Program Overview

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Honours Subject Area: Jewish Civilisation, Thought and Culture

About this Honours Subject Area

The fourth year honours program in Jewish Civilisation, Thought and Culture allows students to undertake advanced seminars on Jewish thought, practice, and history, and write a research thesis on a topic of their choice.

To qualify for honours, students must complete the major with an average of 70 percent or above, and a basic knowledge of at least one language associated with the Jewish experience (either Hebrew Classical or Modern, or German) is required.

Most students choose a thesis topic within the modern Jewish experience, usually relating to the Holocaust, Israel, or Australian Jewry, which are the specialist areas of academics within the Jewish Studies program.

Students are encouraged to place their Honours thesis within the broader context of Jewish Civilisation and to continue with their language studies during an Honours year. This represents the department’s philosophy of the close connections between language, culture, and in the Jewish case, the Hebrew language and religious belief and practice. At the higher levels, whether relating to Biblical Studies or Jewish Civilisation, some knowledge of the Hebrew language is considered vital to a full understanding of the Jewish literature and heritage.

Courses that Offer this Subject Area

To commence study in the year, students should refer to the course information on the University's website, which applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information.

• The course information on this website applies only to future students.
  • Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information.
• To help students understand common terms used at the University, an online glossary is available.

Research Areas

The specialist areas of academics within the Jewish Studies program include:

• The Holocaust
• Israel
• Australian Jewry

Admission Criteria

• Completion of the major with an average of 70 percent or above
• Basic knowledge of at least one language associated with the Jewish experience (either Hebrew Classical or Modern, or German)

Program Structure

• Advanced seminars on Jewish thought, practice, and history
• Research thesis on a topic of the student's choice

Language Studies

• Continuation of language studies during an Honours year is encouraged
• Knowledge of the Hebrew language is considered vital to a full understanding of the Jewish literature and heritage at higher levels, whether relating to Biblical Studies or Jewish Civilisation.