The Department of History
Jewish Studies Minor Requirements
The Jewish Studies Program encourages Fresno State students from all backgrounds to study the many dimensions of Jewish heritage and its contemporary contexts. Course offerings explore the diverse experiences, contributions, and challenges of the Jewish people, from ancient to modern times in Israel, and across the global locations of the Jewish diaspora, including the wider Middle East, Europe, North Africa, and the Americas. A focus on the vibrant traditions and practices of Jewish people - who are themselves a diverse, transnational, multi-cultural group - heightens sensitivity to minority perspectives, encourages interdisciplinary thinking, and sheds light on the impact of cross-cultural contact and exchanges. The Jewish Studies Program thus provides information, concepts, and approaches that can aid understanding about a range of comparative ethnic and religious minority identities. The program also raises awareness about the local Jewish community’s presence amidst the wonderful diversity of California’s San Joaquin Valley.
The Minor in Jewish Studies augments students’ major coursework and prepares students for graduate education, especially in history, Jewish Studies, international relations, religious studies, and philosophy, as well as professional training and careers in teaching, law, public sector administration, service and advocacy, foreign service and diplomacy, museums, religious organizations, business, human resources, and creative fields.
Students earn a Minor in Jewish Studies from the College of Social Sciences by taking courses in Jewish history, religion, culture, politics and/or Hebrew language and completing all courses with a grade of C or better. The minor requires a total of 15 units from at least two disciplines. Coursework taken for Minor credit may be selected from any of the following lower- and upper-division classes for 15 units; there are no specific courses required.