Program Overview

Jewish Studies Certificate Program

The Jewish studies certificate program examines the history and culture of the Jews, generates and facilitates research on Judaica, and provides a model for transdisciplinary teaching and research.

Program Description

Gain a deeper understanding of Jewish history and religion, Jewish interactions with majority cultures, and the Jewish contribution to contemporary society. Enhance your historical and cultural appreciation for Jews and Judaism through this globally focused program.

At a Glance

• College/school: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Location: Tempe

Curriculum

The certificate in Jewish studies requires a minimum of 21 credit hours in approved coursework. At least 12 upper-division hours are required. At least six upper-division hours must be in courses offered by The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. A minimum grade of "C" (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) is required in each course used toward the certificate.

Requirements

• Language Requirement: Students must complete two semesters of the same language.
  • Options include:
    • ARB 101 Elementary Arabic I and ARB 102 Elementary Arabic II
    • GER 101 Elementary German I and GER 102 Elementary German II
    • HEB 101 Elementary Modern Hebrew I and HEB 102 Elementary Modern Hebrew II
    • HEB 133 / JST 133 / REL 133 Elementary Biblical Hebrew and HEB 233 / JST 233 / REL 233 Intermediate Biblical Hebrew
    • PLC 101 Elementary Polish and PLC 102 Elementary Polish
    • RUS 101 Elementary Russian I and RUS 102 Elementary Russian II
    • SPA 101 Elementary Spanish I and SPA 102 Elementary Spanish II
  • Credit hours will vary depending on the language chosen. Minimum Grade: C
• Jewish Studies Electives: Students choose five courses from the electives below. At least 12 credit hours must be upper division. Minimum Grade: C
  • Upper Division Jewish Studies Electives:
    • ENG 333 Topic: American Jewish Literature during the Cold War
    • ENG 356 The Bible as Literature
    • HEB 333 / JST 333 / REL 333 Biblical Hebrew Literature I
    • HEB 334 / JST 334 / REL 334 Biblical Hebrew Literature II
    • HEB 375 Contemporary Culture of Israel
    • HST 302 Topic: Jews, Christians & Muslims in Early Modern World
    • HST 302 Topic: Jews, Christians & Muslims in the Medieval World
    • HST 304 Topic: Exiles, Migrants, Refugees in Jewish History
    • HST 304 Topic: History of Antisemitism
    • HST 304 Topic: Jews and Christians in the Middle Ages
    • HST 304 Topic: Nazi Germany
    • HST 304 Topic: Rebirth of European Jewish Life after 1950
    • HST 358 Jewish History from Antiquity to 1492
    • HST 359 Jewish History from 1492 to 1948
    • HST 372 Modern Middle East (GCSI)
    • HST 436 Rise & Fall of Soviet Communism
    • HST 454 / REL 454 History of Genocide (GCSI)
    • JST 302 Studies in History
    • JST 304 Studies in European History
    • JST 314 / HST 390 / PHI 390 / REL 314 Jewish Philosophy
    • JST 315 / REL 315 Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) (HUAD)
    • JST 316 / ENG 316 / HEB 316 / REL 316 Literary Readings of the Hebrew Bible
    • JST 346 / FMS 349 / HEB 349 Israeli Wars in Israeli Movies
    • JST 347 / ENG 347 / HEB 347 / SLC 347 Modern Israeli Literature in Translation
    • JST 348 / HEB 348 / REL 311 / SLC 348 Israeli Society and Culture (HUAD)
    • JST 349 / HPS 349 / REL 349 / SOS 349 Nature, Sustainability and Religion (SUST)
    • JST 369 / HST 369 / REL 312 History and Memory of the Holocaust
    • JST 411 / HEB 411 / REL 411 Judaism and the Beginnings of Christianity
    • JST 445 / FMS 445 / GER 445 / SLC 445 Holocaust, War and German Memory
    • JST 460 / HST 460 World War II (HUAD)
    • JST 491 History of Antisemitism
    • JST 495 Judaism, Science and World Religions
    • JST 496 Biblical Narratives: Literary Approaches
    • JUS 374 The Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights
    • REL 310 Western Religious Traditions
    • REL 385 Contemporary Western Religious Thought
    • SLC 320 Compassion: A Dialogue Between the Humanities, the Sciences and the Arts
    • STS 364 Science, Technology, and National Security
  • Jewish Studies Electives:
    • ENG 333 Topic: American Jewish Literature during the Cold War
    • ENG 356 The Bible as Literature
    • HEB 333 / JST 333 / REL 333 Biblical Hebrew Literature I
    • HEB 334 / JST 334 / REL 334 Biblical Hebrew Literature II
    • HEB 375 Contemporary Culture of Israel
    • HST 302 Topic: Jews, Christians & Muslims in Early Modern World
    • HST 302 Topic: Jews, Christians & Muslims in the Medieval World
    • HST 304 Topic: Exiles, Migrants, Refugees in Jewish History
    • HST 304 Topic: History of Antisemitism
    • HST 304 Topic: Jews and Christians in the Middle Ages
    • HST 304 Topic: Nazi Germany
    • HST 304 Topic: Rebirth of European Jewish Life after 1950
    • HST 358 Jewish History from Antiquity to 1492
    • HST 359 Jewish History from 1492 to 1948
    • HST 372 Modern Middle East (GCSI)
    • HST 436 Rise & Fall of Soviet Communism
    • HST 454 / REL 454 History of Genocide (GCSI)
    • JST 210 / REL 210 Introduction to Judaism
    • JST 211 / HST 211 / REL 211 Jews and Judaism in America
    • JST 230 / HST 230 / REL 230 Introduction to Jewish Civilization (GCSI)
    • JST 294 / HEB 294 / HST 294 / POS 294 / REL 294 / SGS 294 Topic: History of Zionism: Origin-Establishment of Israel
    • JST 294 / HST 294 / POS 294 / SGS 294 Topic: Israeli Politics
    • JST 302 Studies in History
    • JST 304 Studies in European History
    • JST 314 / HST 390 / PHI 390 / REL 314 Jewish Philosophy
    • JST 315 / REL 315 Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) (HUAD)
    • JST 316 / ENG 316 / HEB 316 / REL 316 Literary Readings of the Hebrew Bible
    • JST 346 / FMS 349 / HEB 349 Israeli Wars in Israeli Movies
    • JST 347 / ENG 347 / HEB 347 / SLC 347 Modern Israeli Literature in Translation
    • JST 348 / HEB 348 / REL 311 / SLC 348 Israeli Society and Culture (HUAD)
    • JST 349 / HPS 349 / REL 349 / SOS 349 Nature, Sustainability and Religion (SUST)
    • JST 369 / HST 369 / REL 312 History and Memory of the Holocaust
    • JST 411 / HEB 411 / REL 411 Judaism and the Beginnings of Christianity
    • JST 445 / FMS 445 / GER 445 / SLC 445 Holocaust, War and German Memory
    • JST 460 / HST 460 World War II (HUAD)
    • JST 491 History of Antisemitism
    • JST 495 Judaism, Science and World Religions
    • JST 496 Biblical Narratives: Literary Approaches
    • JUS 374 The Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights
    • REL 207 Ritual, Symbol, and Myth (HUAD)
    • REL 310 Western Religious Traditions
    • REL 385 Contemporary Western Religious Thought
    • SLC 320 Compassion: A Dialogue Between the Humanities, the Sciences and the Arts
    • STS 364 Science, Technology, and National Security

Enrollment Requirements

• Incompatible Majors: BA in Jewish studies
• A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded before the completion of an undergraduate degree. A student who already holds an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.

Career Opportunities

Graduates are more marketable to employers when they have complemented their major program of study with an undergraduate certificate.

Through a certificate in Jewish studies, students gain a familiarity with Jewish culture, which gives them a competitive edge when they pursue a career with one of the hundreds of U.S. companies that do business in Israel.

These students are also prepared to:

• attend rabbinic seminary in preparation for becoming a rabbi or chaplain
• engage in world political and economic issues
• pursue advanced education in Jewish professional service fields

The certificate also provides a foundation for students who wish to pursue advanced degrees or careers related to their area of interest in fields that may include archeology, history, justice studies, journalism, law, and international relations. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for academic or clinical positions.