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Option in Israel Studies

Jewish studies majors with a special interest in Israel can earn an Option in Israel Studies (OIS). To earn the OIS, students must complete six semester credit hours of upper-division coursework focused on Israel (these courses may also count toward the Jewish Studies major), chosen from an approved list; and three semester credit hours of Middle Eastern Studies not focused on Israel (MES course must be pre-approved by the Associate Director for Israel Studies). All three courses must be content courses; language courses will not count toward the OIS.

Students in the OIS are encouraged but not required to use Hebrew or Arabic to fulfill their foreign language requirement. 

Approved Courses Focused on Israel:

  • J S 311 topic 7 – History of Israel 
  • J S 363 topic 32 – Childrearing in Israel 
  • J S 364 topic 24 – Arab Citizens of Israel 
  • J S 364 topic 25 – Arab-Israeli Conflict
  • J S 365C – Multicultural Israel 
  • J S 365D – Cultural Geographies of Israel
  • MES 342 topic 31 – Palestine and the Palestinians: A Journey Through Time
  • J S 311 – Israel: Space, Place, and Landscape  retired
  • J S 363 topic 17 – Israel Through Its Literature  retired
  • J S 363 topic 22 – Comparative Jewish Literature: Israel, France, and the United States  retired
  • J S 363 topic 23 – Israel and Palestine: A Cultural Perspective  retired
  • J S 365 topic 10 – Israel: Society & Politics  retired
  • J S 365 topic 15 – Minorities in Israel  retired
  • MES 341 topic 5 – Arab-Israeli Politics  retired

Please contact Dr. Karen Grumberg (keren@austin.utexas.edu), Israel Studies Faculty Coordinator, if you have questions about the Option in Israel Studies.