BA in Jewish Studies in New York United States | Columbia University

Jewish studies is an interdisciplinary academic field focused on examining Jewish history, religion, language, and literature. This discipline spans from ancient Jewish civilizations to contemporary Jewish life, investigating Judaism not just as a faith but as an entire cultural and societal tradition.

Undergraduate students can pursue a specialized concentration in Jewish studies, selecting courses from various university departments such as History, Sociology, Middle Eastern/South Asian/African Studies, Germanic Languages, and Religious Studies. This concentration's curriculum equips students with comprehensive, cross-disciplinary knowledge to explore Jewish civilization from multiple perspectives.

Judaism's foundations extend beyond geographical, linguistic, or cultural boundaries. By examining how these elements intersect, students gain profound insights across diverse academic fields. The Jewish studies concentration enriches existing academic offerings, bringing greater depth to classroom discussions as participants draw upon knowledge from their interdisciplinary studies.

Those pursuing the Jewish studies concentration collaborate with program advisors to plan their course selections and academic progression. The program office maintains detailed planning forms to monitor each student's progress toward completing the concentration requirements.