Jewish Studies Spring 2025

Spring Online Weekly Courses | Make your selection by December 23, 2024

Dear Jewish Studies Students:

This spring, gather online with colleagues from across North America and beyond for two engaging courses.

Our spring courses both grapple with contemporary challenges and dig deep into understanding Jewish life in all of its complexity. Taught by two members of our acclaimed faculty, these courses fulfill core requirements for both Master’s and Doctoral-level students. They also provide opportunities for connection, discussion, and rich learning with peers of varied backgrounds and areas of expertise.

Registration is now open. If you have questions or would like to discuss your choice of courses, please email Scarlett Andes, Manager of Student & Faculty Services, at sandes@spertus.edu.

Sincerely,

Dr. Keren E. Fraiman
Dean & Chief Academic Officer
Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership

Please note that the preferred registration deadline is December 23, and the final registration deadline is January 6.

Spring 2025 | Weekly Online Courses | February-April 2025

Contemporary Jewish Ethics

Taught by Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz
Course 5003 | 3 quarter-hour credits
Fulfills MAJS Elective or 2nd Level Core, DSJS Core (Jewish Living) or Elective, and DHL Core (Jewish Ethics)

8 Sessions | Meets Tuesdays from 1:30 to 4 PM CT via Zoom
February 25 | March 4, 11, 18, and 25 | April 1, 8, and 15

In this course, we will explore Biblical, Talmudic, Medieval, Modern and Contemporary foundational approaches to Jewish Ethics. We will further examine modern approaches to moral philosophy (deontology, utilitarianism, virtue ethics, etc.) as explored through a Jewish lens. We will also examine various applications as it relates today to business ethics, medical ethics, military ethics, technology, human rights, interpersonal ethics, and theology. Further, we will learn mussar (Jewish approaches to character development as shared through the middot). By learning Jewish texts, we will open up conversations about how to interweave the full richness of Jewish values to pressing moral issues of our day.

This American Jewish Life

Taught by Dr. Laura Yares
Course 4313 | 3 quarter-hour credits
Fulfills MAJS Core (Contemporary Jewish Experiences), DSJS Elective, and DHL Core (Key Issues in Contemporary Jewry)

8 Sessions | Meets Wednesdays from 6 to 8:30 PM CT via Zoom
February 26 | March 5, 12, 19, and 26 | April 2, 9, and 16

This course will critically examine the contours of American Jewish life, past and present. Together, we will examine the historical trends that have defined American Jewish life, and we will critically investigate some of the ways that they are being reimagined in 2024. Throughout this course, we will reflect upon the many issues that both unite Jews as a minority community in America, as well as divide Jews across a variety of religious, cultural, and political issues.

Course registration for Spring 2025 courses is now open.

Course Registration Details

Course registration is for current Spertus Institute Jewish Studies students. Please review course details before completing your registration.

Before registering for courses, students must be admitted to one of Spertus Institute’s Jewish Studies graduate programs — or be accepted as a non-degree student who meets prerequisite requirements and wishes to enroll in courses for credit. If you are interested in applying to become a Spertus Jewish Studies graduate student, please contact Amie Barrish at abarrish@spertus.edu.

December 23, 2024 — Preferred Registration Deadline
January 6, 2025 — Final Registration Deadline

Register for One or Both Courses

Course Payment

Spertus Institute welcomes course registration from students with accounts in good standing. This means:

• Student’s unpaid account balance is less than $2,500 (roughly two courses).
• The most recent payments on past due balances are within the last six months.

Students who do not meet these criteria will need to pay down their balance prior to registering for any additional courses.

Course Costs

For MA in Jewish Studies (MAJS) Students
$400 per quarter-hour credit ($1200 per 3qh course)

For DS in Jewish Studies (DSJS) and Doctor of Hebrew Letters (DHL) Students
$475 per quarter-hour credit ($1425 per 3qh course)

A non-refundable $25 fee is charged on all course registration forms.

Refund policies vary by course format. Please review the specific policy listed on your course registration form.

Course auditing can be arranged on a select basis with approval from the Dean. Audited course tuition is $350 per 3qh course.

Questions

For questions relating to Jewish Studies courses or registration, including which course to register for next, please contact Scarlett Andes at sandes@spertus.edu.