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Honors Program in Jewish Studies

The principal advantage of the Honors Program is the opportunity to carry out a substantial research project under the supervision of a Jewish Studies faculty member.

The Honors Program requires considerable dedication on the part of a potential honors degree candidate.

Requirements for the Honors Program in Jewish Studies

  • A student must be enrolled as a major in Jewish Studies.
  • A student majoring in Jewish Studies must maintain an overall 3.5 grade point average and a 3.5 grade point average in Jewish Studies through graduation.
  • In addition to completing the requirements for the Jewish Studies major, honors students must successfully complete two courses: first enrolling in JSTU-H 399 Readings for Honors in Jewish Studies (3 credits) and then completing the honors thesis with the course JSTU-H 499 Honors Thesis (3-6 credits). JSTU-H 399 is typically taken no later than the next to last semester before graduation. Under the close direction of the thesis director, the honors candidate completes preliminary reading and research and a 2-3 page thesis prospectus and bibliography.
  • In the final semester, the student enrolls in JSTU-H 499 and completes a 25-50 page thesis, representing a significant proportion of original research. The thesis is defended before a committee made up of the thesis director and two other faculty members (chosen by the student in consultation with the thesis director).
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A thesis director of the student’s choice (from the Jewish Studies faculty) will serve as mentor throughout H 399/H 499. Students must fill out the appropriate contract for JSTU-H 399 or JSTU-H 499, and obtain the thesis director's signature as well as the approval of the Jewish Studies academic advisor before registering for these classes.

A grade of A- or higher must be earned in both honors courses to graduate with honors in Jewish Studies. Students earning grades below A- will receive course credit but will not graduate with honors.

A student must apply to the honors advisor, Dr. Carolyn Lipson-Walker, for admission into the honors program.

To enroll in the honors program, call the Borns Jewish Studies Program (855-0453) to arrange an appointment to meet with the Jewish Studies advisor, Dr. Carolyn Lipson-Walker to discuss the above requirements and obtain appropriate contracts and procedural information.

* Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the official source of information regarding College of Arts and Sciences degree requirements is the College of Arts and Sciences.