Jun 05, 2025  
Undergraduate Record 2013-2014 
    
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Undergraduate Record 2013-2014 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

Jewish Studies

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Requirements for Major

Undergraduates with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.000 are welcome to declare a Jewish Studies Major. The major shall consist of 10 courses plus a minimum of two semesters of Modern or Biblical Hebrew and a minimum of five courses must be at the 3000 level or above.

Hebrew Language Requirement

The two semesters of Hebrew shall be taken as follows:

If the student has fulfilled the College’s foreign language requirement with Hebrew or places out of HEBR 202 or RELJ 202 no additional Hebrew language is needed.

If the above does not hold, the student must take two semesters of Hebrew. Placement will be assessed by the Hebrew Language faculty. The following sequences are possibilities:

Sequence Option 1

Sequence Option 2

Sequence Option 3

Sequence Option 4

(only one semester needed if student places into a 202-level course)

Core Courses

Distribution Requirements

One course from each of the following three categories as approved by the major advisor:

  1. History and Society
  2. Belief and Thought
  3. Language, Literature and Culture  (Note: Biblical Hebrew can be counted toward the “Language and Literature” requirement if the Hebrew requirement has been fulfilled with Modern Hebrew. A 3000-level Hebrew course can be counted toward the “Language and Literature” requirement if the Hebrew requirement has been fulfilled with Biblical Hebrew.

Electives

Four additional courses selected as electives in conjunction with the major advisor.
Note: Students must complete a minimum of five courses at the 3000 level or above

Requirements for Minor

The minor shall consist of 6 courses totaling 18 credits.

Core Courses

Distribution Requirements

One course from the following three categories as approved by the minor advisor:  

  • History and Society
  • Belief and Thought
  • Language, Literature and Culture

Electives

Three additional courses selected as electives in conjunction with the major advisor.
Students must complete a minimum of three courses at the 3000 level or above.

Distinguished Majors Program in Jewish Studies

The Distinguished Majors Program (DMP) in Jewish Studies affords qualified students the opportunity to do advanced research, and to receive, at graduation, the honor of distinction, high distinction or highest distinction. 

Entry into the Program

Students who meet the following criteria are eligible to participate in the Distinguished Majors Program.

  1. Students qualify for the program if they have achieved an average of 3.400 in all university coursework as well as in all major course work prior to application for the program.
  2. Application should be made to the Director of the Jewish Studies Distinguished Majors Program.
  3. Admission into the program will be considered by the program’s Committee on Curricular Issues, and the Director of the Distinguished Majors Program.

Requirements for Completion of the Program

  1. Completion of the Hebrew language requirement (minimum of two semesters) and all major requirements (30 credits).
  2. Students must enroll in JWST 4970 (directed reading; 3 credits) in the fall semester and JWST 4980 (writing; 3 credits) in the spring semester. These courses are in addition to the 30 required credits and the Hebrew language requirement.
  3. Students are responsible for selecting two members from the Jewish Studies faculty to serve as committee members; one member shall serve as the primary reader and chair.
  4. The thesis shall be thirty to fifty pages in length.

Additional Information

For more information contact Gabriel Finder, Ida and Nathan Kolodiz Director of Jewish Studies, PO BOX 400286, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4286; (434) 243-4369; gf6n@virginia.edu

Courses

The Jewish Studies Program lists the specific courses being offered each semester on the web at www.virginia.edu/jewishstudies.

Core Courses

 

History and Society

 

Belief and Thought

 

Language, Literature and Culture

 

Hebrew

Distinguished Majors Thesis

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