809 University Hall (UH)
(312) 355-3448
http://www.uic.edu/las/jstud/
Administration: Director, Sam Fleischacker, sfleisch@uic.edu
Academic Advisor: Rachel Havrelock, raheleh@uic.edu
Assistant Director, Operations: Shirley DuBose, sdubose@uic.edu
The Jewish Studies program is committed to furthering knowledge and understanding of the fundamental questions and issues of Jewish life and identity in the past and the present. Jewish Studies is an exciting interdisciplinary field of teaching and research ranging from the study of texts, such as the Bible, to the experience of Jews as a people. The program encourages participation by all students at all levels of study. Jewish Studies faculty members are prominent professors drawn from the humanities and the social sciences at UIC. The minor in Jewish Studies offers students the opportunity to design a program of study to fit their individual interests, goals, and knowledge. Whatever the chosen field or areas of inquiry may be, the goals of the Jewish Studies Minor are identical:
- study the experience and/or texts of Jews from Biblical times to the present;
- acquire a deeper understanding of Jewish culture as one strand in contemporary multicultural America;
- develop critical thinking, writing, and discussion skills; and
- gain a reading and speaking knowledge of Jewish languages.
For the minor, a minimum of 18 semester hours in Jewish Studies, selected from an approved list of courses. Students are encouraged to consult with a minor advisor when selecting courses. Included in the 18 semester hours must be nine semester hours (nonlanguage) at the 100-level, and nine semester hours at or above the 200-level. The study of Jewish languages is strongly encouraged but not required. Upon petition to the faculty committee, other courses can count toward the minor.
Note: Effective Fall, 2010, no new students are being admitted to this minor. Contact the college with any questions.
| Required Courses—Jewish Studies Minor | Hours |
| Three courses from the following: | 9 |
| JST 101—Introduction to Jewish Studies: Literature and Society (3) | |
| JST 102—Introduction to Jewish Studies: Religion and Culture (3) | |
| JST/ENGL/RELS 115—Understanding the Bible as Literature (3) | |
| JST/ENGL 116—Jewish American Literature of the 20th Century (3) | |
| JST/HIST 117—Understanding the Holocaust (3) | |
| JST/GER 122—Minority Perspectives in the Germanic Context (3) | |
| JST/GER 123—Introduction to Yiddish Culture and Literature (3) | |
| JST/CL/RELS 124—Hebrew Bible (3) | |
| JST/PHIL/RELS 240—Philosophy and Revelation: Jewish and Christian Perspectives (3) | |
| Additional courses at the 200-level or above | 9 |
| Total Hours—Jewish Studies Minor | 18 |
Courses Approved for the
Minor in
Jewish Studies
The following courses are approved to be taken for the Minor in Jewish Studies.
| Courses | Hours |
| Germanic Studies (GER) | |
| 404—Yiddish for Reading Knowledge |
3 |
| Hebrew (HEB)a | |
| 101—Elementary Hebrew I | 4 |
| 102—Elementary Hebrew II | 4 |
| 103—Intermediate Hebrew I | 4 |
| 104—Intermediate Hebrew II | 4 |
| Jewish Studies (JST) | |
| 101—Introduction to Jewish Studies: Literature and Society | 3 |
| 102—Introduction to Jewish Studies: Religion and Culture | 3 |
| 115—Understanding the Bible as Literature Same as ENGL 115, RELS 115 |
3 |
| 116—Jewish American Literature of the 20th Century Same as ENGL 116 |
3 |
| 117—Understanding the Holocaust Same as HIST 117 |
3 |
| 122—Minority Perspectives in the Germanic Context Same as GER 122 |
3 |
| 123—Introduction to Yiddish Culture and Literature Same as GER 123 |
3 |
| 124—Hebrew Bible Same as CL 124, RELS 124 |
3 |
| 125—Diaspora, Exile, Genocide: Aspects of the European Jewish Experience in Literature and Film Same as GER 125 |
3 |
| 225—Topics in Muslim-Jewish Relations Same as CL 225, RELS 225 |
3 |
| 235—Introduction to Jewish Thought I Same as CL 235, RELS 235 |
3 |
| 240—Philosophy and Revelation: Jewish and Christian Perspectives Same as PHIL 240, RELS 240 |
3 |
| 242—The History of Biblical Interpretation Same as CL 242, RELS 242 |
3 |
| 243—Politics and Government of the Middle East Same as POLS 243 |
3 |
| 254—Prophets in Judaism and Islam Same as CL 254, RELS 254 |
3 |
| 294—Topics in Jewish Studies | 3 |
| 311—Gender and Sexuality in Early Christianity and Judaism Same as GWS 311, RELS 311 |
3 |
| 394—Topics in Jewish Studies | 3 |
478—The Bible as Literature Same as ENGL 428, RELS 428 |
3 |
| 494—Topics in Jewish Studies | 3 |
a Hebrew courses may be applied toward minor requirements only with special approval.