Your examination of Jewish cultures and ideas will take you through literature, philosophy, Holocaust studies, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and modern anti-Semitism. You’ll gain familiarity with Jewish art, architecture, and visual culture, and explore Judaism, the Hebrew Bible, and classic Jewish texts.
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The founding college of Syracuse University remains at the center of undergraduate learning. The College is divided into the natural sciences and mathematics, the humanities, and the social sciences, with the lattermost offered in partnership with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
Courses
Sample courses for modern Jewish studies majors include:
- The Temple and the Dead Sea Scrolls
- Yiddish Literature in Translation
- Hebrew Literature in the Original
- Shoah: Responding to the Holocaust
- Great Jewish Writers
- Israeli Literature and Culture
Practical Experience
The Jewish Studies program offers a range of events including lectures, films, and musical performances, among others.
Seize opportunities to do community volunteering and professional internships—on campus, off campus, or internationally. Academic counselors and faculty advisors will guide you in aligning your interests and academic path with opportunities for growth.
Turn to the College of Arts and Sciences’ Center for Innovative Learning (iLEARN) for support with innovative educational programs and your undergraduate research activities. The center can help complement your traditional classroom and laboratory work with enhanced out-of-classroom learning experiences.
There are more than 300 recognized student organizations at Syracuse University and you can get involved with any of them. Connect with students who have similar academic and religious interests through Chabad House, Hillel Jewish Student Union, LIME: Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue Group, and explore other groups focused on art, entertainment, advocacy, government, media, religion, and service.
Study Abroad
Broaden your perspective and enhance your resume with an international experience through Syracuse Abroad , which features more than 100 programs in 60 countries. You can choose semester, summer, short term, and yearlong options for international study. Modern Jewish studies majors will find academically relevant programs in Tel Aviv and Madrid.
Life After Syracuse University
As a College of Arts & Sciences graduate with a major in modern Jewish studies, you can explore such careers as:
- Education
- Communal work
- Youth group advisor
- Non-profit organization worker
- Business administrator
- Writer
- Synagogue administrator
You can also pursue graduate training in such areas as law, rabbinical or cantorial school, theological studies, and more. Graduates of the program have attended some of the top graduate schools in the U.S.