Jewish Studies
College of Arts and Humanities
Dean: Paul Sherwin
Department of Jewish Studies
HUM 416
Phone: 415-338-6075
Director: Fred Astren
Undergraduate Advisers: Astren, Dollinger, Millet
Faculty
Professors: Astren, Dollinger
Associate Professor: Millet
Program
Program Scope
Bachelor of Arts in Modern Jewish Studies. The B.A. is designed to provide an understanding of Jews and Judaism in terms of the interactions of culture, history, and religion. The challenge of modernity faced by Jews and Judaism over the last two hundred years has transformed traditional Jewish societies and generated a great measure of difference and diversity. After a history of more than two millennia, Jews have redefined religion, notions of identity, and social organization in contexts of a dominant culture (in Israel) and a minority culture (elsewhere in the world). The broader dynamics of how ethnic, religious, or racial minorities interact with the majority societies are examined in both these contexts. Courses explore the constants and variety of the Jewish experience in different historical periods and geographical settings and include language study.
Minor in Jewish Studies. The interdisciplinary minor consists of four three-unit core courses and two three-unit elective courses selected on advisement from offerings by a variety of colleges of the university. The purpose of the interdisciplinary Jewish Studies Minor is to acquaint the student with the history, culture, contributions, and religion of the Jewish people as seen through the eyes of modern academic disciplines and with particular reference to contemporary issues and patterns. Students can use the Minor in Jewish Studies to complement their majors and, with advising, to fulfill General Education requirements.
Career Outlook
the Bachelor of Arts in Modern Jewish Studies and the Jewish Studies Minor offer an excellent background for students interested in Judaism as the basis for scholarly or professional pursuits, increasing the depth of understanding of the history, culture, contributions, and religion of the Jewish people within the context of a major discipline of study and prepare students for careers as educators and community professionals.
Bachelor of Arts in Modern Jewish Studies
Three universities—San Francisco State University, CSU Chico, and San Diego State University—jointly offer courses toward a major in modern Jewish studies. Students use their home campus for general education and electives, take core courses in the B.A. from their home campus, and may use the joint-campus course offerings via distance learning in modern Jewish studies to get their B.A. Each of the three campuses awards the B.A. Students may take distance-learning courses only when the home campus does not offer those courses. Exceptions to this policy may be made in consultation with a modern Jewish studies adviser. No courses may be used to satisfy requirements in more than one area. The major requires 42 semester units.
Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.
Introductory Course
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JS 300 280 | Introduction to Jewish Studies | 3 |
Language Area (3 units)
Units chosen at student's appropriate level
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| JS 151/ HEBR 151 |
First Semester Modern Hebrew |
| JS 152/ HEBR 152 |
Second Semester Modern Hebrew |
| JS 201/ HEBR 201 |
Third Semester Modern Hebrew |
| JS 202/ HEBR 202 |
Fourth Semester Modern Hebrew |
Culture and Society Area (9 units)
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JS 340 | American Jewish Family and Identity | 3 |
| JS 430/ IR 430/ PLSI 430 |
Israeli Democracy, Politics, and Society | 3 |
| JS 437/ CWL 437/ ENG 533 |
Holocaust and Literature | 3 |
History Area (9 units)
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JS 449/ HIST 449 |
American Jewish History | 3 |
| HIST 632/ JS 632 |
Jewish History I: Beginnings to 1650 | 3 |
| HIST 633/ JS 633 |
Jewish History II: 1650 to Present | 3 |
Religion and Thought Area (9 units)
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JS 425 | Judaism: Religion and Text | 3 |
| JS 410/ PHIL 514 |
Kabbalah and Mysticism in the Jewish Tradition | 3 |
| JS 350 | Jewish Social Responsibility | 3 |
Capstone Course
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JS 690 | Senior Seminar in Jewish Studies | 3 |
Electives (6 units)
Units chosen from the following. These units may be taken from any campus. A maximum of 6 units outside of Jewish studies may be counted toward the major and must be approved by a major adviser.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| JS 317/ HIST 317 |
The Holocaust and Genocide |
| JS 377/ HUM 377 |
Jerusalem |
| JS 408/ CINE 408 |
Israeli Cinema |
| JS 412/ PHIL 412 |
Derrida and Jewish Tradition |
| JS 413/ HUM 413 |
Hannah Arendt |
| JS 415/ PHIL 415 |
The Hebrew Bible |
| JS 416 | Special Topics in Jewish Studies |
| JS 451/ ENG 451/ CWL 451 |
Jewish Literature of the Americas |
| JS 501/ HUM 501/ PHIL 501 |
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam |
| JS 509/ CW 509 |
Jewish Writers in the American Poetry Archives |
| JS 516/ CWL 416/ PHIL 551 |
Bible and Ethics: The Moral of the Story |
| JS 534/ TH A 534 |
Performing Yiddish Theatre |
| JS 540 | Anti-Semitism |
| JS 546/ ENG 546/ WGS 546 |
20th Century American Jewish Women Writers |
| JS 600 | Internship |
| CINE 305/ JS 405 |
Film and the Holocaust |
| CWL 445 | Jewish Literature in Translation |
Total: 42
Minor in Jewish Studies
Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.
Core Courses
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JS 300 | Introduction to Jewish Studies | 3 |
| JS 425 | Judaism: Religion and Text | 3 |
| JS 632/ HIST 632 |
Jewish History I: Beginnings to 1650 | 3 |
| JS 633/ HIST 633 |
Jewish History II: 1650 to Present | 3 |
Elective Courses ( 6 units)
(units selected upon advisement)
Total: 18
