Jewish Studies Major Concentration (B.A. & Sc.)

36 credits · Bachelor of Arts and Science · 2026-2027 catalogue

Jewish Studies Major Concentration (B.A. & Sc.) as a checklist, with when each course runs in 2026–27. On a computer, check off the courses you have taken or plan to take to add up your credits.

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Degree Requirements — B.A. & Sc. students

This program is offered as part of a Bachelor of Arts and Science (B.A. & Sc.) degree. To graduate, students must satisfy both their program requirements and their degree requirements. The program requirements (i.e., the specific courses that make up this program) are listed under the Course Tab (above). The degree requirements—including the mandatory Foundation program, appropriate degree structure, and any additional components—are outlined on the Degree Requirements page . Students are responsible for ensuring that this program fits within the overall structure of their degree and that all degree requirements are met. Consult the Degree Planning Guide on the SOUSA website for additional guidance.

Complementary Courses (36 credits)

36 credits in Jewish Studies of which 24 are normally taken at the 300 level or above, selected as described below. Consultation with an adviser is strongly recommended.

Jewish History

6 credits (minimum) in the history of Jewish civilization to be chosen from:

  • HIST 207 Jewish History: 400 B.C.E. to 1000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 219 Jewish History: 1000 - 2000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 211 Jewish Studies 1: Biblical Period (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 216 Jewish Studies 2: 400 B.C.E. - 1000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 217 Jewish Studies 3: 1000 - 2000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

Jewish Language

6 credits reflecting an advanced level of competence in either Hebrew or Yiddish chosen from the following:

  • JWST 327 A Book of the Bible (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 330 Topics in the Hebrew Bible (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • JWST 340D1 Advanced Hebrew (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 340D2 Advanced Hebrew (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • JWST 367 Hebrew through Israeli Cinema (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 370 Israeli Popular Culture (3 credits) · Offered: Winter

Areas of Jewish Studies (24 credits)

24 credits in Jewish Studies of which at least 12 are devoted to a single area of study: Biblical Studies, East European Studies, Jewish History, Jewish Thought, Literature (Hebrew, Yiddish), Modern Jewish Studies, and Rabbinic Studies. Students without the background necessary to complete the advanced language requirement may substitute up to 12 credits in language. Note: Hebrew language courses are found listed under the heading "Language and Literature - Hebrew", and Yiddish language courses are found under the heading "Language and Literature - Yiddish" in the areas of study lists below.

Biblical Studies

  • JWST 211 Jewish Studies 1: Biblical Period (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 330 Topics in the Hebrew Bible (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • JWST 510 Jewish Bible Interpretation 1 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 511 Jewish Bible Interpretation 2 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 520 Bible Interpretation in Antiquity (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 538 Early Rabbinic Parshanut 1 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • RELG 307 Bible, Quran and Interpretations (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

East European Studies

  • HIST 307 Jews in Poland (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 427 The Hasidic Movement (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 206 Introduction to Yiddish Literature (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 217 Jewish Studies 3: 1000 - 2000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 240 The Holocaust (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 351 Studies in Modern Jewish Literature (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • JWST 361 The Shtetl: 1500-1897 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 365 Modern Jewish Ideologies (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 366 History of Zionism (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 381 God and Devil in Modern Yiddish Literature (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • JWST 383 Holocaust Literature (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 485 Tutorial in Yiddish Literature (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 486 Tutorial in Yiddish Literature (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 585 Tutorial: Eastern European Studies 1 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 586 Tutorial: Eastern European Studies 2 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

Jewish History

  • HIST 207 Jewish History: 400 B.C.E. to 1000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 219 Jewish History: 1000 - 2000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 307 Jews in Poland (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 427 The Hasidic Movement (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 572D1 Seminar in Jewish History (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 572D2 Seminar in Jewish History (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 211 Jewish Studies 1: Biblical Period (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 216 Jewish Studies 2: 400 B.C.E. - 1000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 217 Jewish Studies 3: 1000 - 2000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 230 Antisemitism and Jewish Responses (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • JWST 240 The Holocaust (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 306 The American Jewish Community (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 314 Denominations in North American Judaism (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 315 Modern Liberal Jewish Thought (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 361 The Shtetl: 1500-1897 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 365 Modern Jewish Ideologies (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 366 History of Zionism (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

Jewish Thought

  • EDER 318 Teaching the Jewish Liturgy (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 207 Jewish History: 400 B.C.E. to 1000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 219 Jewish History: 1000 - 2000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 427 The Hasidic Movement (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 201 Jewish Law (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 216 Jewish Studies 2: 400 B.C.E. - 1000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 217 Jewish Studies 3: 1000 - 2000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 261 History of Jewish Philosophy and Thought (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 314 Denominations in North American Judaism (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 315 Modern Liberal Jewish Thought (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 337 Jewish Philosophy and Thought 1 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 338 Jewish Philosophy and Thought 2 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 358 Topics in Jewish Philosophy 1 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 359 Topics in Jewish Philosophy 2 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 365 Modern Jewish Ideologies (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 366 History of Zionism (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 474 Maimonides' Mishneh Torah (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 558 Topics: Modern Jewish Thought (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

Language and Literature - Hebrew

  • JWST 220D1 Introductory Hebrew (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 220D2 Introductory Hebrew (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • JWST 225 Literature and Society (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 320D1 Intermediate Hebrew (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 320D2 Intermediate Hebrew (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • JWST 323 The Israeli Novel (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 325 Israeli Literature in Translation (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 340D1 Advanced Hebrew (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 340D2 Advanced Hebrew (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • JWST 367 Hebrew through Israeli Cinema (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 370 Israeli Popular Culture (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • JWST 383 Holocaust Literature (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 403 Contemporary Hebrew Literature (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

Language and Literature - Yiddish

  • JWST 206 Introduction to Yiddish Literature (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 281 Introductory Yiddish 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 282 Introductory Yiddish 2 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • JWST 351 Studies in Modern Jewish Literature (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • JWST 361 The Shtetl: 1500-1897 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 381 God and Devil in Modern Yiddish Literature (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • JWST 383 Holocaust Literature (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 387 Modern Jewish Authors (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 480 Advanced Yiddish 1 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 481 Advanced Yiddish 2 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 485 Tutorial in Yiddish Literature (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 486 Tutorial in Yiddish Literature (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

Modern Jewish Studies

  • EDER 319 Teaching the Holocaust (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • HIST 219 Jewish History: 1000 - 2000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 427 The Hasidic Movement (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 572D1 Seminar in Jewish History (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 572D2 Seminar in Jewish History (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 217 Jewish Studies 3: 1000 - 2000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 240 The Holocaust (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 309 Jews in Film (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 346 Modern Jewish Studies (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 348 Modern Jewish Studies (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 349 Modern Jewish Studies (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 351 Studies in Modern Jewish Literature (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • JWST 359 Topics in Jewish Philosophy 2 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 361 The Shtetl: 1500-1897 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 365 Modern Jewish Ideologies (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 366 History of Zionism (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 383 Holocaust Literature (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 386 American Jewish Literature (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 387 Modern Jewish Authors (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 558 Topics: Modern Jewish Thought (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 585 Tutorial: Eastern European Studies 1 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 586 Tutorial: Eastern European Studies 2 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • POLI 347 Arab-Israel Conflict, Crisis, Peace (3 credits) · Offered: Winter

Rabbinic Studies

  • HIST 207 Jewish History: 400 B.C.E. to 1000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 219 Jewish History: 1000 - 2000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 201 Jewish Law (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 216 Jewish Studies 2: 400 B.C.E. - 1000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 217 Jewish Studies 3: 1000 - 2000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 316 Social and Ethical Issues Jewish Law 1 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 345 Introduction to Rabbinic Literature (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • JWST 358 Topics in Jewish Philosophy 1 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 359 Topics in Jewish Philosophy 2 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 474 Maimonides' Mishneh Torah (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • JWST 538 Early Rabbinic Parshanut 1 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

Other Department Courses - History

Many of the courses in Jewish Studies are related to other departments, e.g., History, Religious Studies. There are also related courses in other departments which students specializing in certain areas of Jewish Studies might be encouraged to include in their programs, e.g., Classical Greek, Arabic, theories of literature, etc. The following History department courses may be used as Jewish Studies courses in the Department of Jewish Studies programs. These courses have been included in the areas of study course lists above.

  • HIST 207 Jewish History: 400 B.C.E. to 1000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 219 Jewish History: 1000 - 2000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 307 Jews in Poland (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 427 The Hasidic Movement (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 572D1 Seminar in Jewish History (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • HIST 572D2 Seminar in Jewish History (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

Related programs

Source: McGill Course Catalogue. myDegree is an independent student project, not affiliated with McGill University.