JUDA 87: Freshman Seminar: What is Jewish Studies?


Professor Lisa Lampert-Weissig
Fall 2016 Thurs: 3:30-4:20 in HSS 1106A

 
Seminar meets Seminar meets Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 and Nov. 3, 20, 17 with our final meeting on Dec. 1 (8 meetings total)

Jewish Studies encompasses many fields including language, literature, film, history, anthropology, sociology and archaeology. Students will learn about Judaic Studies and its development as a discipline as well as specific opportunities for study, research and travel through Jewish Studies at UCSD.

Course schedule:

October 6: Introduction to the course: What is Jewish Studies?
October 14: Lisa Lampert-Weissig (reading distributed in class) and link to digital Remappings project
October 20: Bill Propp Reading One andTwo
October 27: Deborah Hertz
November 3: Amelia Glaser
Nov. 10: Thomas Levy
Nov. 17: Bill Propp Link One and Two
Dec. 1: Conclusion. Questionnaire/response paper due.

Our final class (12/1) will meet at the Round Table Pizza on campus to enjoy food and a final conversation. 

As noted on the syllabus, please bring to class a 2 page double-spaced typed discussion of your experience in the seminar.  Which presentations were the most interesting to you and why?  What did you get out of the course?

Course requirements:  This course is graded on a Pass/Fail basis only.  In order to Pass you must attend our class meetings and complete the Dec. 1 assignment. Students may miss two classes for any reason.  Absences due to illness or family emergency are, of course, excusable, but students may be asked for documentation, such as a doctor’s note. 

Questionnaire and response to course.  On November 17 students will be given a brief questionnaire about the course and about the JS program and also asked to write a brief (one to two pages typed double-spaced) response to the course.  Details to be announced in class.  Completion of this assignment, due in class on Dec. 1, is necessary in order to Pass.

How to get the most out of this course:  Almost all of our meetings will feature a visit by a faculty or staff member, who will make a brief presentation about his or her work. The visit will be your chance to ask them about their research and teaching and about opportunities for research, study and travel through UCSD.  The speakers will each provide a short sample of their research that will be distributed or posted.  You should read these essays so that you can get the most out meeting the visiting faculty. Google them.  Take a look at their website (links at course website).   Think of questions for them about their research. Or, just think about something more general you’d like to ask:  How did they get started doing what they do?  Did they start out interested as freshmen?  Did the interest develop over time? What excites them about their research?  What kinds of classes will they be offering in the near future?  Are they involved in undergraduate research?  If the presentation is interesting to you, visit office hours—maybe even take one of their classes this year.