Hebrew

University of California, Berkeley

About the Program

Minor

The minor in Hebrew introduces students to the language, peoples, cultures, and histories of the modern Hebrew-speaking world. The minor develops the student's command of reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension in the Hebrew language and may complement the student's intended major study. 

Students wishing to major in Hebrew should see the major requirements in the Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures major. 

Students minoring in Hebrew must satisfy the lower division prerequisite requirements. Students may also take a language proficiency exam to waive the elementary and intermediate language courses. Please meet with the undergraduate major advisor to discuss course options and study abroad plans. 

Declaring the Minor

Students may declare the Hebrew minor as soon as they begin their study at UC Berkeley. Please find the minor declaration form in the Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures department or email the undergraduate major advisor. Students must declare the minor no later than the semester before their Expected Graduation Term (EGT). Please see the L&S minor guidelines for more information. 

Other Majors and Minors offered by the Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (MELC) Department

Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (Major and Minor)
Arabic (Minor)
Hebrew (Minor)
Persian (Minor)
Turkish (Minor)

 

Visit Department Website

Minor Requirements

The Hebrew minor requires five upper-division courses in Hebrew literature and culture or history. 

General Guidelines

  1. All minors must be declared no later than one semester before a student's Expected Graduation Term (EGT). If the semester before EGT is fall or spring, the deadline is the last day of RRR week. If the semester before EGT is summer, the deadline is the final Friday of Summer Sessions. To declare a minor, contact the department advisor for information on requirements, and the declaration process.
  2. All courses taken to satisfy the minor requirement must be taken for a letter grade and be at least 3 units.

  3. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in order to declare and complete the minor. 

  4. No more than one upper-division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor program.
  5. With the prior consent of the faculty major advisor, students may take courses across various disciplines to satisfy the Arabic culture and history requirement. 

Minor Requirements

Lower Division
HEBREW 1AElementary Hebrew5
HEBREW 1BElementary Hebrew5
HEBREW 20AIntermediate Hebrew5
HEBREW 20BIntermediate Hebrew5
Upper-Division Requirements (5 Courses)
Hebrew Language and Literature
HEBREW 100AAdvanced Hebrew3
Select two literature courses:
HEBREW 100BAdvanced Hebrew3
HEBREW 104AModern Hebrew Literature and Culture3
HEBREW 104BModern Hebrew Literature and Culture3
Hebrew Culture and History
Select two courses in Hebrew culture/history 13
History of Ancient Israel [4]
Aspects of Biblical Religion [4]
Judaism in Late Antiquity [4]
Topics in History and Cultures of Israel [4]
Literature and History in the Hebrew Bible [4]
History and Historiography in the Hebrew Bible [3]
Modern and Contemporary Jewish Thought [4]
The Hero in the Bible and the Ancient Middle East [3]
Modern Jewish Literatures [4]
Synagogues, Cathedrals, and Mosques: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain [4]
Sociolinguistics of the Middle East [4]
Middle East: Post-Colonialism, Migration, and Diaspora [4]
Special Topics in Fields of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures: Ancient Middle Eastern Studies [4]
Special Topics in Fields of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures: Jewish Studies [4]
Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Middle Eastern Studies: Jewish Studies [2,4]
Directed Group Study for Upper Division Students [1-4]
Supervised Independent Study and Research [1-4]
Total Units35
1

The faculty major advisor must approve all courses outside of the department that will be used to satisfy the Hebrew minor requirements. 

Courses

Hebrew

Contact Information

Department of Near Eastern Studies

250 Social Sciences Building

Phone: 510-642-3757

Fax: 510-643-8430

nes@berkeley.edu

Visit Department Website

Department Chair

Wali Ahmadi

284 Social Sciences Building

Phone: 510-642-3757

ahmadi@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Student Advisor

Rania Shah, MA

250 Social Sciences Building

Phone: 510-642-3758

rania.shah@berkeley.edu

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