PROGRAMS OF STUDY &
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Hebrew (HEB)
Major: Yeshiva College
Twenty-four credits in HEB courses more advanced than
1206. For YC, IBC
students, these must be transferred from Isaac Breuer College.
Major: Isaac Breuer College
Twenty-nine credits in HEB courses; comprehensive examination or
HEB 4950.
Students who complete HEB 4950 need not take a qualifying examination in their
minor subject.
Minor: Yeshiva College
Twelve credits in Hebrew courses more advanced than
1206.
Minor: Isaac Breuer College
Twenty-three credits in Hebrew courses; qualifying examination.
At Yeshiva College and Isaac Breuer College, course offerings begin with HEB
1205.
1101–1102 Beginner’s Hebrew. 3–4 credits.
No credit if taken after two or more years of high school Hebrew. Introduction
to the reading, writing, translating, and speaking of Hebrew; first principles
of grammar.
1103–1104 Elementary Hebrew. 3–4 credits.
No credit if taken after two or more years of high school Hebrew; students with
three years of high school Hebrew may enter HEB 1104 or 1104B or
1203 or 1203A
with permission of the instructor. The continuation of this course is HEB
1203
or 1203A.
1121–1122 Elementary Hebrew. 2–3 credits.
Review of Hebrew grammar, selected readings of classical and modern Hebrew
literature, practice in writing and speaking Hebrew. The continuation of this
course is HEB 1205, 1206.
Prerequisite: one year of high school Hebrew or equivalent; no credit if taken
after more than two years of high school Hebrew.
1203–1204 Lower Intermediate Hebrew. 2–4 credits.
No credit if taken after four years of high school Hebrew. Students with
superior records in HEB 1102B or in 1104B or in high school Hebrew may enter HEB
1204 with permission of the instructor. Review of grammar, selected readings and
translation, composition, and conversation. The continuation of this course is
HEB 1205. (When taken for 4 credits, the continuation of this course is
HEB 1206
or 1231).
Prerequisite: HEB 1102B or
1104B or two years of
high school Hebrew.
1205, 1206 Intermediate Hebrew. 3–4 credits.
Systematic review of applied grammar (phonology, morphology) to enhance
comprehension and expression. Readings in various genres of Hebrew literature
and newspapers; sentence construction. The continuation of this course is
HEB
1207 or 1231.
Prerequisite: HEB 1204 or four years of high school Hebrew.
1207, 1208 Upper Intermediate Hebrew. 3 credits.
Graded readings, composition, and conversation. Unvocalized texts and Israeli
newspapers.
Prerequisite: HEB 1206 or equivalent, with good knowledge of grammar.
1231 Conversational Hebrew. 3 credits.
Directed toward the development of fluency in speaking Hebrew.
Prerequisite: HEB 1204 or
1205.
1310 Advanced Hebrew. 3 credits.
Grammar, writing, and conversation.
Prerequisite: HEB 1206 or equivalent.
1311 Advanced Grammar. 3 credits.
Hebrew syntax and grammar; varieties of construction and idioms; compositions
and exercises.
Prerequisite: HEB 1206 or equivalent.
1321, 1322 Biblical Hebrew. 3–4 credits.
Review of basic forms; principles of phonology, morphology, and syntax.
Prerequisite: HEB 1205 or permission of the instructor.
1409, 1410 Advanced Conversation. 3 credits.
Spoken modern Hebrew, using advanced textbooks and Israeli newspapers.
Prerequisite: HEB 1208 or equivalent.
1419; 1420 Exposition and Narration. 3 credits.
Advanced writing course.
Prerequisite: HEB 1206 or equivalent.
2525 Medieval Hebrew Poetry. 3 credits.
Selected readings in the Hebrew poetry of the Middle Ages, with emphasis on
Yehudah Halevi, Shmuel Hanagid, Solomon Ibn Gabirol, and Abraham Ibn Ezra.
Prerequisite: HEB 1206 or equivalent.
2535 Medieval Hebrew Prose. 3 credits.
Selected readings in Hebrew prose of the Middle Ages, with emphasis on
Maimonides.
Prerequisite: HEB 1206 or equivalent.
2657 Modern Hebrew Prose. 3 credits.
The Hebrew short story and novel from 1880 to the present.
Prerequisite: HEB 1206 or equivalent.
2667 The Hebrew Novel. 3 credits.
Critical study of representative works of such writers as Agnon, Appelfeld,
Barash, Brenner, Hazaz, Meged, and Mendele, Amos Oz, A.B. Yehoshua, and others.
Prerequisite: HEB 1206 or equivalent.
2669 The Hebrew Short Story. 3 credits.
Detailed examination of the short story genre, its main characteristics, motifs,
themes, and techniques as reflected in the works of Agnon, Appelfeld, Baron,
Hazaz, Oz, Shenhar, Shoffman, and others.
Prerequisite: HEB 1206 or equivalent.
2677 The Modern Hebrew Essay. 3 credits.
Selected readings from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Prerequisite: HEB 1206 or equivalent.
2679 Modern Hebrew Poetry. 3 credits.
Major poems of modern masters from 1880 to the present.
Prerequisite: HEB 1206 or equivalent.
2687 Foundations of Renaissance Literature. 3 credits.
The works of Ahad Ha’am, Bialik, and Mendele.
Prerequisite: HEB 1206 or equivalent.
2688 Twentieth-Century Literature. 3 credits.
Hebrew prose and poetry of the 20th century; literary analysis of selected
readings of the major modern authors.
Prerequisite: HEB 1206 or equivalent.
2697; 2698 Contemporary Hebrew Literature. 3 credits.
Hebrew prose and poetry of the period since 1948; literary analysis of selected
readings of the major authors.
Prerequisite: HEB 1206 or equivalent.
2709; 2710; 2719; 2720;
2729; 2730; 2739; 2740 Topics in Hebrew Literature. 3 credits.
Each semester examines a specific area, such as literature of the Holocaust;
themes in Agnon and Hazaz; war and peace in contemporary Israeli literature; the
portrayal of the Arab in Israeli literature; Biblical themes in Israeli
literature; the kibbutz in Israeli literature; Zionism in Hebrew literature.
Prerequisite: HEB 1206 or equivalent.
2801 through 2899
Studies in Individual Authors and Their Works. 3 credits.
Prerequisite: HEB 1206 or equivalent.
4901, 4902 Independent Study.
Meet with the Yeshiva College academic dean.
4931; 4932 Selected Topics. 3 credits.
Assigned topics, regular conferences, and a report.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
4950 Bachelor’s Thesis. Nine hours.
3 credits.
Independent work, under faculty guidance, in an area of Hebrew literature with
an historical-analytical or in-depth critical approach.
Prerequisite: senior status and a major in Hebrew.
