紐約州立大學(xué)水牛城分校

Why study Jewish Studies BA at UB?

The Jewish Studies BA program is devoted to critically examining some of the central questions of human identity through the resources of the Jewish tradition. By putting Greek philosophy, Roman law and Biblical ethics in conversation with one another, we will address the following questions: Where does ethics come from? What is God? What does a just society look like? What makes us human? Can science and religion be reconciled? What is the impact of the Holocaust? What is American Jewish identity? Students learn to combine the latest theoretical approaches with the millennia-long tradition of Jewish Thought in order to address challenges of modern society. Our department fosters a strong, nurturing sense of community where faculty members mentor students and encourage them to develop their course of study according to their individual interests. By providing a comprehensive humanities education, the Jewish Studies BA prepares the student for a wide range of graduate programs and professional careers.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will be able to:

• Develop critical thinking and abilities to read and analyze complex written texts -- a set of skills to help become more competitive on professional job markets.
• Discuss Judaism in a wide range of interdisciplinary contexts, including philosophy, history, literature, ethics, language, comparative religion, and critical theory
• Understand and apply key concepts, theories, and methods in the academic study of Judaism
• Conduct research: pose questions, obtain evidence, analyze sources, assess information, and construct an argument
• Understand critical methods of inquiry and use critical reading skills
• Hone effective written communication skills in academic writing: to engage primary and secondary sources, to access critically the methods these sources use, and to express a point of view on a subject and support it with evidence
• Cultivate oral communication: present research findings clearly, analyze primary and secondary sources in class discussion
• Engage in thinking collectively within a group through group projects, including but not limited to using theatrical, cinematic and other ways of expression to develop and display an ability to think critically and independently about a problem at hand.
• Develop language skills in Modern Hebrew for conversation and to read classical and modern Hebrew texts in their original language (if taking Hebrew language for four semesters).

Career Outlook

Career Choices:

Advocate; Archivist; Author; Broadcaster; Conservationist; Consultant; Cultural or charitable organization president; Editor and publisher; Historian; Film/art critic; Fundraiser; Journalist; Lawyer; Librarian; Paralegal; Physician, health care worker, health sciences researcher; Politician or Public official; Researcher; Social Worker; Screenwriter; Teacher; University administrator; Urban Planner; Writer.

Work settings include:

Advertising agencies; Book publishers; Chambers of commerce; Educational institutions; Government agencies; Health and human service organizations; Large companies; Law firms; Literary agencies; Magazines; Museums; Newspapers; Non-profit sector; Political offices; Printing firms; Public interest organizations; Public libraries; Radio/television stations; Research institutions; Schools; Social Sciences; Theaters; Tutoring services.

Opportunities for Post-Baccalaureate Study include:

Brandeis University; Columbia University; Cornell University; Duke University; Emory University; Harvard University; Hebrew Union College; Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Indiana University; Jewish Theological Seminary; McGill University; New York University; Rice University.