The following courses are pre-approved for the Jewish Studies major and minor. (400- and 500-level courses listed here may be used towards the completion of the Jewish Studies graduate certificate.)

GLBL 100 Intro to Global Studies

Intro to Global Studies

Credit: 3 hours.

Foundation course for understanding a range of contemporary issues and learning to analyze them from multiple disciplinary perspectives. Students consider globalizing trends within themes of wealth and poverty; population, cultures, and human rights; environment and sustainability; and governance, conflict, and cooperation. Course objectives are to enhance knowledge of human cultures, their interactions and impacts on the world; develop skills for successfully negotiating realities of contemporary societies; and promote values for global learning, diversity, and sustainable futures.

This course satisfies the General Education Criteria in Spring 2025 for:

  • Cultural Studies - Western
  • Social & Beh Sci - Soc Sci

GER 575 20thC German Studies

20thC German Studies

Credit: 4 hours.

Seminar in selected genres, themes, or authors of the twentieth century.

4 graduate hours. No professional credit. May be repeated in separate semesters to a maximum of 12 hours if topics vary.

 

HEBR 202 Elementary Modern Hebrew II

Elementary Modern Hebrew II

Credit: 5 hours.

Continuation of HEBR 201, with introduction of more advanced grammar, and with emphasis on more fluency in speaking and reading. Participation in the language laboratory is required.

Prerequisite: HEBR 201 or equivalent.

HEBR 404 Intermediate Modern Hebrew II

Intermediate Modern Hebrew II

Credit: 4 OR 5 hours.

Continuation of HEBR 403. Concentration on ability to engage in reasonable fluent discourse in Hebrew, comprehensive knowledge of formal grammar, and an ability to read easy Hebrew texts. Israeli television programs and movies are used to develop communicative skills and cultural knowledge. Participation in the language laboratory is required.

5 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: HEBR 403 or equivalent.

HIST 200 Intro Hist Interpretation

Intro Hist Interpretation 

Credit: 3 hours.

Through the careful examination of a specific topic or theme, this course provides a thorough introduction to historical interpretation. Particular attention will be devoted to research strategies, writing practices, handling primary and secondary sources, and the analysis of historiography.

May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours with permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Topics will be listed in the department's course guide at http://www.history.illinois.edu.

HIST 312 Immigrant America

Immigrant America

Credit: 3 OR 4 hours.

History of immigration and immigrant groups in the United States from 1830 to 1980. Covers major waves of immigration and focuses on the diverse cultural heritage, social structure, and political activism of immigrants from Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

JS 120 A History of Judaism

A History of Judaism

Credit: 3 hours.

Same as HIST 168 and REL 120. See REL 120.

This course satisfies the General Education Criteria in Spring 2025 for:

  • Advanced Composition
  • Humanities – Hist & Phil

JS 231 Development of Ancient Cities

Development of Ancient Cities

Credit: 3 hours.

Same as CLCV 231. See CLCV 231.

This course satisfies the General Education Criteria in Spring 2025 for:

  • Cultural Studies - Western
  • Humanities – Hist & Phil

JS 320 Responses to the Holocaust

Responses to the Holocaust

Credit: 3 hours.

Same as CWL 320, ENGL 359, REL 320, and YDSH 320. See CWL 320.

This course satisfies the General Education Criteria in Spring 2025 for:

  • Cultural Studies - Western
  • Humanities – Lit & Arts

JS 344 Jewish Intellectual History: Encounters with Islam and Christianity

Jewish Intellectual History: Encounters with Islam and Christianity

Credit: 3 hours.

Same as MDVL 344 and REL 344. See REL 344.

JS 495 Independent Study

Independent Study

Credit: 2 TO 4 hours.

Readings in selected fields in consultation with the instructor along with the completion of a specified writing assignment.

2 to 4 undergraduate hours. 2 to 4 graduate hours. May be repeated in the same term to a maximum of 4 undergraduate hours or 8 graduate hours. May be repeated in separate terms to a maximum of 8 undergraduate hours and 16 graduate hours. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

JS 201 History of Antisemitism

History of Antisemitism

Credit: 3 hours.

Studies the negative representations of Judaism and Jews from antiquity to the modern world. Topics include: Greco-Roman concepts of the Jewish religion; medieval Christian symbolization of the demonic Jew; Jews and negative attitudes to capitalism; blood purity and blood libel; the rise of racial prejudice in the modern nation state; totalitarianism and genocide; antisemitism and anti-Zionism.

Same as REL 212.

This course satisfies the General Education Criteria in Spring 2025 for:

  • Cultural Studies - Western
  • Humanities – Hist & Phil

JS 501 Grad Intro to Jewish Culture

Grad Intro to Jewish Culture

Credit: 4 hours.

Interdisciplinary graduate-level introduction to the study of Jewish culture and society. Focuses on the significations of Jewishness in modern history through a wide range of recent writings by historians, anthropologists, philosophers and cultural theorists. Key themes will include the relationship of Judaism to the other monotheistic religions, the varied pathways of Jewish modernization, the construction of Jewish Otherness in Europe and beyond, and responses to the Holocaust and the creation of the state of Israel.

Additional courses

The following courses may also be submitted for approval. (A syllabus must be submitted to process the request):

AIS 501 Indigenous Critical Theory

ARAB 150 Lang&Culture of Arab World

CLCV 220 Exploring the Greek and Roman World

CLCV 231 Development of Ancient Cities

CLCV 444 The Archaeology of Italy

CMN 232 Intro to Intercultural Comm

GLBL 392 Int Diplomacy and Negotiation

MUS 523 Seminar in Musicology

PS 201 US Racial & Ethnic Politics

REL 110 World Religions

REL 120 A History of Judaism

REL 214 Introduction to Islam

REL 344 Jewish Intellectual History: Encounters with Islam and Christianity

REL 511 Seminar in Study of Religion

SOCW 300 Diversity: Identities & Issues