Undergraduate Minor

Please click here for the Israel Studies minor information guide.

Minor Advisor: 
Professor Paul Scham

0142 Holzapfel Hall
301-405-9412
pscham@umd.edu

Application requirements:                     

• 30 credits completed
• Application upon successful completion of ISRL342/History of Zionism and the State of Israel or equivalent

Credits:

• 18 (9 at upper level)

Required courses:

• ISRL342/JWST342/HIST376:
  History of Zionism and Modern Israel (or equivalent)
  
• JWST448:
  Seminar in Israel Studies
• Middle East Studies Requirement  
  (See sample list below)
• Electives  
  (Three courses, see below)

Curriculum

A. Transcript Title: 

Minor in Israel Studies.

B.  Catalog Description

Study of the history, culture and political structure of Israel and its place in the Middle East, including Hebrew and/or Arabic language The Minor in Israel studies consists of a total of 18 credits (generally 6 courses).  Coursework must be distributed to meet the overlapping requirements below.

Middle East Studies Requirement

Students must take one of the following. Other courses may be substituted in consultation with the advisor. Students may also take one additional course from this list as an elective for credit toward the Minor.

HIST, COMM, GVPT, and SLLC all regularly offer special topics courses on the Middle East, and will continue to do so.

Restrictions

• Coursework must include least 9-upper division credits, of which six must be taken at the University.  These would include credits earned in UM study abroad programs as applicable.
• A student may use a maximum of six credits (or two courses) to satisfy the requirements of both a major and a minor. Courses completed in one minor may not be used to satisfy the requirements in another minor.
• Up to two courses may be taken at another university if the courses are approved in advance by the Minor Advisor as substantially similar in quality to these and the subject matter is relevant.  These would include credits earned in non-UM study abroad programs as applicable.
• No courses with an earned grade below “C-” (1.7) may count towards a minor for students matriculating during the Fall 2012 or later. For students matriculating prior to Fall 2012, no courses with an earned grade below “C” (2.0) may count towards the minor.

Advising

The Israel Studies Advisor is Professor Paul Scham.  He  will meet with students each semester. 

Each semester the Advisor, in consultation with the interdepartmental faculty advisory committee, will produce a list of courses currently offered, with particular attention to special topics and other exceptional courses.  Other courses may be applied to the Minor with the approval of the Advisor.

Recruitment and Enrollment Management

1. Prospective Minors must submit applications to the Advisor. Applications to the Minor will be accepted from October 1 in the Fall Semester and March 1 in the Spring Semester for enrollment in the following Semester.

2. Students must have

a. Completed ISRL342/JWST342/HIST376 (or equivalent) with a grade of C (2.0) or higher.
b. Completed at least 30 credits hours of undergraduate study prior to application.
c. Been admitted into the Minor prior to the completion of the final six credits of the Minor.

3. Up to 25 students will be enrolled annually as Minors on a first-come, first-served basis.

4. Enrolled minors will be required to meet with the advisor annually during the Fall or Spring registration periods. Students who fail to meet with their advisor or who fail to pursue their course of study may be unenrolled.