CJS Mourns the Loss of Beloved Faculty Affiliate Joan Bieder
Emeritus faculty member and philanthropist Joan Bieder died on Sunday, Oct. 26. She was 83. During her 26-year tenure at Berkeley Journalism, Professor Bieder was a senior lecturer who taught core courses and electives in television reporting and producing. She also served as associate dean from 2008 until she retired in 2016. She made frequent gifts to the School during her tenure and throughout her retirement. To read more about Professor Bieder's remarkable life, please click here.
Spring 2026 Classes are Here: Register Today!
The Jewish Tragic Mode, from Antiquity to Contemporary Culture
Introduction to Modern Jewish Thought: Faith, Culture, and Education
The History and Cultures of Jews in the United States
Religion and Spirituality in Education: Israeli and American Cases
Academic Degree Programs
DESIGNATED EMPHASIS (DE) FOR PhD STUDENTS
The DE in Jewish Studies provides curricular and research resources for students who want to concentrate on Jewish Studies within their respective disciplines and have their work formally recognized in their degree designation. Designed to bring together faculty and students from different departments, the DE is administered by the Graduate Group in Jewish Studies and provides a unique context for rigorous cross-disciplinary research. Students applying to the DE must be prepared to integrate high-level research in Jewish Studies into their coursework, qualifying exam, and dissertation. Click here to learn more.
MINOR IN JEWISH STUDIES FOR UNDERGRADUATES
The minor in Jewish Studies is designed to give students an overview of some of the major themes in Jewish Studies, and cultivate the potential of budding Jewish studies scholars among the undergraduate population. In addition to gaining a certain minimum breadth of acquaintance with the field, students have the opportunity to explore a particular interest among the varied topics and areas presented by Jewish Studies. The Jewish Studies minor is open to all UC Berkeley students. Click here to learn more.
