Judaic Studies
GC
Why study Judaic Studies?
Judaic Studies is the academic study of Jewish civilization, past and present. Judaic Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field bringing together scholars trained in multiple fields in the humanities and social sciences. It is a remarkably broad field, with a history spanning from biblical time to the present day, and geographically the world over. The key elements Judaic Studies include the study of the Jewish religion; the study of the languages; Jewish history and literature; Jewish thought and society.
Judaism is a central building block of Western Civilization and students of Judaic Studies gain insight into their own civilization. Further: students of Judaic Studies gain insights into the vital issues of diversity by studying the history and culture of a global minority, which faced some of the harshest persecutions in recorded history.
The Department of Judaic Studies will make Jewish heritages, texts, history available, relevant and meaningful to students at all levels and backgrounds.
The Graduate Certificate in Judaic Studies is a 15-credit program providing students with a broad introduction to graduate learning and research in the field of Judaic Studies. The certificate is structured to be completed within a single academic year. Upon completion of the program participants will receive a printed graduate certificate from the College of Arts and Sciences.
The Certificate serves a diverse student body
- It offers a transition year for college graduates seeking to apply to Masters and Ph.D. programs in fields directly related to Judaic Studies.
- For graduate students already in such a Masters or Ph.D. program, the Certificate includes training for teaching introductory courses in Judaic Studies to undergraduates.
- For local professionals and graduate students in other fields, the Certificate offers accredited professional development and expertise in a specific subject area through graduate level courses in Judaic Studies
Admission Requirements
The required submission materials are:
(a) Letter of intent (personal statement letter)
(b) Recommendation letters (submitted online)
(c) Grades (GPA , transcripts, and test scores).
Students have the option of submitting a sample of written work, which will be read and taken into consideration by the application's reviewers. Finally, students will be invited to an interview.
NOTE: the Graduate Certificate in Judaic Studies admits news students both in the Fall and the Spring Semesters (though Fall Semester is the default).
Successful candidates for the Graduate Certificate in Judaic Studies come from a wide variety of backgrounds and skills. They demonstrate the core abilities and skills required in many liberal arts disciplines: academic focus, intellectual curiosity, love of reading, the ability to develop high-level critical thinking skills. A B.A. in Judaic Studies, or other form of Jewish learning, is a major advantage, but is not obligatory. In particular, the Graduate Certificate in Judaic studies is suited to graduates who wish to study Judaism in its religious, historical, literary and cultural contexts, and to integrate Jewish learning and knowledge in their work. The program welcomes students of all backgrounds - field biology students do not need to be mice and Judaic Studies students do not need to be Jewish!
PROF. GILA SAFRAN NAVEH
Judaic Studies Department Head
3428B French Hall
University of Cincinnati
(513) 556-2300
gila.safran-naveh@uc.edu
The Graduate Certificate in Judaic Studies is the product of a very unique partnership between UC and the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. The University of Cincinnati is one of America's top 25 public research institutions and the region's largest employer, with a diverse student population of 41,000. The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (founded in 1875) is the nation's oldest institution of higher Jewish education and the academic, spiritual, and professional leadership development center of Reform Judaism. The HUC campus houses both the American Jewish Archives, and the Klau Library is one of the most extensive Jewish libraries in the world. Courses may be taken from both institutions. The combination of these two neighboring institutions affords an ideal setting for integrating graduate level work with undergraduate pedagogy.
Contact Information
3510 French Hall West
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0169
(513) 556-6546
finkelai@ucmail.uc.edu
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Program Code: 15GC-JUDC-GC