the range of disciplines that bear upon the field.
The Jewish studies major and minor offer students the chance to gain knowledge and skills in a variety of contexts in various aspects of Jewish culture, with special reference (though not limited) to modern issues. The major and minor will help them prepare to move successfully into graduate programs in a variety of disciplines, especially in humanities, social sciences, and pre-professional programs, and will provide students with a grounding in materials fundamental to western culture and liberal education. This program connects with a range of disciplines and programs on the UCSC campus that explore the meanings of modernity; at the same time, this program will help students develop analytical tools, methodological versatility, and critical literacy.
Note that modernity here is not defined as Europe or North America; the Jewish studies program intends to speak to modernity as a global phenomenon, dealing with sites where Jews lived. In the 19th and 20th centuries Jews were widely spread across the globe and often played active and influential roles in their communities. These include such places as Shanghai, Tianjin, Harbin, India, Latin America, Egypt, Iran, and of course throughout Europe, Great Britain, and North America.
Students, especially those who plan to continue their studies in graduate school, may wish to gain proficiency in Yiddish, German, or Spanish, depending on their area of interest. The upper-division course Hebrew Bible (Pre- and Early-Modern Literature (LTPR) 144B) is strongly recommended, as is developing language proficiency in Yiddish and/or Hebrew.
Jewish studies is administered by the Department of History. For additional information on curriculum and advising, go to http://jewishstudies.ucsc.edu.
Requirements for the Major
In consultation with a faculty adviser, students will plan a program of study to fulfill the following distribution of courses:
Language
- Three quarters of lower-division instruction in a Jewish language in any combination of the student’s choosing: elementary Hebrew (Hebrew 1, Hebrew 2, Hebrew 3); Hebrew 80, Introduction to Biblical Hebrew; elementary Yiddish (Yiddish 1, Yiddish 2); or equivalent. Students with prior knowledge of Hebrew or Yiddish are advised to complete a language placement exam to determine if they have satisfied any of the elementary language course requirements. Instructions for the placement exam can be found on the Languages and Applied Linguistics web site: http://language.ucsc.edu.
Course Requirements
The major requires a minimum of 11 courses, including the comprehensive requirement. A minimum of 40 upper-division credits must be completed within the Jewish studies major course requirements.
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History 74, An Introduction to Jewish History and Culture, or Literature 61J, An Introduction to Jewish Literature and Culture
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Literature 80L, The Holocaust: The Destruction of European Jewry, or History 75, Film and the Holocaust
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two upper-division history core courses
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two upper-division literature core courses
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four additional core or elective courses, three of which must be upper-division
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one comprehensive exit requirement (see below)
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among the 11 courses required for the major, one course must satisfy the Disciplinary Communications (DC) Requirement (see below)
Distribution Requirements. Among the 11 courses required for the major, at least three must meet the following chronological distribution requirements:
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one course must satisfy the classical chronological distribution requirement
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one course must satisfy the modern chronological distribution requirement
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one course must satisfy the Holocaust chronological distribution requirement, which is accomplished by completing Literature 80L, The Holocaust: The Destruction of European Jewry or History 75, Film and the Holocaust.
Please consult the Jewish studies web site for a more detailed description of these courses.
Comprehensive Requirement. Students may satisfy the Jewish studies comprehensive exit requirement by completing an approved exit seminar (one quarter: History 196G, 196M, 196N, 196P, 196R, History of Consciousness 190A/Jewish Studies 190A, Modern Literary Studies 190Y or Pre- and Early Modern Literature 190Y) or a senior thesis (Jewish Studies 195A and 195B). Please consult the Jewish studies web site for a more detailed description of these courses.
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement. Students of every major must satisfy that major's upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. The DC requirement in Jewish studies is satisfied by completing an exit seminar (one quarter: History 196G, 196M, 196N, 196P, 196R, History of Consciousness 190A/Jewish Studies 190A, Modern Literary Studies 190Y, or Pre- and Early Modern Literature 190Y) or a thesis (two quarters: Jewish Studies 195A and 195B.)
Honors in the Jewish Studies Major. All students who announce candidacy during the academic year are reviewed for honors or highest honors in the major. The Jewish studies faculty advisers determine honors based upon courses applied toward the Jewish studies major. Performance in courses taken elsewhere and being transferred toward the major will be considered when applicable. The minimum standard applied is excellence in most courses for honors, and excellence in all courses for highest honors. Summer, fall, and winter graduates will be reviewed at the end of each of their respective quarters. Spring graduates will be reviewed as of the spring announcement of candidacy deadline.
UC Education Abroad Program. Jewish studies encourages students to take advantage of the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP). The University of California has developed educational opportunities abroad in conjunction with the Jerusalem Study Center at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Subject to the limitations described below under "Transfer credits and substitutions," up to three courses from EAP may be applied toward the Jewish studies major requirements.
Transfer Credits and Substitutions. Jewish studies majors must take a minimum of five regularly scheduled Jewish studies courses plus the comprehensive/DC requirement from members of the UCSC Jewish studies faculty. Subject to the limits indicated, courses from the following categories may be applied to the Jewish studies major:
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Courses taken at another institution (limit of 3)
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Education Abroad Program (limit of 3)
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Related courses not currently on the pre-approved Jewish studies course list (limit of 2)
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Independent and field studies (limit of 1)
Requirements for the Minor
Students whose major area of interest is not Jewish studies may nonetheless find that a minor in Jewish studies makes an invaluable contribution to their studies. This introduction to Jewish studies is helpful for students who plan to do graduate work in Jewish studies, whether through regular disciplines or in Jewish studies programs, and also for students who plan to attend rabbinical schools or to find work with Jewish communities. For others with an interest in Jewish topics, but without such plans, a minor in Jewish studies offers intellectual enrichment and a focus within the student’s chosen field.
The minor requires a minimum of eight courses. A minimum of 25 upper-division credits must be completed within the Jewish studies minor course requirements. In consultation with a faculty adviser, students will plan a program of study to fulfill the following distribution of courses:
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one of the following courses:
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History 74, An Introduction to Jewish History and Culture; Literature 61J, An Introduction to Jewish Literature and Culture; Literature 80L, The Holocaust: The Destruction of European Jewry; or History 75, Film and the Holocaust;
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three upper-division core courses from the Jewish studies curriculum;
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four additional core or elective courses from the Jewish studies curriculum, two of which must be upper-division.
Revised: 09/01/14
