Academics
Undergraduate
Jewish Studies Major
UCSC is one of the very few campuses in California where undergraduates have the opportunity to major in Jewish Studies. Students in this interdisciplinary program achieve an extraordinary depth and breadth of learning about Jewish history and culture, especially its literature, art, and history, as well as its ethics, folk practices, and philosophy.
Undergraduate
Jewish Studies Minor
Students whose major area of interest is not Jewish studies may nonetheless find that a minor in Jewish studies makes an invaluable contribution to their studies. This introduction to Jewish studies is helpful for students who plan to do graduate work in Jewish studies, whether through traditional academic disciplines or in Jewish studies programs, and also for students who plan to attend rabbinical schools or to find work with Jewish communities. For others with an interest in Jewish topics, but without such plans, a minor in Jewish studies offers intellectual enrichment and a focus within the student’s chosen field.
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Humanities students dive into Santa Cruz surfing history
This spring quarter, UC Santa Cruz Humanities students immersed themselves in the story of three Hawaiian princes who introduced surfing to the United States in the late 19th century, using Santa Cruz to launch a sport that became a cultural phenomenon.
The ten-week public history course, taught by UC Santa Cruz Humanities Dean and History Professor Jasmine Alinder, brought students face-to-face with the complexities of community storytelling, colonial legacies, and cultural continuity
Saritaan: Preserving Filipino migration stories across oceans and generations
A new UC Santa Cruz initiative called Saritaan—meaning “to talk story” in Ilokano—is preserving the untold migration stories of Filipino families.