Bachelor Degree in Jewish Studies
Programme Overview
The goal of the bachelor’s degree to convey to students a wide spectrum of diversely oriented judaistic-liberal arts competencies. The students will acquired a comprehensive overview of the history, literary history, religious and cultural history of Judaism, spanning from antiquity (including the biblical era) to the modern era. The basic structure of the programme is not organized chronologically from antiquity to the present, but rather it starts with modernity and then examines the historic roots in the 2nd and 3rd year of study. The programme hopes to engage with the many aspects of Judaism and Jewish culture. Graduates of the programme should be able to comprehend Judaism in its individuality and complexity, place it in a larger context of interactions with other cultures, and analyze its position in various historic periods.
Gender and diversity are both specific research topics that are examined throughout the programme, and the various gender relations and structures are reflected upon in their respective religious, cultural, and social contexts.
In the language credit courses, the students will be able to identify and master the Hebraic language in its various stages of development (biblical, rabbinical, medieval, and modern Hebrew) and will be able to read and analyze sources in their original languages. Here it is important to note that students who are not attending the Hebrew language courses I and II as a core subject or affine course, may also attend the courses as general vocational preparation
Prerequisites
The prerequisite for the programme is a general higher education entrance qualification. An additional prerequisite is knowledge of the English language at the B1 level CEFR.
Programme Stucture
Start of studies: each Wintersemester
Standard period of study: 6 semesters
Language of instruction: German
Jewish Studies as a 120 LP core subject
Students who choose the Jewish Studies Bachelor programme as their core subject need to complete 120 LP (Leistungspunkte or credit points) within the programme and 30 LP from another subject. Suitable for the necessary 30 LP are subject areas such as history and cultures of the Middle East, Catholic theology, languages of the classic antiquity (Latin or Greek), philosophy, and general or comparative literature.
The 120 LP of the core subject are divided into the following phases:
- Introductory phase: the modules and courses of the introductory phase impart the foundations of Jewish Studies: the history of scholarship, an overview of the various epochs of Jewish history with an emphasis on modernity, the foundations of the Hebraic language, and the methodology of the discipline.
- Continuing phase: the modules draw on those of the introductory phase. The language skills and subject knowledge in the various areas of Jewish history are expanded. Additionally, literature and cultural studies become topics of study in the second year of study.
- Specialization: The focus of this phase is placed on overarching, comprehensive issues, gleaned from Jewish history, the Hebraic bible and its commentary, and Jewish philosophy, that span the various epochs and areas of study.
Jewish Studies as a 60 LP secondary subject
Studies with a 90 LP core subject can choose Jewish Studies to fulfill 60 LP with a module on “Jewish history and Hebraic language” and two 30 LP modules “Hebraic language” and “Jewish history.”
Qualification objectives:
- Overview of the central themes of the historic, social, religious and cultural development of Judaism from antiquity to the present
- Knowledge of Hebraic language in its various developmental stages
- Vocational qualifications to enter the professional workforce in areas such as media, publishing houses, museums, research management, and governmental and non-governmental organizations, secondary education and tourism.
- Qualifications to continue with a master’s degree
Qualification objectives
- Overview of the central themes of the historic, social, religious and cultural development of Judaism from antiquity to the present
- Knowledge of Hebraic language in its various developmental stages
- Vocational qualifications to enter the professional workforce in areas such as media, publishing houses, museums, research management, and governmental and non-governmental organizations, secondary education and tourism.
- Qualifications to continue with a master’s degree
Location Advantage
Berlin offers students access to comprehensive collections and archives (Staatsbibliothek Preußischer Kulturbesitz mit Orientabteilung; Stiftung Neue Synagoge – Centrum Judaicum; Leo Baeck Archive at the Jewish Museum), specialized libraries (libraries at the Jewish Museum, House of the Wannsee Conference, Topography of Terror Documentation Center and the Jewish Community of Berlin) as well as the libraries at the various universities.
The significance of Berlin in Jewish history in the past and present, the numerous historic sites and memorials, and the many museums and research centers are important assets that are integrated into curriculum of the Bachelor programme. In addition to these institutions, governmental and non-governmental organisations offer diverse internship opportunities.
Study and examination regulations
Aktuelle Studien- u. Prüfungsordnung (SPO 2018) (current study and examination regulation, in German)
