Jewish American Studies Minor - Undergraduate - 2010 University Catalog

You are viewing the 2010 University Catalog. Please see the newest version of the University Catalog for the most current version of this program's requirements.

The Jewish American Studies Minor is a multidisciplinary academic program designed to complement any of the undergraduate majors at Montclair State University. The program provides an appreciation of the heritage, arts, religion, language, sciences and values of the people of Jewish heritage in America.

The Jewish American Studies Program aims to foster the development of a cultural, religious, social and historical perspective of past and present experiences of Jewish people as well as examine current developments that impact upon the life and progress of Jewish Americans in society. The program is consistent with Montclair’s mission to “provide students with a greater sense of global awareness and cultural diversity.”

The requirements consist of 18 credits: nine credit hours of required courses, which are RELG 301 Contemporary Jewish Thought, offered by the department of Philosophy and Religion Studies, JAST 201 Introduction to Jewish American Studies, and JAST 401 Capstone Course in J.A. Studies.  Students can choose other courses across disciplines such as Anthropology, History, Philosophy and Religion, Political Science, Sociology, Music, Theater, and Child and Family Studies; in addition students may take studies abroad.  Students may major in any academic department of their choice.  The minor combines well with careers in business, economics, education, law, medicine, social sciences, literature and the arts.  A lively series of cultural programs, films, forums and lectures provides insight on current issues and exposes students and the community to a wide range of views on the topics discussed.

JEWISH AMERICAN STUDIES MINOR

Complete 18 semester hours, from the following:

  1. REQUIRED COURSES FOR MINOR

    Complete the following 3 courses:

    JAST 201 Introduction to Jewish American Studies 3
    JAST 401 Capstone Course in Jewish American Studies 3
    RELG 301 Jewish Spirituality and Mysticism 3

  2. ELECTIVES FOR MINOR

    Complete 3 courses for a total of 9 semester hours from at least 2 different departments.

    1. ANTHROPOLOGY

      Complete $H to 6 semester hours from the following: (ANTH 480 may be taken with written approval if the focus is appropriate.)

      ANTH 100 Cultural Anthropology 3
      ANTH 110 Anthropology of Multicultural America 3
      ANTH 115 Cultures of the Middle East 3
      ANTH 425 Anthropology of Religion 3

    2. ENGLISH

      ENGL 493 and ENLT 492 may be taken with written approval if the focus is appropriate.

    3. HISTORY

      Complete $H to 6 semester hours from the following: (HIST 332, 408, 409 and 410 may be used with written approval)

      HIST 310 Immigrant in American History 3
      HIST 426 The Nazi Third Reich 3
      HIST 427 The Holocaust, 1939-1945 3

    4. JUSTICE STUDIES

      Complete $H to 3 semester hours from the following:

      JUST 319 Hate Crimes 3

    5. HEBREW

      Complete $H to 6 semester hours from the following:

      HEBR 101 Beginning Hebrew I 3
      HEBR 112 Beginning Hebrew II 3
      HEBR 121 Intermediate Hebrew I 3
      HEBR 132 Intermediate Hebrew II 3

    6. PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION

      Complete $H to 6 semester hours from the following: (RELG 350, 352, 355, 357, and 490 may be used with written approval)

      RELG 200 Old Testament: Genesis to Joshua 3
      RELG 202 Old Testament: Joshua to Daniel 3
      RELG 223 Religion in North America 3
      RELG 273 The Holocaust: Religious Perspectives 3

    7. POLITICAL SCIENCE

      Complete $H to 6 semester hours from the following: (POLS 410, 416 JURI 499 and LSLW 499 may be used with written approval)

      POLS 215 Ethnic Politics in America 3
      POLS 342 Government and Politics of the Middle East 3
      POLS 351 Comparative Legal Perspectives: Israel and the United States 3
      POLS 432 U.S. Immigration: Law & Politics 3

    8. SOCIOLOGY

      Complete $H to 6 semester hours from the following: (SOCI 310 and 411 may be used with written approval)

      SOCI 202 Racial and Ethnic Relations 3
      SOCI 207 Social Structure of American Society 3

    9. WOMEN'S STUDIES

      Complete $H to 6 semester hours from the following:

      1. 3 semester hours may be taken from the following:

        HIST 314 Women and Migration 3
        WMGS 314 Women and Migration 3

      2. 3 semester hours may be taken from the following: (WMST 302 may be taken if focus is approriate)

        WMGS 102 Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies 3

    10. OTHER ELECTIVES

      Complete $H to 9 semester hours from the following: (THTR 403, 432, FCST 408, 419, and MUGN 499 may be used with approval)

      JAST 399 Independent Study in Jewish American Studies 3

Course Descriptions:

ANTH100: Cultural Anthropology

Introduction to the basic concepts, goals, and research strategies of anthropology, the nature of culture, its role in human experience, and its universality. Presentation of cross-cultural examples and conceptual frameworks for understanding and explaining cultural diversity. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. Meets the 1983 General Education Requirement (GER) - Social Science, Survey Course. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement, World Cultures. 3 sh.

ANTH110: Anthropology of Multicultural America

Analysis of the diversity of racial, ethnic, religious, occupational, and other subcultures and subgroups within the U.S. Emphasis on the character of American culture. Subpopulations are examined in relationship to each other and to the mainstream culture. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Social Science. Meets the 1983 General Education Requirement (GER) - Contemporary Issues. Meets the Human and Intercultural Relations Requirement (HIRR). Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. 3 sh.

ANTH115: Cultures of the Middle East

The Middle East culture area in anthropological perspective. Emphasis is placed on the nature of different interlocking cultural systems which are adaptations to environmental stresses in the Middle East. The concepts of culture and society will be explored in the context of course materials. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. Meets the 1983 General Education Requirement (GER) - Social Science, Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. 3 sh.

ANTH425: Anthropology of Religion

Patterns of religious beliefs and behaviors which relate to sacred, supernatural entities. Origin theories, divination, witchcraft, mythology and the relationship of religious movements to other aspects of culture. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: ANTH 301 or ANTH 310 or ANTH 330 or ANTH 340 or ANTH 350 or ANTH 360 or ANTH 370 or ANTH 380 or departmental approval.

HEBR101: Beginning Hebrew I

For students starting Hebrew in college or students who have been placed at this level after taking the placement exam. Designed to develop the fundamental skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing through classroom drill, video-cassettes, and laboratory work. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Languages. 3 sh.

HEBR112: Beginning Hebrew II

For students who have had previous experience with the Hebrew language or who have been placed at this level after taking the placement exam. Continuation of the four skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) through classroom drill, video-cassettes, and laboratory work. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Languages. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: HEBR 101.

HEBR121: Intermediate Hebrew I

This course is designed for students who have completed Beginning Hebrew I and II at Montclair State University or who have been placed at this level after taking the placement exam. Though the course continues to build on the listening comprehension and speaking skills developed in Beginning Hebrew I and II, the course focuses on reading and writing through the study of representative works and characteristic aspects of modern Israeli Jewish culture. Laboratory work available. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: HEBR 101 and HEBR 112.

HEBR132: Intermediate Hebrew II

For students who have completed Intermediate Hebrew I at Montclair State University or students who have been placed at this level after taking the placement exam. Advanced development of listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing skills through the study of authentic texts, representative works, and characteristic aspects of Israeli life and Jewish culture. Laboratory work is available. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: HEBR 121.

HIST310: Immigrant in American History

The processes by which the immigrant was incorporated into American society. Includes the cultural backgrounds from which the different groups came; the reasons for emigration; the nature of the communities they created once they reached the U.S.; their religious and social institutions; the problems of maintaining ethnic culture with the pressure to Americanize. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: HIST 100; AND HIST 117 OR HIST 118.

HIST314: Women and Migration

This course focuses on female migrants from the late nineteenth century to the present. Using an interdisciplinary approach with an emphasis on historical studies, it considers issues of work, family, sexuality, and identity formation for migrant women past and present. Questions to explore include: what distinguishes the experiences of migration for women; what are the continuities and differences for women across time, ethnicity, and geography; how do historians, sociologists, anthropologists, and others, as well as the migrants themselves, understand female migration; what do women gain and lose through migration; and why a gendered approach to migration studies is crucial. Cross listed with Women's and Gender Studies, WMGS 314. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: WMGS 102; or HIST 100 and HIST 117 or 118.

HIST426: The Nazi Third Reich

Major economic, social, political and intellectual developments in 20th century Germany. Demise of Weimar Republic and ascension of Nazi Third Reich. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: HIST 100; AND HIST 117 OR HIST 118.

HIST427: The Holocaust, 1939-1945

The history of the Holocaust and an overview of its representations in the academic historiography as well as in literary and autobiographical texts. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: HIST 100; AND HIST 117 OR HIST 118.

JAST201: Introduction to Jewish American Studies

This class explores the Jewish experience in America. Topics in education, family human services, immigration, aculturalization, multiple religious expressions, Jewish history in the u.S., gender, performing arts, politics,organizationsaand institutions, will be studied as they relate to Jewish American individuals and communities. This class serves as a core in the Jewish American Studies Minor. Cross listed with EDFD 201. 3 sh.

JAST399: Independent Study in Jewish American Studies

This course will provide students and faculty with flexibility within the existing academic structure. Students and faculty may collaborate to create a course of study which either supplements existing courses or fills in gaps which either student or faculty perceive in a student's curriculum. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: JAST 201.

JAST401: Capstone Course in Jewish American Studies

Students will work with the instructor to develop a research area that is both derived from and builds on their earlier classroom and/or personal experience. Students in the course are expected to share the progress and outcome of their research with the class. Scope of topics to be selected to enrich the student's overall understanding of Jewish American Studies. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: JAST 201.

JUST319: Hate Crimes

The course examines issues relating to how and why people hate; what constitutes a hate crime; whether and how society should legislate against hate crime; and how tolerance can be promoted in an ever-diverse and complex world. Course topics may include a historical perspective on hate; psychological and sociological theories as to why people hate hate; hate crime laws; enforcement issues relating to hate crime laws; constitutional challenges to hate laws; international hate crime; and new frontiers in hate and hate crime. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: JUST 101 or JUST 200 or JUST 201 or JUST 232 or departmental approval.

POLS215: Ethnic Politics in America

The political behavior of American ethnic groups from the Puritans to the Puerto Ricans. Meets the Human and Intercultural Relations Requirement (HIRR). Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. 3 sh.

POLS342: Government and Politics of the Middle East

Govenment and politics in the Arab states, Turkey, Israel and Iran. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: POLS 201 or departmental approval.

POLS351: Comparative Legal Perspectives: Israel and the United States

This seminar explores the legal and political traditions giving rise to contemporary Israeli and American legal systems. This encompasses such aspects as democratic process with its origins and influences, governmental institutions within each legal system, the role of religion and the protection of minority rights. Comparative perspectives provide an understanding of each legal system within its national context. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: POLS 201 or POLS 202 or LAWS 200 or JURI 210 or JAST 201 or permission of department.

POLS432: U.S. Immigration: Law & Politics

This course explores the interrelationships among the legal, political and societal factors in major legislative enactments of U.S. immigration and nationality law as they relate to government institutions and affected populations. The course examines the law and politics of restrictive immigration since the founding of our nation, including exclusion laws of the nineteenth century, quota systems of the twentieth century, and key legislative acts of the latter 20th and early 21st centuries. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: POLS 101 or LAWS 200 or JURI 210 or departmental approval.

RELG200: Old Testament: Genesis to Joshua

The evolution of the ancient Hebrew world view as developed in the biblical books covering the early period of Israelite history. The course includes a close reading of the books of Genesis, Exodus and numbers, comparison with contemporary Middle Eastern religious texts and study of the biblical story from the creation through the career of Moses (circa 1250 B.C.E.). 3 sh.

RELG202: Old Testament: Joshua to Daniel

The history and theology of Israelite religion as seen in the biblical books covering the middle and late periods (1150-165 B.C.E.). 3 sh.

RELG223: Religion in North America

The growth and development of various religious movements-- Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and sectarian minorities-- from colonial times to the present. 3 sh.

RELG273: The Holocaust: Religious Perspectives

A study of Nazi extermination of 6,000,000 Jews during World War II and the moral and religious issues raised by this event. 3 sh.

RELG301: Jewish Spirituality and Mysticism

The writings of Rosenzweig, Buber, Heschel, Rubenstein, Fackenheim, Plaskow, Wyschogrod and others will be examined in detail. They will be studied in the context of the religious crisis of modern society which has generated Existentialism, Death of God Theology and radical shifts in Jewish life (the Holocaust and the rebirth of Israel). Students will be introduced to popular Jewish religious practice in America and elsewhere as well as to the most complex Jewish Theological speculation of this century. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: A PHIL or RELG course; or PHIL or RELS major or minor; or departmental approval.

SOCI202: Racial and Ethnic Relations

The social meaning of race and ethnicity. The social, psychological and structural sources of racism; the consequences of this phenomenon to groups; situation and comparative data. Meets the 1983 General Education Requirement (GER) - Contemporary Issues. Meets General Education 2002, K3 Social Science. Meets the Human and Intercultural Relations Requirement (HIRR). Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. 3 sh.

SOCI207: Social Structure of American Society

Empirical materials on social structure. Inter-institutional relations as the form of the broad, general structure of American society. Meets the 1983 General Education Requirement (GER) - Social Science, Topic Course. 3 sh.

WMGS102: Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies

This course introduces the student to the broad and interdisciplinary field known as Women's and Gender Studies. It is designed to make students aware of the new discoveries in feminist and gender studies research and to focus on many aspects of the female experience and the social construction of gendered identities. The course is designed to help students understand different theories and methodologies in diverse disciplines and to treat areas such as literature, history, psychology and the arts through an issue-oriented approach. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Social Science. Meets the 1983 General Education Requirement (GER) - Contemporary Issues. Meets the Multicultural Awareness Requirement (MAR). 3 sh.

WMGS314: Women and Migration

This course focuses on female migrants from the late nineteenth century to the present. Using an interdisciplinary approach with an emphasis on historical studies, it considers issues of work, family, sexuality, and identity formation for migrant women past and present. Questions to explore include: what distinguishes the experiences of migration for women; what are the continuities and differences for women across time, ethnicity, and geography; how do historians, sociologists, anthropologists, and others, as well as the migrants themselves, understand female migration; what do women gain and lose through migration, and why a gendered approach to migration studies is crucial. Cross listed with History, HIST 314. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: WMGS 102; or HIST 100 and HIST 117 or 118.

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