Norman A. Stillman, Professor of Judaic History, Director
455 W. Lindsey, Room 305-D
Norman, Oklahoma 73019
Phone: (405) 325-6508
FAX: (405) 325-6521
Internet: http://www.ou.edu/cas/judaicstudies/
e-mail: nstillman@ou.edu
Professors Levenson, Stillman; Associate Professors Kritz, Shepkaru; Assistant Professor Schapkow; Instructor Reches. In addition, the faculty of the Judaic Studies Program is comprised of approximately 13 faculty members from departments across the University.
Judaic Studies explores the history and culture of the Jewish people over a period of four millennia in the Land of Israel and the Diaspora (their dispersion throughout the world) through the tools of the humanities and the social sciences. The field began as an academic discipline in Europe during the nineteenth century and developed in universities and research centers the world over in the twentieth century. Israel Studies is a much more recent field developed over the last fifty years and is dedicated to interpreting the culture, politics, and society of the modern State of Israel.
The Schusterman Program in Judaic and Israel Studies is an interdisciplinary program offering a wide variety of courses in Jewish history in all periods and places, Hebrew language and literature at all levels, Yiddish, Ladino (Judeo-Spanish), Bible, religious thought, philosophy, Jewish literature in translation, as well as anthropological, sociological, and political perspectives on the Jewish and Israeli experience.
The Zarrow Family Scholarship for Judaic Studies was established by Jack and Henry Zarrow of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Zarrow Family Scholarship provides important educational opportunities to undergraduate, graduate and exchange students and serves to enrich the Judaic Studies Program.
The Esther Rose Shnier XI Chapter of Sigma Delta Tau Scholarship was established by the XI Chapter of the Sigma Delta Tau Sorority, a Jewish sorority formerly a part of the University of Oklahoma campus.
Applications for both scholarships are accepted in the spring semester for awards for the coming academic year.
The Bachelor of Arts in Judaic Studies provides students with: 1) a solid grounding in the history and culture of one of the seminal components of modern civilization, 2) in-depth familiarity with one of the most significant countries of the Middle East, and 3) proficiency in the language of present-day Israel and of Jewish historical creativity.
The Judaic Studies major requires a 33-credit-hour core of courses in addition to completion of four semesters of Hebrew language credits (16 credit hours).
HIST 3973, History of Judaism (3 credit hours).
Four courses (12 credit hours) chosen from the following must be completed: HIST 3413, History of Ancient Israel; HIST 3430, Topics: American Jewish History; HIST 3950, Topics: Modern Jewish History; HIST 3963, Rebirth of Israel; HIST 3983, Medieval Jewish History.
Electives — five courses (15 credit hours), chosen from a list of approved courses, must also be completed.
Senior Capstone requirement (3 credit hours) must be chosen from the following list of seminars: HIST 4973, Seminar: Militant Religion in the Middle East; HIST 4973, Seminar in Jewish Historiography; MLLL 4970, Seminar: Hebrew Literature.
Students must complete the following language courses for a total of 16 hours:
HEBR 1115, Beginning Hebrew; HEBR 1225, Beginning Hebrew continued; HEBR 2113, Intermediate Hebrew; HEBR 2213, Intermediate Hebrew, continued. (Requirement waived with demonstrated proficiency of language.)
The minor consists of 18-20 hours, including nine at the upper division level. A minimum of five designated Judaic Studies courses will be required, two of which must include Modern Hebrew, or demonstrated proficiency.
History: 3973, Judaism: A Religious History
Modern Languages, Hebrew: 1115, Beginning Hebrew I; 1225 Beginning Hebrew II
(A student who enters the program with proficiency of the language will be required to take additional Judaic courses.)
History: 3120, European Jews from Ghetto to Modernity; 3120, Jews and Other Germans; 3293, History of Anti-Semitism; 3313, Israeli Culture Through Film; 3413, History of Ancient Israel; 3430, American Jewish History; 3500, Heaven and Hell; 3500, Historical Study of Religion; 3500, Jewish Mysticism; 3500, The Holocaust; 3500, Modern Jewish History; 3840, Mid-east Jews in Modern Times; 3840 Rebirth of Israel; 3950, Mideast Minorities in Modern Times; 3973, History of Judaism; 3983 Medieval Jewish History; 3993 Evolution of Martyrdom; 4973, Jewish Historiography; 5050 Directed Readings, in any Judaic area).
Anthropology: 4973, Anthropology of Jews & Jewishness;
English: 3633, Bible as Literature
Film and Video Studies: 3843, Yiddish Cinema
Modern Languages, Hebrew: 3063, Jewish Literature; 3113, Advanced Hebrew.
Students who wish to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree with an emphasis in Judaic history may do so through the graduate programs offered in the Department of History.