Undergraduate Minor

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