Jewish Studies Program Details - Undergraduate - Major

Overview of the Jewish Studies Undergraduate Program

The undergraduate major in Jewish Studies will introduce students to the history, languages, and literature of the Jewish people; the beliefs and practices of Judaism; and the interaction between Jews and Gentiles throughout history.

The program includes:

  • Biblical monotheism and ethics
  • Rabbinic traditions of text study and interpretation
  • Jewish responses to marginality, oppression, and suffering
  • Jewish experience in the modern world
  • The Holocaust
  • The history of Israel, including the revival of Hebrew as a living language
  • The thriving of diverse forms of Jewish community throughout the world

    • Requirements for the Major

    To declare a Jewish Studies major, student must be U.Va. undergraduate with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.

    The major consists of 10 courses plus a minimum of two semesters of Modern or Biblical Hebrew.

    Hebrew Language Requirements

    If the student has fulfilled the College's foreign language requirement with Hebrew or places out of HEBR 202, no additional Hebrew language is needed.

    If the above does not hold, the student must take two semesters of Hebrew.

    Placement will be assessed by the Hebrew Language faculty.

    The following sequences are possibilities:
  • Biblical monotheism and ethics
  • HEBR 101 and 102 OR RELJ 111 and RELJ 112
  • HEBR 102 and 201 OR RELJ 112 and RELJ 201
  • HEBR 201 and 202 OR RELJ 201 and RELJ 202
  • HEBR 202 OR RELJ 202 (only one semester needed if student places into a 202-level course)

    • Course Requirements

    1. Core Courses
  • RELJ 203: Introduction to Judaic Traditions (3 credits)
  • HIEU 209 or 210: Jewish History (3 credits)
  • JWST 495: Senior Research Seminar (3 credits)

    • 2. Distribution Requirement Courses
    One (1) course from each of the following three (3) categories as approved by the major advisor:

  • Language and Literature (Departments of English, German, Hebrew) Note: You can count Biblical Hebrew toward your "Language and Literature" requirement if you have fulfilled your Hebrew requirement with Modern Hebrew. You can count a 300-level Hebrew course toward your "Language and Literature" requirement if you have fulfilled your Hebrew requirement with Biblical Hebrew.
  • History and Society (Departments of Anthropology, Government and History)
  • Belief and Thought (Department of Religious Studies)


    • 3. Elective Courses
    Five (5) additional courses selected as electives in conjunction with the major advisor.

    Students should take at least five 300-level courses toward the major.

    Distinguished Majors Program in Jewish Studies

    The Distinguished Majors Program (DMP) in Jewish Studies affords qualified students the opportunity to do advanced research, and to receive, at graduation, the honor of distinction, high distinction or highest distinction.

    Entry into the Program
    Students who meet the following criteria are eligible to participate in the Distinguished Majors Program:

    1. Students qualify for the program if they have achieved an average of 3.4 in all university course work as well as in all major course work prior to application for the program.
    2. Application should be made to the Director of the Jewish Studies Distinguished Majors Program or to the Director of the Undergraduate Major Program.
    3. Admission into the program will be considered by the program's Committee on Curricular Issues, the Director of the Undergraduate Major Program and the Director of the Distinguished Majors Program.

    Requirements for Completion of the Program

    1. Completion of the Hebrew language requirement (minimum of two semesters) and all major requirements (30 credits).
    2. Students must enroll in JWST 497 (directed reading; 3 credits) in the fall semester and JWST 498 (writing; 3 credits) in the spring semester. These courses are in addition to the 30 required credits and the Hebrew language requirement.
    3. Students are responsible for selecting two members from the Jewish Studies faculty to serve as committee members; one member shall serve as the primary reader and chair.
    4. The thesis shall be thirty to fifty pages in length.

    Contact Information: Executive Committee

    Ida and Nathan Kolodiz Director of Jewish Studies Program
    Alon Confino, Professor of History
    P.O. Box 400126
    Charlottesville, VA 22904-4126
    Phone: (434) 924-6412
    E-mail: confino@virginia.edu

    Co-Director of Graduate Studies
    Peter Ochs, Edgar Bronfman Professor of Modern Jewish Thought
    Phone: (434) 924-6718
    E-mail: pochs@virginia.edu

    Co-Director of Graduate Studies
    Asher Biemann, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies
    Phone: (434) 924-3643
    E-mail: ab5j@virginia.edu

    Elizabeth Shanks Alexander, Associate Professor of Religious Studies
    Phone: (434) 924-6711
    E-mail: esa3p@virginia.edu

    Jeffrey Grossman, Assistant Professor of German
    Phone: (434) 924-6693
    E-mail: jg2t@virginia.edu