Judaic Studies
D. Gantt Gurley, Program Director
541-346-5288
311 Susan Campbell Hall
5273 University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon 97403-5273
The interdisciplinary Harold Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies provides a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum in the history, religion, and cultural traditions of the Jewish people and offers instruction in biblical Hebrew language and literature. The program offers a major leading to a bachelor of arts (BA) degree and a minor. It sponsors courses, lectures, and other events of interest to the general student population and the wider community.
Faculty
Judith R. Baskin, Philip H. Knight Professor (Judaic studies). BA, 1971, Antioch; PhD, 1976, Yale. (2000)
Deborah A. Green, associate professor. BA, 1984, Brandeis; MA, 1997, PhD, 2003, Chicago. (2003)
The date in parentheses at the end of each entry is the first year on the University of Oregon faculty.
Executive Committee
Monique Balbuena, honors college
Judith R. Baskin (ex officio), Judaic studies
Deborah A. Green (chair), Judaic studies
D. Gantt Gurley, German and Scandinavian
Gina Herrmann, Romance languages
Heidi N. Kaufman, English
David M. Luebke, history
Carol Silverman, anthropology
Mary Wood, English
David Wacks, Romance languages
Participating
Michael G. Aronson, English
Monique Balbuena, honors college
Diane B. Baxter, anthropology
Shaul E. Cohen, geography
David A. Frank, honors college
Evlyn Gould, Romance languages
D. Gantt Gurley, German and Scandinavian
Gina Herrmann, Romance languages
Heidi N. Kaufman, English
Jeffrey S. Librett, German and Scandinavian
David M. Luebke, history
Judith Raiskin, women’s and gender studies
Steven Shankman, English
Carol T. Silverman, anthropology
David Wacks, Romance languages
Mary E. Wood, English
Naomi Zack, philosophy
Undergraduate Studies
The Judaic studies program consists of core courses taught under the HBRW, JDST, and REL subject codes and related courses taught in the disciplines of participating faculty members—anthropology, art history, comparative literature, conflict and dispute resolution, English, geography, folklore, German and Scandinavian, history, landscape architecture, music, philosophy, political science, religious studies, Romance languages, and women’s and gender studies.
The focus on Jewish cultures and experience as a lens to study the world provides a liberal arts background suitable to careers in a range of professional fields (law, education, rabbinate, social service, public policy) and prepares students for graduate work in Judaic studies, religious studies, and related fields.
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-Division Requirements | ||
| HBRW 111–113 | Biblical Hebrew I-III | 12 |
| REL 211 | Early Judaism | 4 |
| JDST 212 | Medieval and Early Modern Judaism | 4 |
| JDST 213 | The Jewish Encounter with Modernity | 4 |
| REL 222 | Introduction to the Bible I | 4 |
| Upper-Division Requirements | ||
| Select three of the following: | 12 | |
| Biblical Narrative | ||
| Biblical Poetry | ||
| Postbiblical Literature | ||
| JDST 330 | American Jewish Cultures | 4 |
| HBRW 399 | Special Studies: [Topic] | 1-12 |
| Six approved elective courses 1 | 24 | |
| Total Credits | 69-80 | |
| 1 | Courses must focus on significant issues in Judaic studies from the perspective of the instructor’s academic discipline. See Electives table for a list of recently offered courses. |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 429 | Jewish Folklore and Ethnology | 4 |
| ENG 340 | Jewish Writers | 4 |
| ENG 380 | Film, Media, and History | 4 |
| FLR 411 | Folklore and Religion | 4 |
| GER 368 | Themes in German Literature | 4 |
| HIST 415 | Advanced World History: [Topic] | 4 |
| HIST 428 | Europe in the 20th Century: [Topic] | 4 |
| JDST 320M | 4 | |
| JDST 324 | 4 | |
| JDST 330 | American Jewish Cultures | 4 |
| JDST 340 | Israelis and Palestinians | 4 |
| PHIL 320 | Philosophy of Religion | 4 |
| REL 318 | Women in Judaism | 4 |
A list of approved courses is available from the program director preceding each term; it also appears in the online class schedule and the program website.
Honors in Judaic Studies
A degree with honors in Judaic studies requires the following:
- Satisfaction of the requirements of the major
- A cumulative grade point average of 3.50 in courses taken to satisfy the major requirements
- Satisfactory completion of an honors thesis
The candidate for honors must register for 4 credits in Research: [Topic] (JDST 401) winter term of the senior year in order to prepare for writing the thesis, and for 4 credits in Thesis (JDST 403) spring term for its completion. A faculty committee of two supervises the project. A first draft of the thesis must be submitted six weeks before the end of the term in which the student expects to graduate and the final draft two weeks before the end of the term.
Minor in Judaic Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-Division Requirements | ||
| REL 211 | Early Judaism | 4 |
| JDST 212 | Medieval and Early Modern Judaism | 4 |
| JDST 213 | The Jewish Encounter with Modernity | 4 |
| Upper-Division Requirements | ||
| Four courses including one about the American Jewish experience 1 | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 28 | |
| 1 | As many as 4 credits in Internship: [Topic] (JDST 404) or Practicum: [Topic] (JDST 409) or Practicum: [Topic] (HBRW 409) may be used to satisfy minor requirements. |
Four-Year Degree Plan
The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.
Bachelor of Arts in Judaic Studies
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
| HBRW 111 | Biblical Hebrew I | 4 | |
| REL 211 | Early Judaism | 4 | |
| WR 121 | College Composition I | 4 | |
| General education course in arts and letters | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Winter | |||
| HBRW 112 | Biblical Hebrew II | 4 | |
| JDST 212 | Medieval and Early Modern Judaism | 4 | |
| REL 222 | Introduction to the Bible I | 4 | |
| WR 122 or WR 123 |
College Composition II or College Composition III |
4 | |
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Spring | |||
| HBRW 113 | Biblical Hebrew III | 4 | |
| JDST 213 | The Jewish Encounter with Modernity | 4 | |
| General education course in science | 4 | ||
| General education course in social science | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Total Credits | 48 | ||
| Second Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
| HBRW 311 | Biblical Narrative | 4 | |
| General education course in social science | 4 | ||
| General education course that also satisfies a multicultural requirement | 4 | ||
| Upper-division elective course | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Winter | |||
| HBRW 312 | Biblical Poetry | 4 | |
| General education course in science | 4 | ||
| General education course in arts and letters | 4 | ||
| Upper-division elective course | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Spring | |||
| HBRW 313 | Postbiblical Literature | 4 | |
| JDST 330 | American Jewish Cultures | 4 | |
| General education course in science | 4 | ||
| General education course in social science | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Total Credits | 48 | ||
| Third Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
| Upper-division elective courses | 8 | ||
| General education course in science | 4 | ||
| General education course in arts and letters | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Winter | |||
| Upper-division elective course | 4 | ||
| General education course that also satisfies a multicultural requirement | 4 | ||
| General education course in arts and letters | 4 | ||
| Elective course | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Spring | |||
| Upper-division elective courses | 8 | ||
| General education course in social science | 4 | ||
| Elective course | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Total Credits | 48 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
| Elective | 4 | ||
| Elective | 4 | ||
| Elective | 4 | ||
| Elective | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Winter | |||
| Elective | 4 | ||
| Elective | 4 | ||
| Elective | 4 | ||
| Elective | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Spring | |||
| Elective | 4 | ||
| Elective | 4 | ||
| Elective | 4 | ||
| Elective | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Total Credits | 48 | ||
Courses
HBRW 111. Biblical Hebrew I. 4 Credits.
Prepares students to read biblical and postbiblical Hebrew texts. Emphasis on classical Hebrew grammar, vocabulary, and syntax.
HBRW 112. Biblical Hebrew II. 4 Credits.
Prepares students to read biblical and postbiblical Hebrew texts. Emphasis on classical Hebrew grammar, vocabulary, and syntax.
Prereq: HBRW 111.
HBRW 113. Biblical Hebrew III. 4 Credits.
Prepares students to read biblical and postbiblical Hebrew texts. Emphasis on classical Hebrew grammar, vocabulary, and syntax.
Prereq: HBRW 112.
HBRW 199. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
HBRW 311. Biblical Narrative. 4 Credits.
Readings in extended narrative prose passages from the Hebrew Bible; emphasis on reading, translation, vocabulary formation, and Hebrew syntax. Taught in Hebrew. Repeatable twice when topic changes.
Prereq: HBRW 113 or equivalent.
HBRW 312. Biblical Poetry. 4 Credits.
Readings in poetic passages from the Hebrew Bible; focus on reading, translation, vocabulary formation, Hebrew syntax, and biblical poetics. Taught in Hebrew. Repeatable twice when topic changes.
Prereq: HBRW 113 or equivalent.
HBRW 313. Postbiblical Literature. 4 Credits.
Readings in postbiblical Hebrew texts of various genres from late antiquity and the Middle Ages, including legal writings, narratives, and poetry. Taught in Hebrew. Repeatable twice when topic changes.
Prereq: HBRW 113 or equivalent.
HBRW 399. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
HBRW 401. Research: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
HBRW 402. Supervised College Teaching. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
HBRW 403. Thesis. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
HBRW 404. Internship: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
HBRW 405. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
HBRW 406. Special Problems: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
HBRW 407. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.
Repeatable.
HBRW 408. Colloquium: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.
Repeatable.
HBRW 409. Practicum: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
HBRW 410. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.
Repeatable.
HBRW 605. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.
Courses
JDST 199. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
JDST 212. Medieval and Early Modern Judaism. 4 Credits.
Interdisciplinary introduction to Jewish life, literature, religion, culture, and thought in the Middle Ages and early modern times in both Muslim and Christian environments.
JDST 213. The Jewish Encounter with Modernity. 4 Credits.
Survey of Jewish encounters with modernity outside the Americas from 1700 to 1948; concentrates on transformations in political status, national identity, Jewish culture, and religious self-definition.
JDST 330. American Jewish Cultures. 4 Credits.
American Jewish culture, ritual, identity, institutions from 1880s to the present. Examines pluralism within American Jewish community and relationships with other religious and ethnic groups.
JDST 340. Israelis and Palestinians. 4 Credits.
Examines political struggle between Israelis and Palestinians over past century and related human, societal, and cultural issues. Explores contemporary attempts at resolution.
JDST 399. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
JDST 401. Research: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
JDST 402. Supervised College Teaching. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
JDST 403. Thesis. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
JDST 404. Internship: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
JDST 405. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
JDST 406. Special Problems: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
JDST 407. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.
Repeatable.
JDST 408. Colloquium: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.
Repeatable.
JDST 409. Practicum: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.
JDST 410. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.
Repeatable.
JDST 510. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.
Repeatable.
JDST 605. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.