Judaic Studies

What Is Judaic Studies ?

This interdisciplinary major combines the study of Hebrew with history, literature, philosophy and other fields to familiarize students with the experience of the Jews of the past and present. Judaic studies offers students a wide range of approaches to exploring and understanding Jewish history, culture and religion.

Success Factors

Successful Judaic studies degree candidates demonstrate the core abilities and skills required in many liberal arts disciplines: academic focus, time management and the ability to develop high-level critical thinking skills. In particular, Judaic studies is suited to students who work well with languages and wish to study Judaism in its religious, historical, literary and cultural contexts. The program welcomes students of all backgrounds - field biology majors do not need to be mice and Judaic studies majors do not need to be Jewish!

Career Possibilities

Judaic studies graduates are well-prepared for further academic work in Judaic studies, Near and Middle Eastern studies, religious studies, Holocaust studies and other related fields. A Judaic studies degree also prepares one for careers in research and in various private- and-public sector fields. In addition to pursuing graduate study, Judaic majors and minors enjoy careers in:

• education
• community service
• a wide variety of religion-affiliated organizations
• journalism
• social work
• business
• and many other fields that value individuals whose skills include research, writing and critical thinking.

Additional career options are listed on the Career Development Center's Web site. 

Major Details

The Department of Judaic Studies in the UC McMicken College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) offers a comprehensive education in the history, literature and art of Jews from Biblical times to the present. Our interdisciplinary faculty specialize in such areas as ancient Judaism, Jewish arts, archaeology, medieval Jewish history, Jewish literature, Holocaust studies, Zionism and modern Jewish history. Students benefit from a rich educational experience, which may include internships, travel and study in Israel. Judaic studies fully integrates the resources of UC and draws upon the Hebrew Union College and the American Jewish Archive. Judaic studies at UC provides an integrated humanities education tailored to the needs and interests of each individual student.

McMicken College's flexible degree requirements allow for and highly encourage students to pursue multiple areas of study. Free electives allow for enough credits for students to pursue a minor, certificate program or even complete a second major. Some of the most common pairings are listed below.

• Anthropology
• Area Studies
• Biological Sciences
• Chemistry
• Communication
• Geography
• History
• International Affairs
• International Human Rights
• Journalism
• Languages
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Minor Details

Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this major. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently enrolled at UC, you can audit your degree online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the course applicability system (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

Major Checklist

Major Electives

HISTORY
15JUDC315 The Menorah
15JUDC325 Jerusalem
15JUDC326 Jewish Nationalism
15JUDC327 Modern Israel
15JUDC330 Jews and Islam
15JUDC341 The Sephardic Diaspora: 1492-2000
15JUDC343 Medieval Mediterranean Jews: 4th-15th Centuries
15JUDC353 Women in Jewish Civilization
15JUDC362 American Jewish History 1654 to the Present
15JUDC379 Judaism and Christianity in Conflict
15JUDC386 Jewish Heretics
15JUDC393 Biblical Archaeology
15JUDC399 Acculturation and Assimilation: The Jewish Encounter with Western Cultures
15JUDC405 The Bible and the Ancient World
15JUDC475 Mystics and Messiahs
15JUDC481 Spanish Jewry
15JUDC482 East European Jews to World War I
15JUDC505 History of the Hebrew Book

LITERATURE
15JUDC300 The Jewish Bible
15JUDC301 Biblical Narratives
15JUDC321 Demons in the Bible and Related Texts
15JUDC328 Women in the Bible
15JUDC329 Evolution of the Angel
15JUDC331-332-333 Advanced Hebrew (credit pending permission of instructor)
15JUDC348 The New Testament in Its Jewish Matrix
15JUDC349 Introduction to Rabbinic Literature
15JUDC355 Yiddish Literature in Translation
15JUDC360 American Jewish Fiction
15JUDC371 Jews in American Film
15JUDC372 Israeli Cinema
15JUDC374 Jewish Humor/Women’s Humor
15JUDC380 Dead Sea Scrolls
15JUDC383 Literature of the Holocaust
15JUDC387 Freud and Judaism
15JUDC392 The Apocrypha
15JUDC401-402-403 Modern Hebrew Literature
15JUDC405 The Bible and the Ancient World
15JUDC487 The Book of Job and the Problem of Evil
15JUDC537 Topics in Jewish Literature
15JUDC550 Film and the Holocaust
15JUDC575 Jewish Women Writers

THOUGHT
15JUDC315 The Menorah
15JUDC317 Jewish God Concepts
15JUDC321 Demons in the Bible and Related Texts
15JUDC326 Jewish Nationalism
15JUDC327 Modern Israel
15JUDC328 Women in the Bible
15JUDC329 Evolution of the Angel
15JUDC330 Jews and Islam
15JUDC352 Gender and Judaism
15JUDC353 Women in Jewish Civilization
15JUDC374 Jewish Humor/Women’s Humor
15JUDC379 Judaism and Christianity in Conflict
15JUDC382 Studies in the Holocaust
15JUDC384 Religion and the Holocaust
15JUDC385 Religion and Genocide
15JUDC386 Jewish Heretics
15JUDC387 Freud and Judaism
15JUDC390 Art and Judaism
15JUDC394 Modern Jewish Thought
15JUDC395 Medieval Jewish Philosophy
15JUDC399 Acculturation and Assimilation: The Jewish Encounter with Western Cultures
15JUDC475 Mystics and Messiahs
15JUDC480 Jews in Europe
15JUDC485 Modern Jewish Ethics
15JUDC487 The Book of Job and the Problem of Evil
15JUDC508 Freud and Judaism
15JUDC510 Anti-Semitism
15JUDC550 Film and the Holocaust

COURSES THAT MAY FULFILL ONE OR MORE REQUIREMENTS DEPENDING ON CONTENT
15JUDC311 Topics in Ancient Judaism
15JUDC312 Topics in Medieval Judaism
15JUDC313 Topics in Modern Judaism
15JUDC365-366-367Judaic Studies Practicum
15JUDC591-592-593 Individual Work in Judaica

Special Opportunities

Students in the UC McMicken College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-intensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, tri-state location offers exciting opportunities for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.

Special Programs

The University of Cincinnati’s Department of Judaic Studies offers the student a unique academic and cultural experience. Since UC is a state-affiliated school, students of all backgrounds are welcome, and the program carries no theological or political agenda. The department enjoys a healthy relationship with nearby institutions such as Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the Jacob Marcus Center, the American Jewish Archives and the Center for Holocaust Education, and students have ongoing opportunities to work with those institutions.

The department’s faculty represents a wide range of disciplines within the field and boasts both distinguished publication records and numerous teaching and service awards. At the same time, professors and instructors are engaged and accessible, offering students personal attention and a feeling of community in a large university setting.

Admission Requirements

Admission criteria for this program vary based on the relative strength of test scores, class rank and GPA. Please see the Freshman Class Profile for this major in the Quick Facts sidebar on this page for the range of academic credentials typically accepted into this program. Test scores in the lower range may be acceptable with higher class rank and/or GPA. Freshmen applying to this program should also have completed the following state of Ohio articulation requirements with no more than two units missing:

• English (4 units)*
• College-preparatory mathematics (3 units)*
• Science (2 units)
• Social science (2 units)
• Foreign language (2 units)*
• Fine arts (1 unit)
• Additional college-prep subjects (2 units)

*McMicken College of Arts & Sciences does not allow units missing from these areas.

Transfer Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was not in any of the UC colleges must apply through the Office of Admissions. Applicants in this category must submit transcripts for all secondary school and college-level work. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all college-level work is required for admission consideration. Admission to A&S is generally available for any off-campus applicants who have received an associate degree from an accredited college or university and whose cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher.

Although midyear, off-campus transfer students are not able to participate in early registration in the quarter prior to their enrollment, they are included in the summer registration period prior to their fall quarter enrollment.

Changing Major Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was as a degree-seeking student in one of UC’s other colleges can apply directly to the A&S college office. Admission to A&S is generally available for any on-campus students who have:

• at least a 2.0 GPA in all college-level courses (both at UC and at other institutions),
• successfully completed two quarters of English Composition or its equivalent, and
• gained credit for a college-level mathematics course.

Further details on individual programs are available online or in the A&S Office of Undergraduate Student Affairs and Advising (102 McMicken Hall).

Graduation Requirements

In addition to meeting the university's General Education requirements, the requirements listed in the McMicken College Core Requirements are common to all potential graduates of the college, whether they are pursuing the bachelor of arts, bachelor of science or bachelor of interdisciplinary studies degree.

Application Deadlines

UC operates on a quarter system, with 10-week grading periods beginning in late September, early January, late March and mid-June. While midyear admission is possible, fall quarter is generally the best time to enter the college, since many course sequences begin in that quarter. Applicants to the UC McMicken College of Arts and Sciences who are enrolled or who were previously enrolled as degree-seeking students in A&S or in other UC colleges should apply for admission directly to A&S (in McMicken 102). All other applicants who wish to earn an undergraduate degree from A&S should apply through the Office of Admissions (3rd Floor, University Pavilion).