BA in Jewish Studies and Religion

Jewish studies offer the opportunity to explore Jewish history, religion, and cultures. Because of the geographic, ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity of the Jewish people, as well as the long timeline of Jewish history, Jewish studies provide students with rich possibilities for cross-cultural and comparative study. Jewish studies is an interdisciplinary program embracing history, music, literature, political science, international affairs, sociology, gender studies, religion, philosophy, Hebrew, and more. The program also explores the evolving interactions between Judaism and other religions and offers exciting courses in both Israel studies and the history and cultures of Diaspora Jewish communities around the world. The Jewish studies program offers both a minor and a pre-approved template for a combined major. A unique feature of the minor is the Jewish studies module, in which students create an original project that brings an aspect of Jewish studies together with an aspect of their major. Jewish studies classes seek to help students develop a more critical and analytical understanding of the religious and secular world around them. They are designed to prepare students for any field that requires critical thinking and cross-cultural understanding, including careers in education, social services, politics, museums and archives, and Jewish communal organizations, as well as for graduate and professional studies. A partnership between Northeastern University and Hebrew College allows for tuition-free cross-registration. Study abroad, either through the Dialogues of Civilization program in Israel, Germany, and/or Poland or through traditional study-abroad programs, is a significant aspect of Jewish studies. Experiential learning in the Jewish studies program includes these study-abroad opportunities, as well as internships or co?ops at organizations such as the Jewish Community Relations Council, Facing History and ourselves, the Jewish Women’s Archive, and the Israeli Consulate. The Ruderman merit-based scholarship supports selected Jewish studies majors and minors; the Gideon Klein award supports a student in research on the arts and the Holocaust.