Jewish Studies is an interdisciplinary academic plan of the Faculty of Arts which may be taken in conjunction with many existing academic plans in Arts and other faculties.
Jewish history, culture, civilization and religion are filled with a wealth of traditions, achievements, and knowledge passed down through the centuries. It is our goal that this treasured heritage be shared with an international community of Jews and non-Jews who are seeking wider knowledge and understanding. Jewish Studies presents courses which bear directly on Jewish civilization and its importance for the Jewish and non-Jewish world.
REQUIREMENTS
Requirements are identical for all academic plans ( minor, option, and diploma).
- Five academic course units (ten courses) with a minimum cumulative average of 70%, including:
- at least five Jewish Studies (JS) courses, either on campus or by distance education,
- the remaining courses chosen, in consultation with the Chair, from an approved list of related courses from Arts departments
Notes
- Students enrolled in Honours or Four-Year General Major academic plans in the Faculty of Arts, or in Honours Majors in other Faculties, may pursue the minor.
- Students in all other degree plans may pursue the option.
- Students in non-degree or post-degree studies may be admitted to the diploma.
Core Courses
JS 120 Relationships in the Bible (Old Testament)
JS 130 Power and Corruption in the Bible (Old Testament)
JS 125 Great Texts in the Jewish Tradition
JS 150 The Quest for Meaning in Modern Judaism*
JS 203 Jewish Responses to the Holocaust
JS 205 The Hebrew Prophets**
JS 210 Jewish Philosophy
JS 211 Kabbalah: Jewish Mysticism
JS 217 Judaism
JS 233 The Holocaust and Film
JS 250 Special Topics in Jewish Studies
JS 350 Special Topics in Jewish Studies
JS 450 Special Topics in Jewish Studies
*offered by Distance Education only
**offered on campus and by Distance Education
Approved Course List
CLAS 210 History of Ancient Law
CLAS 225 Classical Mythology 1: The Deities
CLAS 226 Classical Mythology 2: The Heroes
CLAS 325 Greek and Roman Religion (cross-listed as RS 326)
ENGL 202A/B The Bible and Literature
GER 381 Fascism in Germany: Holocaust and Resistance in Literature
GER 382 National Socialism, Hitler and the German People
HIST 223 The Holocaust in History
HIST 237 The Ancient Near East and Egypt (cross-listed as CLAS 237)
HIST 263 Europe in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
HIST 341 Occupied Europe, 1938-1945
JS 105A Introductory Biblical Hebrew 1 (cross-listed as RS 105A)
JS 105B Introductory Biblical Hebrew 2 (cross-listed as RS 105B)
JS 301 Canada and the Holocaust
JS 306A Intermediate Biblical Hebrew (cross-listed as RS 306A)
JS 306B Ancient Semitic Texts and Inscriptions (cross-listed as RS 306B)
PHIL 230J God and Philosophy
PHIL 237 Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion (cross-listed as RS 202)
PHIL 238 Modern Philosophical Challenges to Religious Belief
PHIL 380 History of Ancient Philosophy 1 (cross-listed as CLAS 361)
PHIL 435/436 Studies in Philosophy of Religion
RS 100B Religions of the West
RS 100C Religious Quests
RS 100E Biblical Studies 1
RS 100L Evil
RS 200 The Study of Religion
RS 201 God
RS 261 Women and the Great Religions
RS 272 Sacred Places
RS 285 Death & Dying: Comparative Views
RS 300 Feminist Approaches to the Bible
RS 353 The Bible and Peace
RS 370 Dreams in Religious Experience
SPD 270 Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (cross-listed as RS 270)
Letter of Permission
Pursuant to an agreement between the University of Waterloo and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, students can study in Jerusalem on a Letter of Permission and will be eligible for awards from an endowment from the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Students may participate in, and earn credits through courses offered at the Rothberg International School, regular Hebrew University curriculum or other accredited Hebrew University programs.
UW/Bar-Ilan University (Internet Courses)
The following distance education courses are available through Jewish Studies, in collaboration with Bar-Ilan University in Israel:
For more information on these internet-based courses consult the Jewish Studies website.