Program Director: Dr. Heidi Rose
Office Location: Garey Hall, room 11
Telephone: 610-519-6939
[Website]
About
The Jewish Studies minor advances knowledge and understanding of religious, political, social, cultural, historical and contemporary elements of Judaism and the Jewish people. Together with other interdisciplinary area studies, the Jewish Studies minor prepares Villanova students from a variety of backgrounds to learn about and appreciate difference, engage challenging questions, address the past to know the present, and live more ethically in an always complex world.
Minor: Jewish Studies (15 credits)
Program Notes
- Courses that fulfill minor requirements may be used to fulfill other requirements (i.e., primary major, core curriculum, minors, concentrations, or free electives).
- Student may count one external course as an elective, pending director approval (whether from a study abroad experience or transferred from another institution).
- THL 5101 need not be taken first.
Jewish Studies Electives
Student take four courses worth twelve credits from the list below, or any course with the 'JWST' attribute. Courses taken must be across at least three different disciplines (subject codes).
Theology and Religious Studies
Students may make any THL course with the 'JWST' attribute. Some common courses are listed below.
• THL 5100: Topics in Judaism will include a variety of courses that will count towards fulfilling the elective requirement
Communication
Students may make any COM course with the 'JWST' attribute. Some common courses are listed below.
• COM 3291 is a topics course, and may count toward fulfilling this elective area when the topic is 'Comedy as Coping' or 'Performance and Erase/Race-ing Jewish American Identity'.
• COM 3247 may only count when carrying the JWST attribute.
• COM 5300 is a series of 1-credit courses on dialogue across various identities. To count for the minor, students should choose the dialogue course on Faith. These courses will carry the JWST attribute.
History
Students may make any HIS course with the 'JWST' attribute. Some common courses are listed below.
• HIS 2288 American Jewish History will also fulfill this requirement (being offered as of Spring 2026).
Philosophy
Students may make any PHI course with the 'JWST' attribute. Some common courses are listed below.
English
Students may make any ENG course with the 'JWST' attribute. Some common courses are listed below.
• ENG 1975 is a topics course, and only counts towards fulfilling this elective requirement when it carries the JWST attribute.
Humanities
Students may make any HUM course with the 'JWST' attribute. Some common courses are listed below.