Tracks

ChaeRan Freeze

Professor ChaeRan Freeze

The undergraduate major in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies is divided into 5 tracks. When you declare a NEJS major, you will pick one of the 5 tracks to be your area of specialty:

  • Bible and the Ancient World

  • Hebrew Language

  • Judaic Studies

  • Arabic and Islamic Studies
  • Israel Studies

Each track is designed to combine broad knowledge in the various disciplines and periods that constitute NEJS, with a degree of specialization in one specific area. It is the intent of the major to introduce students to the critical study of Near Eastern and Judaic sources, classical and modern, within the academic context.

Majors are strongly encouraged to diversify their courses within the department and to consider related courses in other departments in order to acquaint themselves with the different disciplines and approaches that Near Eastern and Judaic Studies embraces. To view the overall requirements for each track, please see the NEJS Bulletin Page

How to Become an Undergraduate Major

Students who wish to major or minor in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies should meet with Undergraduate Advising Head Jonathan Krasner. They will be assigned a faculty advisor in accordance with their individual areas of interest. Together with their advisor, they will develop a plan of study designed to fulfill the requirements of the major and to meet their personal interests and needs.

With the approval of the department, a limited amount of credit may be awarded for appropriate courses taken at other universities.

“The real value of any academic department is found in its people, and this is especially true in NEJS at Brandeis. I found here a wealth of knowledge and expertise, combined with a sincere interest in helping the students succeed.”