BA Hebrew and Israeli Studies
Programme Code: QTY6 BA/HElsrSt Duration: 4 years
Overview
Entry Requirements
- A Levels: ABB
- A Level Language preferred
- IB: 34 (5/5/5)
- BTEC: DDM
- Scottish Highers: AABBB
- Scottish Advanced Highers: ABB
- Irish LC: 320 points from 5 Higher level subjects at grade C1 or above
- Advanced Placement: 4 4 4 (Two semesters - UCAS Group A) plus US HSGD with GPA 3.0
- Euro Bacc: 80%
- French Bacc: 14/20
- German Abitur: 2.0
- Italy DES: 80/100
- Austria Mat: 2.0
- Polish Mat: 75%
Minimum Entry Requirements: Languages at SOAS are taught ab initio, and no prior knowledge of Modern Hebrew is required
Subjects Preferred: A good pass in a foreign language at A-level, or equivalent, is preferred
Interview Policy: Candidates with 'non-standard' qualifications may be invited for interview
The degree is intended to give students a solid grounding in Israeli Hebrew, familiarity with the major types of Modern Hebrew literature and a broad knowledge of the historical, political, religious and cultural background. Intensive study of Modern Hebrew language and literature is a compulsory feature of the degree.
The syllabus can be tailored to individual needs by selecting options from the wide range of Hebrew and Hebrew-related courses taught in the NME Department, elsewhere in the School and in the Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies at University College (UCL). In addition up to two floating units in other subjects may be selected from other course units taught in the School.
Structure
The single-subject degree is a four-year programme in which students take sixteen course-units. In the first year students normally begin the study of Modern Hebrew language and take introductory courses in literature, culture and religion. The second year offers a continuation of language study in combination with the study of Israeli literature and a course on Zionism. A fourth course is taken in an approved unit of the student's choice.
Students are required to spend the third year at the Rothberg School for Overseas Students in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where they continue the study of language and a range of Hebrew-related subjects. In the event of interruption of the year-abroad programme a similar programme of study is arranged in London. Returning to SOAS for the fourth year, students write an extended essay and continue the study of Modern Hebrew literature. A fourth-year advanced language course is highly recommended, leaving the student free to choose an approved unit to complete the syllabus.
Students who already have prior knowledge of Modern Hebrew are tested on registration and may be permitted to begin language study at an appropriate higher level.
Year 1
- Intensive Modern Hebrew(core* course; 2 units)
- Literatures of the Near and Middle East
- Introduction to Israeli culture or another approved unit from the list of Hebrew-related courses
* Core course means one that must be passed to permit progression to the following year of study
Year 2
- Intermediate Modern Hebrew (core* course)
- Introduction to Israeli literature
- History of Zionism
- One further unit from the list of Hebrew and Hebrew-related courses OR another approved course unit ('floater')
* Core course means one that must be passed to permit progression to the following year of study
Year 3
- Year abroad at Hebrew University of Jerusalem:
- Israeli society
- History of Modern Israel 1881-1973
- Modern Hebrew Literature
Year 4
- Independent study project in Hebrew and Israeli studies
- Three further units from the list of Hebrew and Hebrew-related courses (one of these is usually Advanced Modern Hebrew language) OR two further such units and one other approved course unit ('floater')
List of Hebrew and Hebrew-related courses
Hebrew language and literature
- Intensive Modern Hebrew (2 units)
- Intermediate Modern Hebrew
- Advanced Modern Hebrew language (fourth year)
- Introduction to Israeli literature
- The origins of modern Hebrew poetry
- The prose literature and culture of the Haskalah
- Elementary Hebrew (a less intensive introduction to language)
History, politics and culture
- Introduction to Israeli culture
- History of Zionism
- Israeli history and the Israel-Palestine conflict
- Jews and genetics: history and identity
Extended essay
UCL courses
A selection of Hebrew and Hebrew-related courses run by the Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies, UCL, and available as options on the SOAS degree:
- Advanced Modern Hebrew (B081)
- Introduction to classical Hebrew (B012)
- Further classical Hebrew (B113)
- A survey of Jewish history and culture from 1000 to 1800 CE (B039, 0.5)
- Culture of Zionism - The construction, development and critique of a nationalist movement (C084, 0.5)
- The culture of Sepahrdic Jewry (B118, 0.5)
A full list of courses can be obtained from UCL www.ucl.ac.uk.
"Floaters"
Other approved units from the SOAS list up to a maximum of two, one in the second year and one in the fourth year. Of special interest are:
N.B. Entry on to optional courses is at the discretion of the course convenor.
Programme Specification
Teaching & Learning
Year abroad
Students are required to spend the third year of the programme at the Rothberg School for Overseas Students in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Pre Entry Reading
- Israeli Founders and Sons, Amos Elon
- A Textbook of Israeli Hebrew, H. Rosen
- The Penguin Book of Hebrew Verse, T. Carmi
- Modern Hebrew Stories, (Bantam dual language book)
- Israel, Martin Gilbert
- The Making of Modern Zionism, Shlomo Avineri
- One Palestine, Complete, Tom Segev
