What Can I Do With a Major In Jewish Studies?
Connect with:Major Information
This broad, interdisciplinary field studies the civilization of the Jewish people from its beginning in biblical antiquity to the present. The diverse quality of Jewish civilization and the unifying forces of its religion and language offer ample material for the study of continuity, adaptation, and change. The undergraduate program offers courses in the Bible, Jewish history, Jewish literature, midrash, Jewish philosophy, medieval and modern Jewish Studies, Talmud, and rabbinics. The program has links with the departments of American Studies, Sociology, History, English, German, Scandinavian and Dutch, Music, and Political Science. The University's Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies offers courses related to the Nazi Holocaust and its aftermath. Jewish Studies majors go on to successful careers in business, religious life, academics, advocacy, politics, government, publishing, the arts, research, and much more.
The Jewish Studies major is offered through the Center for Jewish Studies in the College of Liberal Arts.
All liberal arts degrees help CLA students develop their Core Career Competencies, and Jewish studies majors develop specific skills that are applicable to lots of different careers. These skills include:
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Cross-cultural knowledge and understanding of minority perspectives
- Historical perspective on the continuing impact of religion upon culture
- Critical thinking and creative problem-solving
- Close reading and critical analysis of texts
- Ability to formulate clear and persuasive messages
- Listening, clarifying, questioning and responding skills
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Interest Code: IAS
Internship & Job Search Websites
- GoldPASS
- HECUA internship program
- Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the U of M, Twin Cities
- Jewish Jobs
- Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
- Idealist (Nonprofit positions in the US and internationally)
Professional Organizations
Graduate Programs in Jewish Studies & Related Fields
- MA, Rabbinic Studies, Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion
- MAT, Museum Education, The George Washington University
- MA and Ordination, Jewish Studies, Jewish Theological Seminary of America
- Rabbinical Ordination, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies
Career Options
Below is a small sampling of what alumni with this major have pursued, organized by the most common career fields they go into (although keep in mind that there are Jewish Studies alumni in all eight of the career fields). For more career information for Jewish Studies majors, utilize these additional resources:
- What Can I Do With This Major - Find information about common career paths, employers, and strategies for how to build experience in different career fields
- LinkedIn's Alumni Tool - Explore thousands of alumni career pathways
- GoldPASS - Explore different job, internship, and volunteer opportunities as well as career events on campus
Note: *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required