Students majoring in Jewish Studies have two options for earning Honors in the department.
Option A: Honors with a Thesis
The Department of Jewish Studies offers qualified Jewish Studies majors the opportunity to earn honors by pursuing a research project in depth for their entire senior year under the supervision of a faculty advisor.
To be considered, students must meet the following requirements:
- Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, and 3.4 or higher in the Jewish Studies major.
- Meet with the department's Undergraduate Director during the second semester of their junior year to discuss the process and determine eligibility.
- Meet with potential primary advisors and select one in consultation with the Undergraduate Director and faculty.
- Submit their project proposal to the Undergraduate Director and their primary advisor by the end of their junior year.
- Enroll in the Jewish Studies Seminar (563:464) in the fall of their senior year and Jewish Studies Honors (563:497) in the spring of their senior year.
- Complete a multi-chapter thesis during their senior year. The thesis should be a substantial written work based on a defined thesis question developed into a sustained argument. The work must incorporate substantial original research, be supported by evidence and critical reasoning, and must show familiarity with a subject field.
- Sit for an oral defense in the final semester of their senior year.
- A panel of faculty members (including the student's advisor) will determine whether the thesis merits honors according to the rubric developed for this assessment.
Option B: Honors without a Thesis
At the discretion of the department, honors in Jewish Studies may also be earned by Jewish Studies majors on the basis of extraordinary research, study, or internships associated with the department. In this case, during the penultimate semester of their senior year, a student may apply to be considered for honors by contacting the undergraduate director. Alternatively, a Jewish Studies faculty member may nominate a Jewish Studies major for honors during the penultimate semester of their senior year.¿
To be eligible for JS honors without a thesis, a student must meet the following criteria:
- Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, and 3.4 or higher in the Jewish Studies major.
- Have conducted independent research, study, or for-credit internships associated with the department.
- Submit for consideration a portfolio of at least 2 semester-long papers, projects, or the equivalent. Materials should be submitted at the beginning of their final semester.
- A committee of faculty members (including at least one who advised the student on this work) will determine whether this student's work is worthy of department honors.
