Jewish Studies Courses (18 units)

All students are required to complete at least one course in each of the following areas.

Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Civilization

JDST 600  

Biblical Literature and Civilization

Rabbinic Literature

JDST 585  

Jewish Law and Ethics

JDST 680  

Rabbinic History and Literature

History

JDST 630  

The Jews in the Middle Ages

JDST 631  

The Jews in the Modern World

Jewish Thought and Mysticism

JDST 666  

Introduction to Jewish Thought and Mysticism

Contemporary Jewish Studies. Examples of courses that fulfill this requirement include:

JDST 563

Contemporary Jewish Ethics: Reshaping the Jewish Identity in Our Generation

JDST 610

Diaspora Jewish Communities

JDST 611

American Judaism

JDST 671

The History and Dynamics of  the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Jewish Studies Elective

Professional Courses (18 units)

Required Courses (9 units)

All students are required to complete the following course:

JDST 615

Understanding the American Jewish Community or equivalent course

Students select two of the following:

JCS 612

Strategic Management of Jewish Organizations: Material Resources

JCS 613

Leadership of Jewish Communal Institutions: Principles of  Change and Organizational Behavior

JDST 710

Principles of Jewish Communal Service

JDST 711

Management of Human Services: Leadership and Supervision

Elective Coursework (9 units)

Students must select an additional nine units of didactic coursework in Contemporary Jewish Studies, or other courses that are relevant to their professional career, in consultation with their advisor.  Courses in Contemporary Jewish Studies are listed under the Master's in Jewish Studies. Other potential courses include:

JDST 531

Anti-Semitism and the Shoah

JDST 563/363

Contemporary Jewish Ethics: Reshaping Jewish Identity in our Generation

JDST 587/387

The Object is the Object: A Study of Jewish Ceremonial Objects

JDST 634

The Enlightenment and European Jewry

JDST 639

Black-Jewish Relations: Cooperation and Conflict

JDST 642/442

Advanced Modern Hebrew: Reading Contemporary Hebrew

JDST 683/483

The Personalities of the Twelve Tribes: Readings in Midrash

Practicum Seminar (2 units)

JCS 614

Jewish Communal Service Practicum Seminar  (year-long 1-unit)
Required every semester for two years, one unit per year

Supervised Jewish Communal Service Internship (3 units)

JCS 618

Internship in Jewish Communal Service
Students complete a required field placement of a minimum of 600 hours.

Other Requirement for Graduation

All students are required to submit a master project or professional portfolio in order to graduate.

Hebrew requirement

Knowledge of Hebrew is the foundation of Judaic learning. All entering students must take the Hebrew placement examination. In order to receive the degree, students must demonstrate proficiency in Hebrew equivalent to the level of two years of college Hebrew (through Biblical or Modern Hebrew IV). Beginning with their first semester of matriculation, students must study Hebrew every semester until this proficiency is attained.  Students taking Hebrew coursework must attain a grade of B or better each semester in order to be considered proficient.  Courses through Biblical Hebrew IV or Modern Hebrew IV do not count toward the 41 units required for the degree.

JDST 540

Modern Hebrew I

JDST 541

Modern Hebrew II

JDST 542

Modern Hebrew III

JDST 543

Modern Hebrew IV

JDST 544

Biblical Hebrew I

JDST 545

Biblical Hebrew II

JDST 546

Biblical Hebrew III

JDST 547

Biblical Hebrew IV