Jewish Studies Minor | Arcadia University

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Overview

Degree Level: Undergraduate
Degrees Offered: Minor

Department: Modern Languages and Cultures
school/college: College of Arts and Sciences

Minor in Jewish Studies

The Jewish Studies minor looks at Judaism worldwide, creating an awareness of other cultures and how Jewish people are perceived in today’s world. The minor provides you with a cross-disciplinary, comparative, and transnational perspective.

Human experience and expression will be examined through the exploration of past cultures and cultural texts. You will explore the relevance of cultural legacies in contemporary societies, and analyze original documents from past cultures as well as read current interpretations of these documents.

Requirements

One Religion Course

RE 115 Understanding the Hebrew Bible
RE 125 Essentials of Judaism: Major Beliefs and Practices

One History Course

HS 211 The Modern Middle East
PS 212 The Modern Middle East
HS 325 European Fascism: Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany
HS 326 Hitler and Stalin—Age of Dictators
US 236 Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Spain: From Eden to Exile
US 261 Representations of the Holocaust

One Language, Literature or Culture Course

RE 275 Contemporary Religious Problems
SO 340 Being Jewish in America
US 265 Jewish Humor

Two Elective Courses

Chosen from any of the categories from above in consultation with the Coordinator of the minor.

Featured Courses

The Modern Middle East

Elective Course

Explore the history, politics, religion, and culture of the Middle East in the modern era. Topics include nationalism, the creation of new states, the Arab-Israeli conflict, terrorism, and the role of global powers in shaping the region.

Jewish Humor

Elective Course

Trace the evolution of Jewish humor from Eastern Europe to modern-day stand-up. You’ll explore how comedy became a tool for survival, identity, and cultural commentary through films, TV, and comedians like Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman, and more.

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