Jewish Studies Minor
Coordinator: Associate Professor Sinn
The Jewish Studies minor at Elon explores the historical and contemporary experience of the Jewish people. Jewish Studies courses consider Jewish history, language and literature and the diversity of Jewish religious, cultural, philosophical and political traditions. These courses help students to understand the distinctive ideas and practices of the Jewish people, the ways in which Jewish ideas have influenced and have been influenced by other civilizations, the conditions under which Jews have been the victims of persecution, and the significance of the establishment of the State of Israel in the 20th century. The program encourages the study of Hebrew at Elon, and it offers a range of study abroad and internship opportunities.
The minor requires a minimum of 20 semester hours in Jewish Studies. Students must take either REL1850: Jewish Traditions or REL3820: Jewish Ethics as part of the 20sh requirement. No more than 12 total credit hours from one department may count towards the minor. Students may count up to 12 credit hours toward minors in both Middle East Studies and Jewish Studies. Up to 12 credit hours of study abroad courses in Jewish Studies may count for the minor, as approved by the program coordinator.
Minor Requirements
Select four semester hours from the following: 4sh
Select sixteen semester hours from the following: 16 sh
| ARH 3330 | JEWISH, CHRISTIAN, & ISLAMIC CULTURES: CONTACT & CONFLICT | 4 sh |
| ENG 2590 | LITERATURE OF THE HOLOCAUST | 4 sh |
| GBL 2400 | HOLOCAUST JOURNEY | 4 sh |
| HEB 1010 | MODERN ELEMENTARY HEBREW I | 4 sh |
| HEB 1020 | MODERN ELEMENTARY HEBREW II | 4 sh |
| HEB 2010 | MODERN INTERMEDIATE HEBREW I | 4 sh |
| HEB 2020 | MODERN INTERMEDIATE HEBREW II | 4 sh |
| HST 1390 | FASCISM AND PROPAGANDA | 4 sh |
| HST 3160 | THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST | 4 sh |
| HST 3380 | GERMANY: WAR, DEMOCRACY AND HITLER, 1914-1945 | 4 sh |
| HST 3390 | A HISTORY OF THE HOLOCAUST | 4 sh |
| IDS 2270 | HOLOCAUST PERPETRATORS | 4 sh |
| PHL 3390 | MARTIN BUBER AND THE ECLIPSE OF GOD | 2 sh |
| PHL 3500 | THE SPIRIT OF ISRAEL | 4 sh |
| REL 1310 | JEWISH BIBLICAL LITERATURE IN CONTEXT | 4 sh |
| REL 1320 | EARLY CHRISTIAN LITERATURE IN CONTEXT | 4 sh |
| REL 1850 | JEWISH TRADITIONS | 4 sh |
| REL 2390 | JUDAISM AND THE ENVIRONMENT | 4 sh |
| REL 3250 | THE APOCALYPTIC IMAGINATION, ANCIENT AND MODERN | 4 sh |
| REL 3260 | SEX LIVES OF SAINTS: SEX, GENDER, AND ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN RELIGIONS | 4 sh |
| REL 3270 | MESSIAHS, MARTYRS AND MEMORY | 4 sh |
| REL 3850 | JEWISH-CHRISTIAN DIALOG | 4 sh |
| REL 3820 | JEWISH ETHICS | 4 sh |
| REL 3830 | JEWISH PHILOSOPHY AND MYSTICISM: GUIDING THE PERPLEXED | 4 sh |
| REL 3840 | MODERN JEWISH THOUGHT | 4 sh |
Additional courses, not listed here, may be approved as JST electives each semester. Interested students should check OnTrack for current offerings that apply to the minor. Relevant GBL or COR courses could count as JST electives with approval by the Program Coordinator.
Other courses, including Independent Studies, that emphasize Jewish Studies subject matter may also be submitted for approval by the Program Coordinator.
The following courses may count as elective courses with a research project focused on Jewish Studies, as approved by the Jewish Studies program coordinator:
Program Outcomes
1. Students will develop awareness of the complexity and diversity of Jewish cultures throughout history.
2. Students will identify experiences, ideas, and modes of communication which have often connected Jewish communities throughout the world.
3. Students will explain some of the diverse ways in which Jews have interacted with non-Jewish communities.
4. Students will recognize how the Jewish tradition may be viewed as a religious tradition, as a national/political tradition, and as a cultural tradition.
5. Students will discuss the importance of gender, race, ethnicity, national identity, class, and/or sexuality for understanding Jews and Jewish traditions.
Total Credit Hours: 20