Academic Programs Catalog

College of Arts and Letters

Interdepartmental and Interdisciplinary Programs

Minor in Jewish Studies

The Minor in Jewish Studies, which is administered by the College of Arts and Letters, is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs at Michigan State University.  With the approval of the department and college that administer the student's degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor's degree.

The Minor in Jewish Studies offers a rich interdisciplinary program which introduces undergraduates to the history, cultures, language, identities, religion, and civilization of the Jewish people.   It centers on strengths in American Jewish history and culture, European Jewish history and Holocaust studies, Hebrew, Israel Studies, and Judaism and Jewish philosophy.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the Minor in Jewish Studies should consult the Jewish Studies Director in the College of Arts and Letters. College of Social Science students completing this minor to meet the College of Social Science Interdisciplinary Minor Requirement should refer to the section below for the Social Science Track.

Requirements for the Minor in Jewish Studies

  1. The student must complete a minimum of 18 credits from the following. Up to 12 credits may be in Hebrew 101 or higher. Students enrolled in study abroad Israeli institutions may use appropriate courses towards the minor if approved in advance by the Jewish Studies Director.
    English
    ENG 356 Readings in Jewish Literature 3
    Hebrew
    HEB 101 Elementary Hebrew I 4
    HEB 102 Elementary Hebrew II 4
    HEB 201 Second-Year Hebrew I 4
    HEB 202 Second-Year Hebrew II 4
    HEB 290 Independent Study 1 to 8
    HEB 490 Independent Study 1 to 8
    History
    HST 201 Historical Methods and Skills 3
    HST 317 American Jewish History 3
    HST 355 Spain and the Muslim World 3
    HST 388 World War II: Causes, Conduct and Consequences 3
    HST 480 Seminar in American History (W) 3
    HST 481 Seminar in Ancient History (W) 3
    HST 392 History of the Holocaust 3
    HST 411 European Jewish History 3
    HST 490 Independent Study 1 to 4
    HST 499H Senior Honors Thesis 3
    To be counted toward the requirements for the minor, the content of HST 201, 355, 388, 480, 481, 490, and 499H must have sufficient Jewish studies content and be approved by the Jewish Studies Director.
    Integrative Studies in Arts and Humanities
    IAH 211C Area Studies and Multicultural Civilizations: The Americas (D) 4
    IAH 211D Area Studies and Multicultural Civilizations: The Middle East (I) 4
    IAH 221A Great Ages: The Ancient World (I) 4
    IAH 231B Themes and Issues: Moral Issues and the Arts and Humanities (D) 4
    IAH 241F Creative Arts and Humanities: Traditions in World Art (I) 4
    Integrative Studies in the Social Sciences
    ISS 315 Global Diversity and Interdependence (I) 4
    ISS 330B Asia: Social Science Perspectives (I) 4
    To be counted toward the requirements for the minor, the content of these courses must have sufficient Jewish studies content and be approved by the Jewish Studies Director. The courses may be used to satisfy the requirements for the minor and University requirements.
    James Madison College
    MC 220 International Relations I: World Politics and International Security 4
    MC 281 Immigrants, Minorities, and American Pluralism 4
    MC 290 Special Topics 4
    MC 324A Regional Politics, Cooperation, and Conflict in the Middle East 4
    MC 325 State and Society in Comparative Perspective 4
    MC 335 Israeli Politics, Cultures and Society 4
    MC 387 Jews and Anti–Semitism 4
    MC 390 Advanced Topics in Public Affairs 4
    MC 391 Selected Topics in Public Affairs 4
    MC 395 Cultural Dimensions of Public Affairs 4
    MC 399 Advanced Independent Study 1 to 4
    MC 490H Honors Independent Study 4
    MC 492 Senior Seminar in International Relations (W) 5
    MC 498 Senior Seminar in Social Relations (W) 5
    To be counted toward the requirements for the minor, the content of MC 220, 281, 290, 324A, 325, 390, 391, 395, 399, 490H, 492, and 498 must have sufficient Jewish studies content and be approved by the Jewish Studies Director. 
    Jewish Studies
    JS 390 Special Topics in Jewish Studies 4
    JS 399 Independent Study (W) 1 to 4
    JS 400 Study Abroad in Jewish Studies (W) 2 to 4
    JS 490H Honors Independent Study (W) 2 to 4
    JS 493 Jewish Studies Internship 1 to 3
    JS 495 Seminar in Jewish Studies (W) 3 or 4
    Political Science
    PLS 345 Religion and World Politics 3
    To be counted toward the requirements for the minor, the content of PLS 345 must have sufficient Jewish studies content and be approved by the Jewish Studies Director.
    Office of the Provost
    UGS 200H Honors Research Seminar 1 to 4
    Religious Studies
    REL 150 Introduction to Biblical Literature 3
    REL 301 Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion 3
    REL 310 Judaism 3
    REL 412 Jewish Mysticism (W) 3
    REL 413 Jewish Philosophy (W) 3
    REL 414 Jewish Identity (W) 3
    To be counted toward the requirements for the minor, the content of REL 150 or 301 must have sufficient Jewish studies content and be approved by the Jewish Studies Director.
    Residential College of Arts and Humanities
    RCAH 391 Independent Study 1 to 4
    RCAH 395 Special Topics in Arts and Humanities 3
    To be counted toward the requirements for the minor, the content of RCAH 391 and 395 must have sufficient Jewish studies content and be approved by the Jewish Studies Director. 
    Women’s Studies
    WS 490 Independent Study 1 to 3
    To be counted toward the requirements for the minor, the content of WS 490 must have sufficient Jewish studies content and be approved by the Jewish Studies Director.
  2. Completion of a capstone experience (2 to 5 credits). This requirement may be satisfied by the completion of any Director approved Jewish Studies related course with a major research component (eg. MC 335, MC 387, HST 392); an independent study of at least 2 credits; study abroad or study away program with a culminating research paper or reflective project; JS 493 Jewish Studies Internship; or a 2-credit extensive portfolio and reflective essay.
Social Science Track
Students majoring in a College of Social Science major may complete a minimum of 16 credits from the following set of requirements in fulfillment of the minor requirements in lieu of the requirements above. Students who plan to complete these requirements should consult an undergraduate advisor in the College of Social Science and the Director of the Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel. The requirements will meet the College of Social Science college interdisciplinary minor requirement.
a. The following courses (6 credits):
HST 317 American Jewish History 3
HST 392 History of the Holocaust 3
b. One of the following courses (4 credits):
MC 335 Israeli Politics, Cultures, and Society 4
MC 387 Jews and Antisemitism 4
c. Two of the following courses (6 to 8 credits):
ENG 356 Readings in Jewish Literature 3
HEB 102 Elementary Hebrew II 4
HEB 201 Second-Year Hebrew I 4
HEB 202 Second-Year Hebrew II 4
JS 390 Special Topics in Jewish Studies 4
JS 399 Independent Study (W) 1 to 4
JS 400 Study Abroad in Jewish Studies (W) 2 to 4
JS 493 Jewish Studies Internship 1 to 3
JS 495 Seminar in Jewish Studies (W) 3 or 4
REL 310 Judaism 3
REL 412 Jewish Mysticism (W) 3
REL 413 Jewish Philosophy (W) 3
REL 414 Jewish Identity (W) 3