Program for Jewish Civilization

A certificate or minor in Jewish civilization allows undergraduates to obtain an interdisciplinary perspective on Judaism and the Jewish people with a special emphasis Jewish civilization and its interrelationship with other cultures.

Open to students of both the School of Foreign Service and Georgetown College, this is a program for individuals from all religious backgrounds. It is appropriate for those with either a strong background in Judaism or none at all.

Candidates for the SFS certificate must submit a completed application form to Melissa Spence.

Required Core Courses

Students must successfully complete the following courses

INAF-199: Introduction to Jewish Civilization

This course provides a foundation for the study of Jewish civilization and is required of all certificate and minor candidates, preferably upon entering the program.

INAF-443: Senior Colloquium

Seniors must participate in a colloquium offered during the spring semester while writing their senior thesis.

Senior Essay: Students are required to write an essay of 25-30 pages on a topic related to Jewish civilization, prepared under the supervision of a faculty member associated with the Program for Jewish Civilization, the Visiting Professor of Jewish Civilization, Goldman Visiting Israeli Professor, or if appropriate special permission may be granted by the program director for another Georgetown faculty member to serve as essay advisor. Upon completion, seniors will make a 15 minute presentation of their research at the annual senior thesis colloquium, where a prize is awarded to the outstanding paper.

Electives

Students must take a minimum of four electives from the following areas.

Humanities: minimum of one course

Social Science: minimum of one course

Hebrew Language (not required): maximum of two courses

*Minor Candidates: introductory language courses-although prerequisites for intermediate level-do not count toward minor. Additionally, courses may not be “double-counted” toward your major.

Admission

Applicants are required to complete an application form (attached). It is recommended that candidates submit their applications by the end of spring semester their junior year. However, applications are accepted at any time. Applications should be brought to the PJC office.

*Minor candidates: please be aware that you will also need to fill out a “declaration of minor” form. See your dean for details.