Judaic Studies Major and Minor
See Also: Course Descriptions
The major concentration in Judaic Studies offers a course of study that treats Judaism as a historically evolving and culturally specific enterprise. The concentration explores Jewish culture, religion and heritage through literature, philosophy and history. A multidisciplinary combination of courses permits critical reflection about topics and issues in a world civilization and cross-cultural context.
A major concentration consists of at least 27 hours at the 300 level or above, distributed as follows:
Required
- RelStud 381/JS 381 - Introduction to Judaism (3)
History 383/JS 383 - History of Jewish Civilization I (3)
and 12 hours from
RelStud 311 /JS 311 - Ancient Hebraic Religious Traditions (3)
RelStud 312/JS 312 - Religious Aspects of Biblical and Classical Literature (3)
RelStud 320/JS 320 - Women and Religion (3)
RelStud 385 /JS 385 - Contemporary Jewish Thinkers (3)
RelStud386/JS 386 - Voices of the Holocaust (3)
RelStud405/JS 405 - Modern Jewish Thought (3)
History 370/JS 370 - History of the Middle East II (3)
History 384/JS 384 - History of Jewish Civilization II (3)
- 9 hours selected from
Art History 425/JS 425 - Early Christian and Byzantine Art to 1350 (3)
Art History 431/JS 431 - Medieval Art of the West, 800-1400 (3)
Art History 475/JS 475 - History of 19th Century Painting and Sculpture in Europe (3)
German 350/JS 350 - German-Jewish Topics in Literature and Culture (3)
History 369/JS 369 - History of the Middle East (3)
History 395/JS 395 - The Crusades and Medieval Christian-Muslim Relations (3)
History 484/JS 484 - Studies in Jewish History (3)
Philosophy 322/JS 322 - Medieval Philosophy (3)
At the discretion of the Judaic Studies Committee, other courses with sufficient Jewish contents may be used to satisfy Part (b).
A Judaic Studies minor is also available.
For more information contact
- Dr. Gilya Schmidt, Chair, Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Program in Judaic Studies, 974-2466
- Dr. Palmira Brummett, History Department, 974-5421
- Dr. J.P. Dessel, History Department, 974-5421
- Dr. Heather A. Hirschfeld, English Department, 974-6948
- Dr. Marilyn Kallet, English Department, 974-5421
- Dr. Vejas Liulevicius, History Department, 974-5421
- Dr. Daniel Magilow, German Studies in MFLL, 974-2311
- Dr. Amy Neff, Art Department, 974-3407
- Dr. Charles Reynolds, Religious Studies Department, 974-2466
- Dr. Christine Shepardson, Religious Studies Department, 974-2466
- Dr. Johanna Stiebert, Religious Studies Department, 974-2466
Contact Information
Gilya Gerda Schmidt, Ph.D.
Chair, Judaic Studies Program
Professor and Head of Department of Religious Studies
501 McClung Tower
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-0450
Phone: 865-974-6985
Fax: 865-974-0965
Email: gschmidt@utk.edu