Jewish Studies  {SF State Bulletin 2011 - 2012}

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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

B.A. in Modern Jewish Studies

Minor in Jewish Studies

 


 

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

 

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