Jewish Studies Program

Jewish Studies is an important component of the liberal arts curriculum. Fundamentally interdisciplinary in its approach and transnational in its focus, the program adds a meaningful dimension to our understanding of premodern and modern societies.

Please look at the Jewish Studies classes scheduled for the fall of 2023.

FALL 2023 Classes

Why Jewish Studies?

The Jewish Studies program supports the many ways students can engage with Jewish life and thought. The program offers opportunities for students to take undergraduate classes, to conduct research, and to participate in programming – all of which expose them to the many facets of Jewish history, culture, and tradition both locally and around the world.

Courses

Our Jewish Studies Program maintains an interdisciplinary approach to scholarship. We offer courses across multiple departments, including History, Literature, Religious Studies, and the College of Education. Beyond the classroom, students are encouraged to take advantage of campus and community resources in Columbia.

Our People

Professors who contribute to the vitality of the Jewish Studies Program come from many different departments, such as English, History, and Religious Studies. A vibrant mix of consulting faculty and associate scholars add to the depth of knowledge in the program.

Sura Wolff Wengrow Award for Jewish Studies Research

Established in January by the Wengrow family of South Carolina, this award honors the memory of Sura Wolff Wengrow and her son Henry Ray Wengrow, and supports Jewish Studies at the University of South Carolina. The award offers $1,500 for junior and senior students pursuing research on Jewish history, culture, religion, and heritage. Eligible projects include primary source-based research papers, senior theses, and fieldwork involving archives, libraries, oral interviews, and historical sites in the U.S. or abroad.

Application deadline: December 1, 2023 (for research over winter break) or May 1, 2024 (for summer research)

Apply today!

Faculty Spotlights

Latest News in Jewish Studies

Sura Wolff Wengrow Undergraduate Research Award in Jewish Studies

In January, 2000, the Wengrow family of South Carolina established a generous endowment to honor the memory of Sura Wolff Wengrow. Its primary purpose is to support Jewish Studies at the University of South Carolina, particularly the study of Jewish history, culture, religion, and heritage in our home state.

CHILDREN'S HOLOCAUST DIARIES

Scholar, writer and Jewish Book Award Winner Alexandra Zapruder will talk about the Holocaust as described in the diaries of children who experienced it firsthand.

How the good news goes bad

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.