(2017) Associate Professor of Religious Studies. B.A. 2004, Presbyterian College; M.Div. 2008, San Francisco Theological Seminary; Ph.D. 2014, Drew University.

(2000) Department Chair of History; Professor of History. B.A. 1987, Oberlin College; M.A. 1995, Ph.D. 1995, Yale University.

(1991) Professor of Political Science. B.A. 1986, University of California, Berkeley; M.A. 1988, Ph.D. 1991, University of Southern California.

(2001) Professor of English. B.A. 1969, University of California, Los Angeles; M.A. 1976, California State University, Northridge; Ph.D. 1989, University of California, Los Angeles.

(2016) Associate Professor of Journalism. B.A. 2000, Brown University; M.A. 2009, University of Southern California.

The minor in Jewish Studies offers courses in the culture and history of the Jewish people. The interdisciplinary approach examines Jewish literature, art, religious thought, history, and social attitudes and behavior. Many courses in the program satisfy General Education requirements or may be used as electives in other majors.

Jewish Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that encompasses the diversity of the global Jewish experience as reflected in the Jewish textual tradition, literature and the arts, history, social science, gender studies and queer studies. The Jewish Studies Program draws on this diversity to show how Jewish communities have mattered in and to many different …

The Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Studies provides an interdisciplinary examination of Jews and Judaism. Courses in the major explore the interactions of culture, history, language and religion across the global Jewish diaspora. Many courses in the program satisfy General Education requirements or may be used as electives in other majors.

This ADT/STAR Act Degree Road Map applies to the following catalog year(s): 2023 Jewish Studies, B.A. All lower division GE completed. Requirements with completion of an AA-T in Philosophy as listed below. Refer to the Catalog Archives for General Education requirements. Transfer Year 1: First Semester Course Units JS 100 (if not completed prior to transfer) 3 …

This ADT/STAR Act Degree Road Map applies to the following catalog year(s): 2024 Jewish Studies, B.A. 2025 Jewish Studies, B.A. All lower division GE completed. Requirements with completion of an AA-T in Philosophy as listed below. Refer to the Catalog Archives for General Education requirements. Transfer Year 1: First Semester Course Units JS 100 (if not completed …

This 4-Year Degree Road Map applies to the following catalog year(s): 2022 Jewish Studies, B.A. Refer to the Catalog Archives for General Education requirements. YEAR 1: 1st Semester Course Units JS 100 (meets GE C2 Humanities) 3 GE Basic Skills: A2 Written Communication 3 GE Basic Skills: B4 Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning 3 GE D1 Social Sciences …

This Transfer Degree Road Map applies to the following catalog year(s): 2023 Jewish Studies, B.A. The Transfer Degree Road Map on this page presumes the completion of lower division General Education, the United States History and Government requirements, and lower division core requirements for this major. See General Education Rules for more information. Lower division …

This 4-Year Degree Road Map applies to the following catalog year(s): 2023 Jewish Studies, B.A. Refer to the Catalog Archives for General Education requirements. YEAR 1: 1st Semester Course Units JS 100 (meets GE C2 Humanities) 3 GE Basic Skills: A2 Written Communication 3 GE Basic Skills: B4 Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning 3 Electives 6 Total 15 …

This Transfer Degree Road Map applies to the following catalog year(s): 2024 Jewish Studies, B.A. 2025 Jewish Studies, B.A. The Transfer Degree Road Map on this page presumes the completion of lower division General Education, the United States History and Government requirements, and lower division core requirements for this major. See General Education Rules for …

This 4-Year Degree Road Map applies to the following catalog year(s): 2024 Jewish Studies, B.A. Refer to the Catalog Archives for General Education requirements. YEAR 1: 1st Semester Course Units JS 100 (meets GE C2 Humanities) 3 GE Basic Skills: A2 Written Communication 3 GE Basic Skills: B4 Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning 3 Electives 6 Total 15 …

This 4-Year Degree Road Map applies to the following catalog year(s): 2025 Jewish Studies, B.A. YEAR 1: 1st Semester Course Units JS 100 (meets GE Upper Division Area 3B Humanities) 3 GE Basic Skills: Area 1A English Composition (Written Communication) 3 GE Basic Skills: Area 2 Lower Division Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning 3 Electives …

This course explores Jewish religious concepts and practices, as well as Jewish culture in international contexts from the ancient period to the present. Available for General Education, Area 3B Humanities.

Corequisite: RTM 151F. An examination of teachings on the natural environment found in Jewish literature and oral teachings, with an emphasis on values and practices related to respect for natural life and environmental conservation. Arranged wilderness field trips are required.

Study of the Jewish people from their beginning in the ancient Near East to the establishment of the modern state of Israel. Available for General Education, CSUN Section F Comparative Cultural Studies. (Cross-listed with HIST 210.)

Survey of Jewish American history from 1654 to the present. Presents Jewish ethnic, cultural, and religious perspectives on developments in U.S. history, including wars, laws, immigration and internal migration, and alliances and conflicts with other U.S. ethnic, cultural, and religious groups. Examines Jewish experiences of U.S. cultural and institutional norms including separation of church and …

An introduction to the process of critical thinking through analysis of how Jews are represented in the medium of film. In particular, students will consider how this representation is affected by ideologies of race, class, gender and sexuality. Emphasis on the modern history and culture of Jews in America, Europe, Israel and elsewhere. Available for …

Preparatory: Completion of the lower division writing requirement. Introductory study of the genres of imaginative literature—prose fiction, poetry and drama—with special emphasis on the interrelationships between form and theme. The course will feature Jewish literature from the biblical period to the present. All readings will be in English. Critical writing is an integral part of …

Prerequisite: Completion of the lower division writing requirement. This class explores how ancient and medieval Jews expressed themselves in literature, art and architecture, law, music, philosophy and science. It also explores how distinctive Jewish genres, styles and creative processes are related to similar expressions in non-Jewish cultures. Regular written assignments are required. Available for General …

Prerequisite: Completion of the lower division writing requirement. Preparatory: SOC 150. This course uses the perspectives and tools of sociology to explore how different cultural and social structures affect Jewish families and communities throughout the Jewish diaspora. Available for General Education, CSUN Section F Comparative Cultural Studies. (W.I.) (Cross-listed with SOC 306.)

Prerequisite: Completion of the lower division writing requirement. Applies Jewish teachings to contemporary social problems. Case studies may involve wealth and work, sexuality, food, war, the environment, and other topics. Students apply appropriate social scientific methods to collect data, analyze, evaluate, explain, and/or solve problems in social relations and human behavior. Available for General Education, …

Study of the literature and religion of ancient Israel through the Hellenistic period. No knowledge of Hebrew language is required; all texts will be in English translation. (Cross-listed with RS 320.)

Prerequisite: Completion of the lower division writing requirement. Examines a minority culture–women in Jewish communities from antiquity to the present. Course perspective is international, with significant focus on Mediterranean, West Asian and African Jewish societies. Contemporary topics such as sexuality, creative ritual, Israeli/Palestinian politics, and body image also are discussed. Available for General Education, CSUN …

Prerequisite: Completion of the lower division writing requirement. Study of comics, including comic strips, comic books and graphic novels, from literary and cultural studies perspectives. Emphasis on both history and form, including image-text relationships. Topics also may include fan culture, particular genres of comics and connections between comics and other forms of visual text. This …

Prerequisite: Completion of the lower division writing requirement. Preparatory: SOC 150. This course is a social-scientific study of American Jewish religious and ethnic identity. It focuses on the social institutions and processes involved in Jewish identity, and compares the experience of Jews with other religious, ethnic, and cultural groups in the U.S. Available for General …

Learn about how and why the Nazis and their collaborators persecuted and murdered Jews and other groups they deemed inferior. Survey long-term causes such as anti-Semitism as well as short-term factors including World War I and II. Read about Hitler’s racial ideology; delve into the world of Auschwitz and the concentration camps; analyze the actions …

Prerequisite: Completion of the lower division writing requirement. Seeks to describe the experience of the Jewish religion-ethnic community in America with reference to its own historic background and development and the relationship of the community to the general American culture and to other particular subcultures or ethnic groups. Emphasizes distinctive Jewish values and customs and …

Prerequisites: Instructor consent; Completion of the lower division writing requirement. Work experience in Jewish schools, synagogues, social welfare or political organizations. Faculty supervisor assists students in obtaining appropriate work placements. Work experience is complemented by academic study and written assignments. Offers a community service opportunity with service learning activities relating to concepts and theories presented. …

A history of the modern State of Israel, from the emergence of modern Jewish nationalism to the present time. The conflicts between Jews, Palestinians, and imperial and regional powers will be examined, as well as the relations between the diverse peoples that constitute Israel’s multicultural, multireligious, and multinational society. (Cross-listed with HIST 427.)

In-depth study of a selected theme or issue in Jewish Studies. Topics will change from semester. Critical writing and reading is required. This course may serve as the capstone experience for the B.A. degree in Jewish Studies. Available for graduate credit.

Course content to be determined.

Independent Study

An overview of the Holocaust and the concept of genocide, with a focus on the analysis and evaluation of varied resources for educators, including film, photographs, literature, art, music, documents and other primary source materials. (Cross-listed with HIST 546.)

This 4-Year Degree Road Map applies to the following catalog year(s): 2021 Modern Jewish Studies, B.A. Refer to the Catalog Archives for General Education requirements. YEAR 1: 1st Semester Course Units JS 100 (meets GE C2 Humanities) 3 GE Basic Skills: A2 Written Communication 3 GE Basic Skills: B4 Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning 3 GE D1 Social …

(2012) Director of Jewish Studies Program; Maurice Amado Professor of Applied Jewish Ethics and Civic Engagement. B.A. 1998, Brandeis University; M.T.S. 2000, Harvard Divinity School; Ph.D. 2010, Emory University.

(2015) Professor of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures. B.A. 2004, Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia; M.A. 2006, University of Northern Iowa; Ph.D. 2010, Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia; Ph.D. 2014, Florida International University.

(2021) Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies. B.A. 1996, Harvard University; Ph.D. 2010, University of Chicago.