The Program in Jewish Studies explores Jewish culture, history, society, and thought from a broad, interdisciplinary perspective. The program reflects the core goals of Colorado’s flagship university: to provide an outstanding liberal arts education, to foster critical thought, and to instill a keen appreciation of humanity’s interrelatedness and diversity. At its core, the major trains students to be global citizens by studying the world’s oldest global people.
With a major in Jewish Studies, students will develop fundamental skills in critical thinking, comparative analysis, oral and written expression, and a well-rounded perspective of the diversity of the Jewish experience. CU-Boulder’s major in Jewish Studies is designed to encourage students to explore all facets of Jewish life in the context of the larger global society. With internationally acclaimed faculty engaged in cutting-edge research and opportunities to study with leading artists, scholars, and professionals working in the field of Jewish Studies, the program offers an innovative and contemporary curriculum designed to provide a strong foundation in cultural education and to connect Jewish thought and text to action and people’s lives.
As a major, students will have the opportunity to take courses that explore Jewish history, modern Jewish experience in a variety of countries and cultures, Jewish literature, and secular Jewish societies. Courses are offered on a wide array of topics and issues including Jewish culture, the history of the Arab/Israeli conflict, the Holocaust, gender and sexuality in Judaism, Israeli literature, the history of Yiddish culture, and cultures of Israel and Palestine. The study of Jewish culture, society, history, and religion is, by its nature, comparative. This program offers many cross-listed classes with other departments on campus to facilitate a well-rounded learning experience. The program is open to students of all backgrounds.
Course code for this program is JWST.
In addition to the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences, students must complete 36 credit hours of Jewish Studies requirements, of which 18 credit hours must been upper division (3000/4000 level) courses. A grade of C- or better must be received in all Jewish studies courses used to satisfy the major requirements, with an overall average of 2.00 in the major. No more than 6 credit hours may be taken in independent study. No pass/fail graded courses may satisfy the 36-semester-hour minimum requirement. Many courses also satisfy university core curriculum requirements. For more information on the core curriculum, visit colorado.edu/artssciences/students/undergraduates/core_curriculum.html.
Required Courses (6 credit hours)
Language Requirement
Three years of university level language training or demonstrated equivalent proficiency in Hebrew (modern or Biblical) or another language that is to be used in the Jewish Studies capstone project (JWST4000). Examples include Russian, French, German Arabic, or Spanish. Language must be approved by major advisor.
Completion of at least two (6 credit hours) of the following courses, all courses are highly recommended:
Optional but highly recommended:
12–24 remaining credit hours, of which at least eight must be upper division (3000-4000 level), taken from among the following list or additional course by approval of major advisor:
Lower Division
NOTE: The first three semesters of modern Hebrew (or any equivalent language being used in the required capstone course JWST4000) do not count as credits toward the major.
Upper Division
Minors are offered in Jewish Studies and Hebrew and Israel Studies. Declaration of a minor is open to any student enrolled at CU-Boulder, regardless of college or school. A grade of C- or better must be received in all courses used to satisfy the minor requirements. For more information visit colorado.edu/artsciences/students/undergraduate/academics/minors.html.
The Program in Jewish Studies is growing rapidly and new courses are continually being added. Visit jewishstudies.colorado.edu for the most current course information.