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Studies & Degrees in Jewish Studies

Jewish studies is an academic field, not a religious training. Wellesley College describes it as the interdisciplinary study of Jewish people, ideas, culture and institutions, in which students explore religion, history, philosophy, art and literature. At The University of Texas at Austin the field draws on teaching staff from more than twelve departments, and its courses range from the Dead Sea Scrolls to Yiddish in America and from Jews in Latin America to multicultural Israel. The history of the Holocaust is a regular part of the curriculum.

Languages are central. Hebrew, biblical or modern, is the main one, and Wellesley sets proficiency in Hebrew or another relevant language as a learning goal. Students may also meet Yiddish, Aramaic or Ladino, the language of the Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain. Typical areas of specialisation are biblical studies, Sephardic history, Yiddish language and literature, and modern Jewish culture.

Qualifications and levels

  • Major or minor within a bachelor's degree (United States). In the United States the subject is usually a major or a minor inside a liberal arts bachelor's degree. Wellesley College offers both a major and a minor. The University of Texas at Austin has a major and a minor in Jewish Studies and a minor in Holocaust and Genocide Studies; Hebrew is taught there through the Department of Middle Eastern Studies and Yiddish through the Department of Germanic Studies.
  • Certificates and concentrations. At Duke University the Center for Jewish Studies offers a certificate that students build from courses in several departments. Students can also take a bachelor's degree with a Judaica concentration through Religious Studies, History, German or Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.
  • Bachelor's degrees in Spain. Spanish universities approach the field through language and philology. An official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits. The Grado en Estudios Hebreos y Arameos of the Universidad de Salamanca is an official degree of 240 ECTS credits over four academic years, taught in Spanish, with 50 new places in 2026-27; it shares a common core with the other language degrees of its faculty in the first two years. The Grado en Estudios Semíticos e Islámicos of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, also official, has 240 credits over four years: students choose Arabic or Hebrew as a major of 120 credits and the other language as a minor of 42, and the Hebrew track adds Aramaic dialects and languages of the ancient Near East.
  • Master's degrees and doctorates. Duke University offers a master's degree through its Department of Religious Studies and PhD programmes through its Graduate Program in Religion.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 54 active schools for Jewish studies, and 42 of them are in the United States. Spain has three, Canada and the United Kingdom two each, and the Netherlands, Poland, Argentina, Russia and Germany one each. Examples in the United States are the University of Michigan, Yale University, The University of Chicago, Duke University, the University of Washington, Dartmouth College, Wellesley College and The University of Texas at Austin. The University of Washington has a Sephardic Studies Program with an online library and museum, undergraduate and graduate courses and public events such as Ladino Day, which may interest Spanish speakers.

Teaching in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom is in English, with Hebrew taught as a subject. The Spanish degrees named above are taught in Spanish. If a programme is a major, minor or certificate rather than a full degree, ask the school which qualification appears on the diploma and what recognition it has in your country.

Careers

Jewish studies does not lead to one regulated profession. Graduates use the languages, the training in reading sources and the knowledge of history in teaching and research, museums, archives and libraries, cultural and community organisations, translation, publishing and journalism. Academic posts normally require a doctorate. Some programmes build in work experience: The University of Texas at Austin runs an internship programme in Jewish Studies in which students gain work experience and course credit at the same time.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to know Hebrew before I start?

Usually not at bachelor's level. The language is taught as part of the programme, and Wellesley College, for example, lists proficiency in biblical or modern Hebrew as a goal to reach during the studies. Check the entry requirements of each school.

Can I study Jewish or Hebrew studies in Spain?

Yes. The Universidad de Salamanca offers the official Grado en Estudios Hebreos y Arameos (240 ECTS credits, four years, in Spanish), and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid offers the official Grado en Estudios Semíticos e Islámicos with a Hebrew track.

What is the difference between Jewish studies and Hebrew studies?

Hebrew studies, as taught in Spain, is a language and literature degree centred on Hebrew and Aramaic. Jewish studies, as taught in the United States, is broader and combines history, religion, literature and social sciences, with Hebrew as one component.

Is Jewish studies only for Jewish students?

No. It is an academic subject open to all students; Wellesley College states that any student's intellectual journey can include Jewish studies.