Judaic Studies B.A.
The Harold Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies was established to foster academic achievement, civic engagement, and leadership skills through rigorous and in-depth interdisciplinary study of Jewish history, culture, and civilization. The interaction of our four core faculty members—working in the study of ancient Jewry, modern Jewish history, Israel Studies, and Jewish literature—together with affiliated faculty in Hebrew language, medieval history, and Middle East Studies creates an enriching and stimulating atmosphere. Thanks to the program’s intimate learning environment, students benefit from the type of personal attention normally associated with small liberal arts colleges while still having the advantages of a large urban university.
The major in Judaic Studies trains students of all backgrounds in the skills and tools associated with the academic study of Judaism and Jewish culture, offering knowledge and understanding of a major world civilization, with important and widely applicable lessons in close reading, canonicity, historical analysis, the complexity of identity, and the dynamics of tradition and modernity. Through exploration of Jewish culture, Jewish contributions to other cultures, and the impact of modernity on national, ethnic, and religious identity, students will have broadened and deepened their education, better preparing them for our interconnected world of diverse cultures and religions.
Students completing the major are required to take Introduction to Judaism, both terms of the two-term sequence in Jewish history, and three years of modern Hebrew (or the equivalent). They must also choose an area of concentration (Jews in Antiquity; Israel Studies; Judaism; Literature, Culture, and the Arts; and Modern Jewish History) in which they will take at least 12 credits.
Students undertaking the major in Judaic Studies at PSU may be eligible for the following scholarships: the Harold Schnitzer Family Scholarship, the Lois Berlin, John May, Ida & Sam Shleifer Endowed Scholarship, the Abigail Jacobs-Kaufman Scholarship, the Sara Glasgow Cogan Memorial Scholarship, and the Lorry I. Lokey Israel Travel Scholarship .
Degree Requirements
Requirements for major. In addition to meeting the general University degree requirements, the major in Judaic Studies must meet the departmental requirements listed.
Upper-Division Courses
At least 12 of the upper division credits must be comprised of Judaic Studies program courses in one of the following areas:
Area A: Jews in Antiquity
Area I: Israel Studies
Area J: Judaism
Area L: Literature, Culture, and the Arts
Area M: Modern Jewish History
JSt 399 Topics in Jewish Studies (1-4) Area: varies depending on topic.
JSt 401 Research Project (1-8) Area: varies depending on topic.
JSt 407 Seminar in Jewish Studies (1-4) Area: varies depending on topic.
JSt 409 Practicum (1-8) Area: varies depending on topic.
JSt 410 Selected Topics (1-4) Area: varies depending on topic.
Approved courses on the 400 level or higher (Eng 410, JSt 430, Hst 405, 407, 461, 561, etc.): varies depending on topic.
Courses:
| JSt 201 | Introduction to Judaism | 4 |
| JSt 317U/Hst 317U | Jewish History from Antiquity to the Medieval Period | 4 |
| JSt 318U/Hst 318U | Jewish History from the Medieval Period to the Present | 4 |
| Heb 301 | Third-Year Modern Hebrew Term 1 | 4 |
| Heb 302 | Third-Year Modern Hebrew Term 2 | 4 |
| Heb 303 | Third-Year Modern Hebrew Term 3 | 4 |
| JSt 407 | Seminar | 4 |
| | 4 credits of JSt 402, JSt 405 or JSt 409 | 4 |
| | 24 credits of upper-division JSt courses or instructor approved equivalents | 24 |
| | 4 credits of approved upper division subject area credits outside JSt program | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: 60