Undergraduate

The minor in Israel Studies is designed for students interested in adding to their major a particular focus on Israel. Comprising of coursework that serves to create a broad introductory foundation of familiarity with Israeli history, society, politics, and culture, the minor might be appropriate for students from a wide range of majors, including, but not limited to, History, Political Science, Art, Study of Religion, Film and Media Studies, Comparative Literature, Jewish Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, and more.

Before petitioning for a course, please visit our Pre-Approved Courses page for a list of accepted courses. For a course that is NOT on the above list, please visit our Course Petitions page.

  • Israel Studies (minor)

    To enter the minor, students must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better.

    Required Lower Division Courses (2 courses):

    • Ancient Near East 10W (Jerusalem: Holy City), 12W (Jerusalem: Holy City)
    • Jewish Studies M10 (Introduction to Judaism)
    • Middle Eastern Studies M50A (First Civilizations), M50B (Origins of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), M50CW (Making and Studying Modern Middle East)

    Required Upper-Division Courses (5 courses):

    • Jewish Studies M142 (Modern Israel: Politics, Society, and Culture)
    • Jewish Studies M144 (Zionism: Ideology and Practice in Making of Jewish State)

    And, three courses from at least two of the following categories:

    • Language: Arabic 102A/B/C (Intermediate Standard Arabic), 103A/B/C (Advanced Arabic), Hebrew 102A/B/C (Intermediate Hebrew), 103A/B/C (Advanced Hebrew), 110A/B (Introduction to Biblical Hebrew), 111A (Israeli Society through Hebrew Song and Video), 112 (Readings in Modern Scholarly Hebrew)
    • Literature, Arts, and Culture: Arabic 120 (Islamic Texts), M123 (Oral Literature and Performance of Arab World), 130 (Classical Arabic Texts), M148 (Contemporary Arab Film and Song); Hebrew M113 (Contemporary Israeli Short Stories/Novellas and Films in English), C140 (Modern Hebrew Poetry and Prose); Jewish Studies M150A (Hebrew Literature in English: Literary Traditions of Ancient Israel–Bible and Apocrypha), 150B (Hebrew Literature in English: Rabbinic Judaism), 151B (Modern Jewish Literature in English: Israeli Literature), M162 (Archaeology, Identity, and Bible), 175 (Modern Israeli Literature Made into Films); Middle Eastern Studies C122 (History, Memory, and Identity in Israel)
    • Politics: Political Science 120B (World Politics and U.S. Foreign Policy after September 11), 132A (International Relations of Middle East), M132B (International Relations of Middle East), 157 (Government and Politics in the Middle East)
    • Regional and Historical Setting: History 105A (Survey of Middle East, 500 to Present: 500 to 1300), 105B (Survey of Middle East, 500 to Present: 1300 to 1700), 105C (Survey of Middle East, 500 to Present: 1700 to Present); Study of Religion 110 (Religion and Violence), 120 (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: Comparative Approach)

    A maximum of 4 graded units of special studies courses (197, 198, or 199) approved by the department may be applied towards the minor. A minimum of 20 units applied toward the minor requirements must be in addition to units applied toward major requirements or another minor.

    Each minor course must be taken for a letter grade, and students must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better in the minor. Successful completion of the minor is indicated on the transcript and diploma.