This is an archived copy of the 2012-14 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.utexas.edu/.

Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies

Jewish Studies: J S

Lower-Division Courses

J S 301. Introduction to Jewish Studies.

Jewish literature and Jewish thought, comprising a general introduction to biblical, rabbinic, philosophic, and literary Jewish texts from the sixth century BC to the twenty-first century CE. Emphasis on hermeneutics (interpretation). Three lecture hours a week for one semester.

J S 304M. Jewish Civilization: Beginnings to 1492.

Same as History 306N (Topic 10: Jewish Civilization: Beginnings to 1492) and Religious Studies 313M. Introduction to the history, culture, and religion of the Jewish people from around 1000 BC to the end of the medieval period. Subjects may include ancient Israel, late Second Temple sectarianism, the rise of Christianity, rabbinic Judaism, medieval Jewish philosophy, Jewish mysticism, and Hebrew poetry. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: History 306N (Topic: Jewish Civilization I), 306N (Topic 10), Jewish Studies 304M, 311 (Topic: Jewish Civilization I), Religious Studies 313 (Topic: Jewish Civilization I), 313M.

J S 304N. Jewish Civilization: 1492 to the Present.

Same as History 306N (Topic 11: Jewish Civilization: 1492 to the Present) and Religious Studies 313N. Subjects may include trends toward secularization, the emancipation of European Jewry, the emergence of American Jewry, the Holocaust, the establishment of the State of Israel, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: History 306N (Topic 11), Jewish Studies 304N, 311 (Topic: Jewish Civilization: 1492 to the Present), Religious Studies 313 (Topic: Jewish Civilization: 1492 to the Present), 313N.

J S 311. Topics in Jewish Studies.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Some topics partially fulfill legislative requirement for American history. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary.

Topic 2: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: An Introduction. Same as History 304R, Islamic Studies 311 (Topic 2: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: An Introduction), and Religious Studies 304. Examines the intertwined historical developments of the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and explores the principal beliefs and practices of Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
Topic 3: The Rise of Christianity. Introduction to the origins and development of Christianity.

Upper-Division Courses

J S 361. Topics in Jewish Studies.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester; additional hours may be required for some topics. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Varies with the topic and is given in the Course Schedule.

J S 362. Independent Research in Jewish Studies.

Tutorially directed research in Jewish studies. Conference course. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and consent of instructor.

J S 363. Topics in the Humanities and Arts.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester; additional hours may be required for some topics. Jewish Studies 361 and 363 may not both be counted unless the topics vary. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Varies with the topic and is given in the Course Schedule.

Topic 1: Anne Frank and Beyond. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 3: Film Adaptations of Israeli Literature. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 4: Israeli and American Jewish Fiction. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 6: Key Yiddish Novels. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 7: Love and the State in Contemporary Israeli Literature. Same as Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 321 (Topic 6: Love and the State in Contemporary Israeli Literature), and Middle Eastern Studies 342 (Topic 6: Love and the State in Contemporary Israeli Literature). Only one of the following may be counted: Comparative Literature 323 (Topic: Love and State in Contemporary Israeli Literature), English 322 (Topic: Love and State in Contemporary Israeli Literature), Hebrew 374 (Topic 9: Love and the State in Contemporary Israeli Literature), Jewish Studies 363 (Topic 7), Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 321 (Topic 6), Middle Eastern Studies 322K (Topic 27: Love and the State in Contemporary Israeli Literature), 342 (Topic 6), Women's and Gender Studies 340 (Topic: Love and State in Contemporary Israeli Literature). Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 8: Mizrahi Writing in Israel. Same as Hebrew 346 (Topic 9: Mizrahi Writing in Israel) and Middle Eastern Studies 342 (Topic 9: Mizrahi Writing in Israel). Only one of the following may be counted: Hebrew 346 (Topic 9), Jewish 363 (Topic 8), Middle Eastern Studies 325 (Topic 6: Mizrahi Writing in Israel), 342 (Topic 9). Prerequisite: Upper-division standing, and Hebrew 412L (or 312L) or 320L with a grade of at least C.
Topic 10: The Sacred and the Secular in Contemporary Jewish Literature. Same as Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 321 (Topic 8: The Sacred and the Secular in Contemporary Jewish Literature) and Middle Eastern Studies 342 (Topic 8: The Sacred and the Secular in Contemporary Jewish Literature). Only one of the following may be counted: Comparative Literature 323 (Topic: The Sacred and the Secular in Contemporary Jewish Literature), English 322 (Topic: The Sacred and the Secular in Contemporary Jewish Literature), Hebrew 374 (Topic 11: The Sacred and the Secular in Contemporary Jewish Literature), Jewish Studies 363 (Topic 10), Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 321 (Topic 8), Middle Eastern Studies 322K (Topic 28: The Sacred and the Secular in Contemporary Jewish Literature), 342 (Topic 8), Religious Studies 353 (Topic: The Sacred and the Secular in Contemporary Jewish Literature). Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 11: Women's Narratives of the Holocaust and World War II. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 12: Yiddish Literature. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 13: Jewish-American-European Fiction: The Case of Roth, Roth, and Roth. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 17: Introduction to Israeli Literature. Same as Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 321 (Topic 5: Introduction to Israeli Literature) and Middle Eastern Studies 342 (Topic 5: Introduction to Israeli Literature). Only one of the following may be counted: Comparative Literature 323 (Topic: Introduction to Israeli Literature), English 322 (Topic: Introduction to Israeli Literature), Hebrew 374 (Topic 10: Introduction to Israeli Literature), Jewish Studies 363 (Topic 17), Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 321 (Topic 5), Middle Eastern Studies 325 (Topic 7: Introduction to Israeli Literature), 342 (Topic 5). Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 18: Jerusalem in Israeli Literature. Same as Hebrew 346 (Topic 8: Jerusalem in Israeli Literature). Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and Hebrew 412L (or 312L).
Topic 19: Postmodernist Israeli Literature. Same as Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 321 (Topic 7: Postmodernist Israeli Literature) and Middle Eastern Studies 342 (Topic 7: Postmodernist Israeli Literature). Study of the first decades of Israeli literature. Themes include the establishment of a new state in the aftermath of the Holocaust, conflict between Israel and Arab nations, and conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Only one of the following may be counted: Comparative Literature 323 (Topic: Postmodernist Israeli Literature), English 322 (Topic: Postmodernist Israeli Literature), Hebrew 374 (Topic 8: Postmodernist Israeli Literature), Jewish Studies 363 (Topic 19), Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 321 (Topic 7), Middle Eastern Studies 325 (Topic: Postmodernist Israeli Literature), 342 (Topic 7). Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

J S 364. Topics in History.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Some topics partially fulfill legislative requirement for American history. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Varies with the topic and is given in the Course Schedule.

Topic 1: Anti-Semitism in History and Literature. Jewish Studies 361 (Topic: Anti-Semitism in History and Literature) and 364 (Topic 1) may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 2: The Jewish Experience in the Greco-Roman World. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 3: The Bible and History. Same as Religious Studies 354D. The critical uses of biblical and extrabiblical data in the reconstruction of the history of the biblical period. Only one of the following may be counted: Ancient History and Classical Civilization 330 (Topic: The Bible and History), History 372P, Jewish Studies 364 (Topic 3), Middle Eastern Studies 320 (Topic 3: The Bible and History), Religious Studies 354D. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 4: The Dead Sea Scrolls. Same as History 364G (Topic 3: The Dead Sea Scrolls), Middle Eastern Studies 342 (Topic 23: The Dead Sea Scrolls), and Religious Studies 353D. Only one of the following may be counted: History 364G (Topic 3), Jewish Studies 361 (Topic 4: The Dead Sea Scrolls), 364 (Topic 4), Middle Eastern Studies 320 (Topic 13: The Dead Sea Scrolls), 342 (Topic 23), Religious Studies 353D. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

J S 365. Topics in the Social Sciences.

Topic 1: America and the Holocaust. Same as American Studies 321 (Topic 4: America and the Holocaust) and History 356R. Only one of the following may be counted: American Studies 321 (Topic 4), 370 (Topic: America and the Holocaust), History 350L (Topic: America and the Holocaust), 356R, 365G (Topic: America and the Holocaust), Jewish Studies 361 (Topic: America and the Holocaust), 365 (Topic 1), Liberal Arts Honors 350 (Topic: America and the Holocaust). Partially fulfills legislative requirement for American history. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 2: Concepts in Judaic Culture. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 3: Jewish Communities in the Middle East and North Africa. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 4: Jewish Immigrant Culture in America. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 5: Jewish Ethics. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 7: Rome and Jerusalem. Same as Ancient History and Classical Civilization 325 (Topic 3: Rome and Jerusalem), History 321G, Middle Eastern Studies 342 (Topic 21: Rome and Jerusalem), and Religious Studies 365 (Topic 1: Rome and Jerusalem). A study of daily life in Israel during the Roman period, focusing on Jerusalem, ancient Palestinian synagogues and churches, Jewish and Christian symbolism, agriculture, warfare, and burial practices. Only one of the following may be counted: Ancient History and Classical Civilization 325 (Topic 3), Classical Civilization 348 (Topic: Rome and Jerusalem), History 321G, Jewish Studies 365 (Topic 7), Middle Eastern Studies 320 (Topic 2: Rome and Jerusalem), 342 (Topic 21), Religious Studies 365 (Topic 1), Urban Studies 353 (Topic: Rome and Jerusalem). Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

J S 375. Senior Seminar.

Intensive study and research on selected topics in Jewish studies, with on-going, in-class presentations for critique by fellow students and the instructor. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and consent of the Jewish studies adviser.

J S 679H. Honors Tutorial Course.

Restricted to Jewish studies majors. Supervised individual reading and research for one semester, followed by writing a substantial honors thesis during the second semester. Conference course for two semesters. Prerequisite: For 679HA, admission to the Jewish Studies Honors Program; for 679HB, Jewish Studies 679HA.