Major & Minor Requirements

Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies

Major

Two Tracks

Students who wish to major in Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies will select one of two tracks: Comparative Jewish and Islamic Studies or Modern Middle Eastern Studies.

Units required: 24 advanced, in addition to prerequisites

Prerequisites for Both Tracks

  • 100- and 200-level language (Arabic or Hebrew), by course work or by placement
    (A student who skips the first four semesters of Arabic courses by placement must successfully complete L75 307D Advanced Arabic I. A student who skips the first four semesters of Hebrew courses by placement must successfully complete L75 320D Third Level Modern Hebrew I or L75 3841 Intro to Biblical Hebrew. Students who complete the third level language course with a grade of B- or better will receive 6 units of back credit.)
  • L75 JIMES 210C Introduction to Islamic Civilization AND L75 JIMES 208F Introduction to Jewish Civilization: History and Identity
    (Students with substantial prior course work may substitute an additional upper-level course with permission of their adviser and the director of undergraduate studies.)

Comparative Jewish and Islamic Studies Track Requirements

  • At least 3 credits in 300- and 400-level Jewish studies or Hebrew literature courses
  • At least 3 credits in 300- and 400-level Islamic studies or Arabic literature courses
  • 15 credits in 300- and 400-level JIMES courses, distributed as the student wishes
  • 3 credits in the departmental capstone course to be taken during the senior year
    (Students may take this course during their junior year with permission of their adviser and the director of undergraduate studies.)

Modern Middle Eastern Studies Track Requirements

  • 15 credits in 300- and 400-level JIMES courses, distributed as the student wishes
  • 3 to 6 credits in 300- and 400-level courses that are pertinent to the modern Middle East that may be home-based outside of the department (i.e., home-based in Anthropology, History, International and Area Studies, Political Science, Religious Studies, and so on)
  • At least 3 credits in 300- and 400-level premodern Middle Eastern studies courses
  • 3 credits in the departmental capstone course to be taken during the senior year
    (Students may take this course during their junior year with permission of their adviser and the director of undergraduate studies.)

Additional Information

  • Students enrolled in preapproved Washington University study abroad programs during the regular academic semester can earn a maximum of 9 credits subject to review by their adviser and the director of undergraduate studies. Summer programs and transfer courses can be granted as many as 6 credits subject to review by the student's adviser and the director of undergraduate studies. A limit of 9 credits in total can be applied to the major, whether the credits are earned in study abroad or summer programs or via transfer credit. For more information about preapproved study abroad programs, please visit the Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies Study Abroad Program website.
  • Students must maintain an average of B in all courses for the major. A grade of B- or higher must be earned in each language course in order to advance to the next level.
  • No course taken pass/fail can count toward the prerequisites or the major.
  • A student may request credit for courses taken outside of the department (other than those that are cross-listed) by seeking the permission of the director of undergraduate studies and the department chair.
  • To be eligible to write a senior thesis, a student must maintain a grade-point average of 3.65 through the sixth semester. Senior thesis writers should sign up for an appropriate 3-credit course during both the fall and spring semesters. (The 6 credits from these courses can be applied to the primary area of study.)

Minor

Minor in JIMES (L75)

The minor in JIMES requires a minimum of 9 units at the 300-level or above and a minimum of 18 total units. Students who wish to minor in Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern studies will select one of two tracks: The Comparative Jewish and Islamic Studies Track or The Middle Eastern Studies Track.

Comparative Jewish and Islamic Studies Track Requirements

Required Foundational course:
•    L75 JIMES 210C Introduction to Islamic Civilization OR
•    L75 JIMES 208F Introduction to Jewish Civilization: History and Identity
 
Electives:
•    6 credits in 300- or 400-level Islamic studies or Arabic language and literature courses (under L49 Arabic or L75 JIMES)
•    6 credits in 300- or 400-level Jewish studies or Hebrew language and literature courses (under L74 Hebrew or L75 JIMES)
•    3 credits at any level in JIMES courses at any level (L75 JIMES only; this does not include language courses)


Middle Eastern Studies Track Requirements

Required Foundational course:
•    L75 JIMES 210C Introduction to Islamic Civilization OR
•    L75 JIMES 208F Introduction to Jewish Civilization: History and Identity

Electives:
•    3 credits at any level in Middle Eastern Studies courses (L75 JIMES)
•    12 credits in 300- or 400-level Middle Eastern Studies courses (L75 JIMES)

Curricular Information:

This minor curriculum was first published in the 2021-22 Bulletin. Current students — those who have declared a JIMES minor and those considering it—are permitted to complete the minor requirements reflected in the Bulletin at the time they matriculated, with the understanding that substitutions for certain requirements may be necessary. 
Current students may also elect to follow the above requirements with the permission of the Department. Please contact the JIMES office for more information.

Additional Information:

•    Study Abroad: Students enrolled in preapproved Washington University study abroad programs during the regular academic semester, in summer programs, and in transfer courses can earn a maximum of 3 units subject to review by their adviser and the director of undergraduate study.
•    Grades: A grade of B- or higher must be earned in each language course in order to advance to the next level.
•    Pass/Fail: No course taken pass/fail can count toward the minor.
•    Courses taught outside of JIMES: A student may request credit for courses taken outside of the department (other than those that are cross-listed) by seeking the permission of the director of undergraduate studies and the department chair.

Arabic

Major

Units required: 24 advanced, in addition to prerequisites

Prerequisites:

  • 100- and 200-level Arabic, by course work or by placement
    (A student who skips the first four semesters of Arabic courses by placement must successfully complete L75 307D Advanced Arabic I. Students who complete the third level language course with a grade of B- or better will receive 6 units of back credit.)
  • L49 ARAB 210F Introduction to Islamic Civilization AND L49 ARAB 208F Introduction to Jewish Civilization: History and Identity
    (Students with substantial prior course work may substitute an additional upper-level course with permission of their advisor and the director of undergraduate studies.)

Requirements:

  • 12 credits in 300- and 400-level language courses
  • 6 credits in 300- and 400-level other JIMES courses, distributed as the student wishes
  • At least 3 credits in 300- and 400-level courses in a JIMES culture other than that of the selected language tradition
  • 3 credits in a departmental capstone course to be taken during the senior year
    (Students may take this course during their junior year with permission of their adviser and the director of undergraduate studies.)

Additional Information

  • Students enrolled in preapproved Washington University study abroad programs during the regular academic semester can earn a maximum of 9 credits subject to review by their adviser and the director of undergraduate studies. Summer programs and transfer courses can be granted as many as 6 credits subject to review by the student's adviser and the director of undergraduate studies. A limit of 9 credits in total can be applied to the major, whether the credits are earned in study abroad or summer programs or via transfer credit. For more information about preapproved study abroad programs, please visit the Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies Study Abroad Program website.
  • Students must maintain an average of B in all courses for the major. A grade of B- or higher must be earned in each language course in order to advance to the next level.
  • No course taken pass/fail can count toward the prerequisites or the major.
  • A student may request credit for courses taken outside of the department (other than those that are cross-listed) by seeking the permission of the director of undergraduate studies and the department chair.
  • To be eligible to write a senior thesis, a student must maintain a grade-point average of 3.65 through the sixth semester. Senior thesis writers should sign up for an appropriate 3-credit course during both the fall and spring semesters. (The 6 credits from these courses can be applied to the primary area of study.)

Minor

Minor in Arabic (L49)

The minor in Arabic requires a minimum of 9 units at the 300-level or above and a minimum of 18 total units. The goal of the minor is language proficiency at the 200 level or above. Students placing into L49 208D Intermediate Arabic II or above must complete 2 consecutive semesters of language instruction at WashU to fulfill the language requirement.

Language Prerequisites:
•    L49 Arabic 107D Beginning Arabic I & 108D Beginning Arabic II, by course work or by placement

Language Requirement:
•    L49 Arabic 207D Intermediate Arabic I & 208D Intermediate Arabic II, by course work OR
•    If placed into L49 Arabic 208D Intermediate Arabic II or above, two consecutive semesters of language instruction at WashU

Required Foundational course:

Choose one of the following:
•    L75 JIMES 210C Introduction to Islamic Civilization OR
•    L75 JIMES 208F Introduction to Jewish Civilization: History and Identity

Electives:
•    9 credits in 300- or 400-level in L49 Arabic or L75 JIMES courses distributed as the student wishes

Curricular Information:

This minor curriculum was first published in the 2021-22 Bulletin. Current students — those who have declared a JIMES minor and those considering it—are permitted to complete the minor requirements reflected in the Bulletin at the time they matriculated, with the understanding that substitutions for certain requirements may be necessary. 
Current students may also elect to follow the above requirements with the permission of the Department. Please contact the JIMES office for more information.

Additional Information:
•    Pass/Fail: No course taken pass/fail can count toward the minor.
•    Grades: A grade of B- or higher must be earned in each language course in order to advance to the next level.
•    Study Abroad: Students enrolled in preapproved Washington University study abroad programs during the regular academic semester, in summer programs, and in transfer courses can earn a maximum of 3 units subject to review by their adviser and the director of undergraduate study.
•    Back Credit: Any earned back credit does not count towards the total number of units for the Language Requirement. All students are required to take at least one year of language instruction at WashU.

Hebrew

Major

Units required: 24 advanced, in addition to prerequisites

Prerequisites:

  • 100- and 200-level Hebrew, by course work or by placement
    (A student who skips the first four semesters of Hebrew courses by placement must successfully complete L75 320D Third Level Modern Hebrew I or L75 3841 Intro to Biblical Hebrew. Students who complete the third level language course with a grade of B- or better will receive 6 units of back credit.)
  • L74 HBRW 210C Introduction to Islamic Civilization AND L74 HBRW 208F Introduction to Jewish Civilization: History and Identity
    (Students with substantial prior course work may substitute an additional upper-level course with permission of their adviser and the director of undergraduate studies.)

Requirements:

  • 12 credits in 300- and 400-level language courses
  • 6 credits in 300- and 400-level other JIMES courses, distributed as the student wishes
  • At least 3 credits at the 300- and 400-level courses in a JIMES culture other than that of the selected language tradition
  • 3 credits in a departmental capstone course to be taken during the senior year
    (Students may take this course during their junior year with permission of their adviser and the director of undergraduate studies.)

Additional Information

  • Students enrolled in preapproved Washington University study abroad programs during the regular academic semester can earn a maximum of 9 credits subject to review by their adviser and the director of undergraduate studies. Summer programs and transfer courses can be granted as many as 6 credits subject to review by the student's adviser and the director of undergraduate studies. A limit of 9 credits in total can be applied to the major, whether the credits are earned in study abroad or summer programs or via transfer credit. For more information about preapproved study abroad programs, please visit the Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies Study Abroad Program website.
  • Students must maintain an average of B in all courses for the major. A grade of B- or higher must be earned in each language course in order to advance to the next level.
  • No course taken pass/fail can count toward the prerequisites or the major.
  • A student may request credit for courses taken outside of the department (other than those that are cross-listed) by seeking the permission of the director of undergraduate studies and the department chair.
  • To be eligible to write a senior thesis, a student must maintain a grade-point average of 3.65 through the sixth semester. Senior thesis writers should sign up for an appropriate 3-credit course during both the fall and spring semesters. (The 6 credits from these courses can be applied to the primary area of study.)

Minor

Minor in Hebrew (L74)

The minor in Hebrew requires a minimum of 9 units at the 300-level or above and a minimum of 18 total units. The goal of the minor is language proficiency at the 200 level or above. Students placing into L74 214D Intermediate Modern Hebrew II or above must complete 2 consecutive semesters of language instruction at WashU to fulfill the language requirement.

Language Prerequisites:
•    L74 Hebrew 105D Beginning Modern Hebrew I & 106D Beginning Modern Hebrew II, by course work or by placement

Language Requirement:
•    L74 Hebrew 213D Intermediate Modern Hebrew I & 214D Intermediate Modern Hebrew II, by course work OR
•    If placed into L74 Hebrew 214D Intermediate Modern Hebrew II or above, two consecutive semesters of language instruction at WashU

Required Foundational course:

Choose one of the following:
•    L75 JIMES 210C Introduction to Islamic Civilization OR
•    L75 JIMES 208F Introduction to Jewish Civilization: History and Identity

Electives:
•    9 credits in 300- or 400-level in L74 Hebrew or L75 JIMES courses distributed as the student wishes

Curricular Information:

This minor curriculum was first published in the 2021-22 Bulletin. Current students — those who have declared a JIMES minor and those considering it—are permitted to complete the minor requirements reflected in the Bulletin at the time they matriculated, with the understanding that substitutions for certain requirements may be necessary. 
Current students may also elect to follow the above requirements with the permission of the Department. Please contact the JIMES office for more information.

Additional Information:
•    Pass/Fail: No course taken pass/fail can count toward the minor.
•    Grades: A grade of B- or higher must be earned in each language course in order to advance to the next level.
•    Study Abroad: Students enrolled in preapproved Washington University study abroad programs during the regular academic semester, in summer programs, and in transfer courses can earn a maximum of 3 units subject to review by their adviser and the director of undergraduate study.
•    Back Credit: Any earned back credit does not count towards the total number of units for the Language Requirement. All students are required to take at least one year of language instruction at WashU.

South Asian Languages and Cultures

Minor

Minor in South Asian Studies (L73)

The minor in South Asian Studies requires a minimum of 9 units at the 300-level or above and a minimum of 18 total units. The goal of the minor is language proficiency at the 200 level or above in either the Hindi or Urdu language. Students placing into L73 202 Intermediate Hindi II, L73 251 Second Year Urdu II, or above must complete 2 consecutive semesters of language instruction at WashU to fulfill the language requirement.

Language Prerequisites:
•    Hindi Language: L73 Hindi 111D Beginning Hindi I & 112D Beginning Hindi II, by course work or by placement OR
•    Urdu Language: L73 Hindi 150 First Year Urdu I & 151 First Year Urdu II, by course work or by placement

Language Requirement: Students should choose one primary language for the minor to fulfill the language requirement.

Hindi Language:
•    L73 Hindi 201 Intermediate Hindi I & 202 Intermediate Hindi II, by course work OR
•   L73 Hindi 219 Hindi for Heritage Speakers and one additional semester of Hindi language instruction OR
•   If placed into L73 Hindi 202 Intermediate Hindi II or above, two consecutive semesters of language instruction at WashU
Urdu Language:
•   L73 Hindi 250 Second Year Urdu I & L73 Hindi 251 Second Year Urdu II, by course work OR
•   If placed into L73 Hindi 251 Second Year Urdu II or above, two consecutive semesters of language instruction at WashU

Required Foundational course:

Choose one of the following:
•    L75 JIMES 210C Introduction to Islamic Civilization OR
•    L73 HINDI 3171 Religion and Culture in South and Southeast Asia

Electives:
•    9 credits in 300- or 400-level in L73 Hindi or L75 JIMES courses distributed as the student wishes

Curricular Information:

This minor curriculum was first published in the 2021-22 Bulletin. Current students — those who have declared a JIMES minor and those considering it—are permitted to complete the minor requirements reflected in the Bulletin at the time they matriculated, with the understanding that substitutions for certain requirements may be necessary. 
Current students may also elect to follow the above requirements with the permission of the Department. Please contact the JIMES office for more information.

Additional Information:
•    Pass/Fail: No course taken pass/fail can count toward the minor.
•    Grades: A grade of B- or higher must be earned in each language course in order to advance to the next level.
•    Study Abroad: Students enrolled in preapproved Washington University study abroad programs during the regular academic semester, in summer programs, and in transfer courses can earn a maximum of 3 units subject to review by their adviser and the director of undergraduate study.
•    Back Credit: Any earned back credit does not count towards the total number of units for the Language Requirement. All students are required to take at least one year of language instruction at WashU.