Faculty of Arts
Hebrew studies

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Faculty of Arts

1. Language study streams
2. Diploma in Modern Languages (Hebrew)
3. Attendance requirement
4. Requirements for a major
5. Structuring a major
    5.1. Beginners stream
    5.2. Intermediate stream
    5.3. Post-VCE stream
6. Honours
7. Studying overseas
8. Career opportunities
9. For more information
Subject Lists
    Language subjects
    Optional subjects
        First/second-year subjects
        Second/third-year subjects
        Third/fourth-year subjects
        Fourth-year subjects

Hebrew was first taught at the University of Melbourne in 1946. The program in Hebrew studies continues to be a significant influence on scholarly thought and the teaching of Hebrew in Jewish schools and communities throughout Australia. It is the only program in Australia that teaches Hebrew language from beginners' to advanced levels. The study of Hebrew at the University of Melbourne places great emphasis upon it as both the language of the Bible and the language of modern Israel today. Students are able to explore a variety of topics that draw on some of the most comprehensive Hebrew and Jewish archival resources available in Australia. Hebrew studies maintains formal international arrangements with universities that provide students with the opportunity to complete some of their study overseas. The program leads to an articulated structure of higher degree study and provides graduates with highly valued and transferable skills in their vocational pursuits. Hebrew studies runs special seminar and public lecture programs that seek to promote discussion of issues relevant to the Jewish community in Melbourne and Australia today.

Hebrew studies incorporates sequences of language subjects targeted at all levels of speaker proficiency, from those with no prior knowledge of Hebrew to more advanced-level speakers. Study of the language is complemented by subjects that explore Jewish culture, literature and society. Through the study of modern authors and poets, these subjects aim to provide students with knowledge of the language in contemporary contexts and to equip them with skills to undertake critical literary analysis in both Hebrew and English.

Students interested in exploring the Jewish experience in more depth are encouraged to undertake Hebrew studies as part of the interdepartmental Jewish studies program.

Honours in Hebrew is only available to students as a component of combined honours in Jewish studies.

1. Language study streams

The School of Languages offers two streams of Hebrew language study:

beginners
- The beginners stream is for students who have little or no knowledge of Hebrew. It is available to students at both first and second year although students intending to complete a major will need to commence their language study in their first year.
intermediate
- The intermediate stream is for students who have some knowledge of Hebrew, but who have not studied Hebrew at VCE level.
post-VCE
- The post-VCE stream is usually only available to students who have obtained a pass in VCE Hebrew, or its equivalent.

The School of Languages determines the language stream in which a student is to enrol. Placement is based on VCE results, other language study record or a placement test.

Stream enrolment remains provisional until confirmed or, alternatively, altered according to the student's needs as determined by the department during the first two weeks of teaching. As far as possible, the school will notify students of any change to their stream enrolment during the first two weeks of semester. Where a change is made in the third or fourth week of semester it will be reported to the Associate Dean (Academic Programs).

2. Diploma in Modern Languages (Hebrew)

The Diploma in Modern Languages (DML) enables students to gain a diploma in language study while completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne.

The DML usually involves a three-year sequence of language study, totalling a minimum of 100 points. It adds one year to the duration of an ordinary degree course.

The DML (Hebrew) is offered in the beginners, intermediate and post-VCE streams. Hebrew subjects are taken alongside degree subjects in an integrated sequence of study. This must be approved by a faculty course adviser and the Head of Program, Hebrew studies. See Diploma in Modern Languages.

3. Attendance requirement

A threshold requirement for the acceptance of work for evaluation is attendance at all classes. This is a minimum of 75 per cent attendance.

4. Requirements for a major

A major in Hebrew studies usually consists of 125 points comprising:

three first-year subjects in Hebrew (37.5 points); and
three second-year subjects in Hebrew (37.5 points); and
four third-year subjects in Hebrew (50 points).

A major must include the following subjects:

first or second year:
- 109-130 Introduction to Modern Jewish Culture
second or third year:
third year:
- 109-455 Special Study Research Project (Hebrew) (or an approved alternative).

5. Structuring a major

A major in Hebrew studies usually takes one of the following forms.

5.1. Beginners stream

First year

	109-128 Hebrew 1A	1
	109-129 Hebrew 1B	2
	109-130 Introduction to Modern Jewish Culture	1

Second year

	109-131 Hebrew 2A	1
	109-132 Hebrew 2B	2
	or
	109-113 Hebrew 2C	Not Offered
	109-114 Hebrew 2D	Not Offered
	and
	109-011 Jewish National Thought or	Not Offered
	109-210 The Modern Jewish World and Israel	2

Third year

	109-006 Hebrew 3A	1
	109-007 Hebrew 3B	2
	or
	109-008 Hebrew 3C	Not Offered
	109-009 Hebrew 3D	Not Offered
	and
	109-012 Reading the Holocaust	Not Offered
	or
	109-013 Exploring the World of Jewish Literature	1
	or
	109-021 Kabbalah and Jewish Mystical Traditions	2
	or
	109-211 Israeli Film: Society through the Movies	2

5.2. Intermediate stream

First year

	109-131 Hebrew 2A	1
	109-132 Hebrew 2B	2
	or
	109-113 Hebrew 2C	Not Offered
	109-114 Hebrew 2D	Not Offered
	and
	109-130 Introduction to Modern Jewish Culture	1

Second year

	109-006 Hebrew 3A	1
	109-007 Hebrew 3B	2
	or
	109-008 Hebrew 3C	Not Offered
	109-009 Hebrew 3D	Not Offered
	and one of the following:
	109-011 Jewish National Thought	Not Offered
	109-012 Reading the Holocaust	Not Offered
	109-013 Exploring the World of Jewish Literature	1
	109-021 Kabbalah and Jewish Mystical Traditions	2
	109-210 The Modern Jewish World and Israel	2
	109-211 Israeli Film: Society through the Movies	2

Third year

	109-400 Hebrew 4A	1
	109-401 Hebrew 4B	2
	or
	109-402 Hebrew 4C	Not Offered
	109-403 Hebrew 4D	Not Offered
	and two of the following not completed at second-year level:
	109-012 Reading the Holocaust	Not Offered
	109-013 Exploring the World of Jewish Literature	1
	109-021 Kabbalah and Jewish Mystical Traditions	2
	109-210 The Modern Jewish World and Israel	2
	109-211 Israeli Film: Society through the Movies	2

5.3. Post-VCE stream

First year

	109-006 Hebrew 3A	1
	109-007 Hebrew 3B	2
	109-130 Introduction to Modern Jewish Culture	1

Second year

	109-011 Jewish National Thought or	Not Offered
	109-210 The Modern Jewish World and Israel	2
	and either
	109-008 Hebrew 3C	Not Offered
	109-009 Hebrew 3D	Not Offered
	or
	109-400 Hebrew 4A	1
	109-401 Hebrew 4B	2

Third year (option A)

	109-400 Hebrew 4A	1
	109-012 Reading the Holocaust	Not Offered
	109-013 Exploring the World of Jewish Literature	1
	109-401 Hebrew 4B	2
	109-021 Kabbalah and Jewish Mystical Traditions	2
	109-211 Israeli Film: Society through the Movies	2

Third year (option B)

	109-402 Hebrew 4C	Not Offered
	109-403 Hebrew 4D	Not Offered
	109-012 Reading the Holocaust	Not Offered
	109-013 Exploring the World of Jewish Literature	1
	109-021 Kabbalah and Jewish Mystical Traditions	2
	109-210 The Modern Jewish World and Israel	2
	109-211 Israeli Film: Society through the Movies	2

6. Honours

There is no formal honours program in Hebrew. However, students may undertake Hebrew as a component of combined honours in Jewish studies and another area of study.

Students must satisfy the prerequisites for entry to honours in Jewish studies. However, some prerequisites may be waived with the approval of the Jewish studies honours convenor.

Students must also meet the prerequisites for honours in the combined area of study.

7. Studying overseas

For information about Hebrew programs at overseas institutions, see Studying overseas in the Jewish studies entry of the Handbook.

8. Career opportunities

Graduates who have majored in Hebrew studies have found employment as teachers, academics, translators, interpreters, writers, journalists, editors and in various areas of the public service and professions serving local Jewish communities.

9. For more information

Associate Professor Ziva Shavitsky
Room 250, Old Arts Building
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel: + 61 3 8344 7562
Web: http://www.hebrew.unimelb.edu.au/

Dr Dvir Abramovich
Room 251, Old Arts Building
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel: + 61 3 8344 3789

Language subjects

109-128 Hebrew 1A
109-129 Hebrew 1B
109-131 Hebrew 2A
109-132 Hebrew 2B
109-113 Hebrew 2C
109-114 Hebrew 2D
109-006 Hebrew 3A
109-007 Hebrew 3B
109-008 Hebrew 3C
109-009 Hebrew 3D
109-400 Hebrew 4A
109-401 Hebrew 4B
109-402 Hebrew 4C
109-403 Hebrew 4D

Optional subjects

Status:                   Official 2003
Last Modified:            Monday April 28 22:11
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