Students
Undergraduate • Graduate • Study Abroad

Undergraduate

Specialization in Judaic Studies

Students majoring in Religion may specialize in Judaic studies. They are required to take at least five courses in Judaic studies; in addition, they must take four courses outside their chosen area: CAS RN 495 and three other courses. Major concentrators in this program may, with the approval of their advisor, count a maximum of two related courses taken in other departments toward the concentration. Students who have completed both CAS CC 101 (Core Humanities I) and CAS CC 102 (Core Humanities II) and who have applied those courses toward the required 100-level Religion courses will not normally be allowed to count any additional courses from other departments toward the concentration. For more information about majoring in Religion and specializations please consult the Religion web site.

Minor in Judaic Studies

Students who wish to minor in Judaic studies must complete, with a grade of a C or higher, six Judaic studies courses, including RN 101 or RN 104, and at least one, but no more than two 200-level courses. The remaining three or four courses should be taken at the 300 level or higher.

The study of Hebrew is strongly encouraged. Those students who choose to complete the CAS foreign language requirement using Hebrew may receive credit for CAS LH 212 toward the minor concentration in Judaic Studies. Any student may count up to two courses in Hebrew language toward the minor, provided those courses are taken at the LH 212 level or higher.

Graduate

Specialization in Judaic Studies

The Division of Religious and Theological Studies (DRTS) offers MA and PhD degrees. Entering graduate students whose subject area is Religious Texts and Traditions may specialize in Judaic studies.

This program is flexible and has several tracks. Students can concentrate on biblical studies, on the Bible and the history of biblical interpretation up to the late Middle Ages, on Classical Jewish history and literature, Medieval Studies, Modern Jewish history and thought, or Holocaust studies. In each instance, students will be expected to master the necessary languages and other skills required for scholarly expertise in their chosen field of study. In every case, the course of study will be configured according to the student's special academic interests and professional goals.

Students wishing to apply for a specialization in Judaic studies must apply for admission through the Department of Religion and Theological Studies.

Graduate Fellowships in Judaic Studies

The Center offers two PhD fellowships for students working in the area of Judaism and Modernity. The fellowship includes a stipend and tuition remission.

Full-time students admitted to one of the relevant program areas of the Division of Religious and Theological Studies may apply for the fellowship at any time. The fellowship will be awarded based on intellectual merit and the relevance of the proposed course of study and dissertation for the area of Judaism and Modernity.

The study of Judaism and Modernity in the context of Religious and Theological Studies includes the study of literary sources, ritual practices, historical movements, social phenomena, and philosophical problems, and may be pursued by a variety of approaches and methods such as historical research, literary analysis, comparative religious and/or theological studies, cultural theory, philosophical or hermeneutical analysis, etc.

Candidates should submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, and an outline of the proposed course of study to Professor Steven T. Katz, Director, Elie Wiesel Center for Judaic Studies.

Study Abroad

London Jewish Studies Program

Students begin with an intensive three-week long course on the History of the Jews in England before the beginning of the regular fall semester at University College (one of the colleges of the University of London). In this course students will have the opportunity to visit relevant sites of historical importance in London and elsewhere. Once the semester begins, students participate in their choice of a wide array of language courses and a number of history and religion courses offered by the Jewish studies program at University College, many of which are not offered at Boston University. For more information visit the International Programs web site.

The Church and the Jews

This course studies the history of the relations between the Jewish people and the Catholic Church, concentrating especially on material related to Italy and the Papacy. It begins with a consideration of the foundations of this relationship in the New Testament and the Church Fathers, especially Augustine. From there it continues with an examination of the development of Christian theology vis á vis the Jews in the medieval era, with special attention paid to the development of Papal attitudes towards Jews and Judaism. Finally, the course considers the rich, diverse relationship between Jews and the Church during the Renaissance, Reformation, and counter-Reformation. In connection with the course visits are made to historical sites of Jewish interest in Padua, Ferrara, Mantua, Venice, Florence and Rome. For more information about this course, please refer to the International Programs information sheet (PDF).This course was first taught in the summer of 2004 and will be taught again in the summer of 2006.