Jewish Studies, BA, Online BA
In the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s online Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Studies degree program, you’ll explore the history, literature, politics, language and arts of Jewish culture to prepare for a career in a multicultural world.
The College of Letters & Science’s interdisciplinary curriculum covers a wide range of practical topics. You’ll learn how to analyze texts, appreciate different perspectives and communicate persuasively. With its online format, the Jewish Studies major accommodates your needs as a busy professional.
Learn more about undergraduate online education, including important pricing information.
Start Dates: Fall, Spring or Summer
Cost per Credit: $395 (Total cost: $47,400*)
Credit Hours: 120 (30 credits in major)
*Total cost will vary based on the number of credits transferred into UWM.
Program Type
Major
Program Format
Online
Why Study Jewish Studies at UWM?
- Learn from the same expert faculty who teach on campus, ensuring a high-quality online learning environment.
- Gain real-world experience through internships in your local area, similar to the successful placements we’ve made at the prestigious Jewish Museum Milwaukee.
- Benefit from competitive scholarships and awards from the Sam & Helen Stahl Center for Jewish Studies, available to all Jewish Studies students.
- Engage with the vibrant Jewish community in Greater Milwaukee through our partnerships with organizations like the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. Participate virtually in guest lectures, expert talks, artistic performances and Stahl Center events.
Financial Aid
Various financial aid options are available to support your educational journey. UWM’s Student Financial Services team will guide you through the financial aid process, helping you identify and apply for the best options to fund your bachelor’s degree.
Scholarships
UWM’s scholarships encompass a wide variety of awards, including academic excellence and need-based opportunities. Scholarship opportunities may increase with academic standing. Explore the Panther Scholarship Portal regularly as you make progress on your degree.
Scholarship opportunities can significantly reduce your educational costs, making your career advancement more accessible. You are automatically considered for scholarships once you declare your Jewish studies major or minor. Various awards are available and are based on academic merit or a combination of merit and financial need.
Admissions
Applicants must meet UWM’s general admission requirements to be considered for admission.
Curriculum
Our Jewish Studies program curriculum equips you with knowledge that is desirable across many professional fields. You’ll graduate understanding how to see different viewpoints, present compelling arguments and weigh contradicting interpretations.
The online Jewish Studies degree includes a range of courses covering different aspects of Jewish history, arts, religion, culture and language. Required courses introduce key concepts and topics. Moving on from the introductory level, you’ll choose the Hebrew Studies track, which has more Hebrew language requirements, or the Jewish Cultural Studies track, with an emphasis on literature and arts.
Interested in other opportunities in Jewish Studies? Learn more about our Jewish Studies minor and online Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Studies Certificate.
Major Requirements
All majors in Jewish Studies are required to register with the program at the beginning of their candidacy and are encouraged to speak to the program coordinator as early as possible to plan a course of study.
Jewish Studies majors in both tracks must complete a minimum of 15 advanced-level (numbered 300 and above) credits in L&S courses taken in residence at UWM. A GPA of 2.0 is required in courses taken for the major at UWM and in all courses that count for the major, including transfer work. All majors in Jewish Studies must complete a minimum of 30 credits in the major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Judaism | ||
| The Jews of Modern Europe: History and Culture | ||
| Introduction to Jewish History | ||
| Research Requirement (All research courses and projects must be approved by the coordinator) | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Advanced Independent Study | ||
One of the 300 level or above courses listed below | ||
| Major Tracks | ||
| Select one of the following: | 24-26 | |
Hebrew Studies Track | ||
Jewish Cultural Studies Track | ||
| Total Credits | 30-32 | |
Major Tracks
Students must select one of the following two tracks:
Hebrew Studies Track
Hebrew language courses: Students are required to complete HEBREW 201 and HEBREW 202 in order to graduate in this track. HEBREW 101 and HEBREW 102 count toward the 100-200 level course requirement below.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HEBREW 201 & HEBREW 202 | Third-Semester Hebrew and Fourth-Semester Hebrew | 8 |
| Select 6 credits of 100 or 200 level courses from the following: | 6 | |
| First Semester Hebrew | ||
| Second Semester Hebrew | ||
| Introduction to Judaism (recommended) | ||
| Jewish Culture in America: History, Literature, Film | ||
| Bible Stories | ||
| Introduction to the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible | ||
| The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible | ||
| Representing the Holocaust in Words and Images | ||
| The Modern Middle East in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries | ||
| Select 12 credits of 300 level or above courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Topics in Biblical Literature: | ||
| Women in the Bible | ||
| The Arab-Israeli Conflict | ||
| Global Jewish Film and Television: | ||
| The Jews of Modern Europe: History and Culture | ||
| Jewish and Christian Responses to the Holocaust | ||
| Introduction to Jewish History | ||
| Germany: Hitler and the Nazi Dictatorship | ||
| The Holocaust: Anti-Semitism & the Fate of Jewish People in Europe, 1933-45 | ||
| Advanced Independent Study | ||
| Total Credits | 26 | |
Jewish Cultural Studies Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 9 credits of 100 or 200 level courses from the following: | 9 | |
| First Semester Hebrew | ||
| Second Semester Hebrew | ||
| Third-Semester Hebrew | ||
| Fourth-Semester Hebrew | ||
| Jewish Culture in America: History, Literature, Film | ||
| Bible Stories | ||
| Introduction to the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible | ||
| The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible | ||
| Representing the Holocaust in Words and Images | ||
| The Modern Middle East in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries | ||
| Select 15 credits of 300 level or above courses from the following: | 15 | |
| Topics in Biblical Literature: | ||
| Women in the Bible | ||
| The Arab-Israeli Conflict | ||
| The Jews of Modern Europe: History and Culture | ||
| Introduction to Jewish History | ||
| Global Jewish Film and Television: | ||
| Jewish and Christian Responses to the Holocaust | ||
| Germany: Hitler and the Nazi Dictatorship | ||
| The Holocaust: Anti-Semitism & the Fate of Jewish People in Europe, 1933-45 | ||
| Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict | ||
| Advanced Independent Study | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
Careers
With in-depth knowledge of Jewish history, culture and religion, you’ll learn how to make valuable contributions across diverse professional settings by applying critical thinking, cultural awareness and effective communication skills. Our graduates have secured positions such as:
- Education manager at the Oregon Holocaust Museum
- Events manager at Jewish Museum Milwaukee
- Policy analyst at the Department of Energy
- Senior program officer at the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany
- Teacher at the Jewish Community Center Chicago
- Youth educator for Christians United for Israel
Additionally, this program provides a strong foundation for those aspiring to become rabbis or pursue graduate studies in related fields like religious studies, history or public policy.