BA in Jewish Studies in Chicago United States | University of Chicago

The University of Chicago has prioritized Jewish studies as a key academic discipline since its founding in 1892. Two of its inaugural five professors specialized in Judaic subjects (William Rainey Harper and Emil Gustav Hirsch). Harper, the university's inaugural president, was an acclaimed Biblical scholar who established foundational programs in Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations. These early efforts gained significant institutional support with the creation of the Oriental Institute, which continues to be a leading hub for ancient Near Eastern language, archaeology, and civilization research. Jewish studies at UChicago expanded through faculty appointments across multiple disciplines, including positions focused on Jewish Hellenism in Classics, Medieval Jewish philosophy in Philosophy, and Jewish socioeconomic history in History. In recent years, the university has recruited distinguished scholars specializing in Hebrew Bible interpretation, Midrashic studies, medieval Jewish history, Hebrew literature, American Jewish writing, Jewish political theory, Yiddish literature, contemporary Jewish philosophy, and German-Jewish cultural studies.