Jewish Studies
If you like thinking about philosophy, religion and questions that don’t have a "right" answer, then Jewish studies might be the perfect fit for you. Here, you’ll tackle questions like: What is God? What makes us human? Can we accommodate both science and religion in our belief? Jewish studies is for anyone who wants to learn how to think critically about beliefs and facts—a valuable skill that can lead to a surprising variety of careers.
What will I learn?
"I loved how intimate the classes were, and how rare it was for us to be lectured. Rather, most lecture hours were spent discussing and debating complex Jewish philosophy." As this former student said, this program challenges you to think about complicated issues from different perspectives. Here, you'll study Jewish thought, history, language and life, and dive deep into books and other texts from Jewish and non-Jewish sources. You'll also learn about different religions, and typically take at least one year of Hebrew language.
What can I do with a Jewish studies degree?
Working with Jewish communities and organizations. Promoting rights for people with disabilities. Teaching college students about Jewish life at a Hillel. Mentoring LGBTQ+ youth. These are just a few of the ways our graduates have put their insight and expertise to work.
In fact, our alumni have successfully pursued careers in a variety of fields, from medicine and law to advocacy and the arts. That’s because a degree in Jewish studies builds characteristics that many employers are looking for, including deep curiosity and the ability to analyze diverse points of view. Some popular career choices include:
- Advocate.
- Health care professional.
- Historian.
- Journalist.
- Lawyer.
- Public official.
- Researcher.
- Teacher.
- Writer.
Whether you want to work for a school, museum, non-profit agency, Fortune 100 company or nearly any type of organization, this degree can help you get there.
By the Numbers
Check out salary ranges and career outlooks straight from the U.S. Department of Labor to see the return on investment for your degree.
| Occupation Title | Mean Annual Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Future Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $67,810.00 | $32.60 |
Data provided by the and DOL data from 2024.