THE MAJOR IN
JEWISH, ISLAMIC AND NEAR EASTERN STUDIES

While the major emphasizes an integrated approach to the field, incorporating both Jewish and Islamic perspectives, students will select one of two tracks: Jewish and Near Eastern Studies or Islamic and Near Eastern Studies.

To complete a major in Jewish, Islamic and Near Eastern Studies, a student must fulfill the following basic requirements:

Basic Requirements:

• For Jewish and Near Eastern Studies: two years of Hebrew language.
• For Islamic and Near Eastern Studies: two years of Arabic or Persian language.
• For all majors: JNE 208F: Introduction to Jewish Civilization and JNE 210C: Introduction to Islamic Civilization.

Additional requirements: A total of 21 units in the major at the 300 level or above, of which:

• For Jewish and Near Eastern Studies: a minimum of 3 units in the Islamic experience.
• For Islamic and Near Eastern Studies: a minimum of 3 units in the Jewish experience.
• For all majors: a combined capstone course/senior seminar (normally 3 units). Required of all majors, even those writing an honors thesis.
• For all majors: of the remaining 15 units, students are strongly encouraged to take at least one course in history, one in literature or cultural studies, and one in religious studies. (For examples of courses in each category see "A Guide to Programs in Jewish, Islamic and Near Eastern Studies," available from the JINES office in Busch Hall Room 15).

Courses taken Pass-Fail may not count towards the major.

Credit for Study Abroad or for Coursework from Another University:

A maximum of 9 units of advanced coursework (300 level and above) may be applied toward the JINES major from study abroad or courses taken at another university. Credit will only be awarded to those courses that have been approved by the JINES study abroad advisor.

COUNTING COURSES FOR OTHER MAJORS OR MINORS
Please note that at least 21 upper-level units of the major and at least 12 units of the minor may NOT be counted toward any other major or minor.

THE MINOR IN
JEWISH, ISLAMIC AND NEAR EASTERN STUDIES

1. Students wishing to minor in Jewish, Islamic and Near Eastern Studies must complete 15 units in at least five courses, one of which must be JNE 208F, Introduction to Jewish Civilization, or JNE 210C(Q), Intro to Islamic Civilization.

2. At least nine units must be earned in courses at the 300-level or above. A maximum of 6 credit hours from language courses (Arabic, Hebrew, Persian) can be applied towards the minor. Please note that since 9 of the 15 units need to be at the 300 level or beyond for the minor, and since we also require either Islamic Civilization or Jewish Civilization, this means that a student normally can apply 3 credits of first or second-year language at most, and then possibly 3 more credits from higher language courses subject to the approval of his/her advisor.

3. A maximum of 3 units of lower-level coursework and 3 units of advanced coursework (300 level and above) may be applied toward the JINES minor from study abroad or from another university. Credit will only be awarded to those courses that have been approved by Washington University.

4. No more than three (3) units may be taken in Independent Study (JNE 500).

5. Courses taken Pass-Fail may not count toward the minor.

COUNTING COURSES FOR OTHER MAJORS OR MINORS
Please note that at least 21 upper-level units of the major and at least 12 units of the minor may NOT be counted toward any other major or minor.

The Joint A.B. - A.M. (Master of Arts Degree Program)

Admission to the Program

Exceptionally qualified students may be eligible for admission to the four-year joint A.B. - A.M. program in JINES after they have completed 9 or more units of 300-level course work with high attainment. To be admitted the student must, in addition, have a letter of recommendation from his or her Jewish, Islamic & Near Eastern Studies advisor addressed to the Director of the Program, who in turn shall decide whether to recommend candidacy. A student who is recommended should then confer with the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences before commencing the program to assure completion of necessary forms.

Requirements of the Program:

1. At least 135 units of college and/or graduate school course work, including all academic and residency requirements for the A.B. degree.

2. At least 30 units of 400 and 500 level course work in JINES BEYOND the 21 units normally required of the major. No more than 9 units of such additional credit may be earned in thesis research and writing work (JINES 499). All courses offered toward the graduate degree must be passed with a grade of B or better.

3. Students in the program must earn a grade of at least A- in a minimum of three upper-level JINES courses, one of which must be a seminar.

4. At the time of admission into the program, an eligible candidate shall select a Thesis Advisor with whom he or she shall thereafter maintain continuous contact under close supervision.

5. Completion of a thesis and oral examination in two fields, the latter conducted in the presence of three faculty members of the Department, one of whom shall be the student's thesis advisor.

6. Certification of competence in one foreign language or quantitative skills shall be required for completion of the degree requirements.

7. Normally the BA and MA must be completed within the four years of the undergraduate program. Failure to do so will entail either forfeiture of the MA or the payment of additional tuition at the graduate school rates.

UNDERGRADUATE PRIZES

Steven S. Schwarzschild Prize

This award was established in 1991 by Lily Schwarzschild in memory of
Steven S. Schwarzschild, professor of Jewish studies and philosophy at Washington University for 24 years. A monetary prize is awarded biennially to a student excelling in Jewish studies in odd-numbered years. Juniors and seniors are eligible for this prize. The recipient of the prize is determined by the program, which awards the prize at the end of the academic year.

David and Sarah Visenberg Prize

Ziva and Professor Gerald Izenberg established this prize in 2004 in memory of Ziva Izenberg's parents, David and Sarah Visenberg. The program awards the prize annually to a student who has written an outstanding thesis in Jewish studies.