Humanities
HUM 200 Directed Studies in the Humanities (Art, Music and Drama) (3 credits)
Prerequisite: none
An interdisciplinary directed study in the arts. Explores various approaches to art and aesthetics. Readings and course projects are designed to help students develop critical thinking and writing skills as they experience and evaluate various art forms, specifically visual arts, drama, literature, music, and/or film.
HIS/HUM 201 The Ancient World (3 credits)
Prerequisites: None. This course can be used as an elective in History
A study of the political history and the development of cultures and civilizations from the times of ancient Mesopotamia through the Middle Ages, using selected works of literature, art, philosophy and history. There is a focus on ideas and values as they emerge across various world cultures.
HIS/HUM 202 The Renaissance and Modern World (3 credits)
Prerequisite: None. This course can be used as an elective in History
A study of the political history and the development of cultures and civilizations from the Renaissance through the twentieth century, using selected works of literature, art, philosophy and history. There is a focus on ideas and values as they emerge across various world cultures.
HEBREW LANGUAGE SERIES:
Students enrolling in this series will be evaluated for their knowledge and communication skills in the Hebrew language and recommended for placement at an appropriate level in the course sequence.
HUM 110 Elementary Modern Hebrew I (2 credits)
Prerequisite: None, JST 104 or a familiarity with the Hebrew Alphabet and some passive vocabulary is preferred
This course introduces modern Hebrew language beginning with a review of the letters and vowels of the alphabet in block and script forms,, laying strong foundations for reading and writing skills. The focus of instruction is on developing strong communicative skills. At first, students will practice Hebrew speech using vocabulary and phrases composed only of familiar letters and vowels. Through active listening, reading, writing and speaking, students will learn ho to introduce themselves, describe their background and living environment. The course will introduce basic grammar forms such as noun-adjective agreement in gender and number, use of question words, prepositions, the definite article and various verb conjugation patterns in the present tense.
HUM 120 Elementary Modern Hebrew II (2 credits)
Prerequisite: HUM 110 or equivalent
In this intermediate elementary level course, students will continue developing strong communicative skills in standard modern Hebrew. Listening, reading, writing and speaking are introduced through an active use of the language in its appropriate cultural context. Through active class work, dialogues, reading, writing, media and computer based exercises, students learn how to express wishes, explain causality, tell time and age, and use slang.
HUM 130 Elementary Modern Hebrew III (2 credits)
Prerequisite: HUM 120 or equivalent
In this course, student will further develop their communicative skills in standard Modern Hebrew and transition to the intermediate level. The focus of teaching is on expanding students grammatical skills and active vocabulary when speaking, writing, reading and listening. The language is taught in its appropriate cultural context: a variety of texts, movies and audio materials introduce Israeli sights and communities, customs, history and everyday life. After covering all active verb forms in the present tense, students are introduced to the past tense. They use time phrases, describe daily schedules, express needs and abilities as well as their health and looks.
HUM 241 Intermediate Modern Hebrew I (2 credits)
Prerequisite: HUM 130 or equivalent
This course raises a student's basic skills in Modern Hebrew to an intermediate level of speaking, writing, reading and listening. It places strong emphasis on developing more complex syntax and speech patterns than before as well as a richer, active vocabulary. This class is suitable for most graduates of Hebrew day schools. The class will complete the survey of past tense active verbs, and will introduce advanced syntax including indirect speech, impersonal phrases, as well as causative and consequential and mutual actions. Reading, writing exercises, classroom discussion and dialogue will be supplemented with movies, video, audio and computer based exercises.
HUM 242 Intermediate Modern Hebrew II (2/3 credits)
Prerequisite: HUM 241 or equivalent
This mid intermediate level course builds on the students' previous knowledge as it expands and raises the level of all four communicative skills to a new level of versatility and self assuredness. In addition, it emphasizes a fifth skill - that of cultural literacy. More than before students move from speech, text and media to grammar, rather than vice versa. The course materials are richly supplemented with movies and media that are embedded in diverse contexts. This class keeps emphasizing complex syntax - use of relative and subordinate clauses, expressing causality and condition - and incorporates the future tense and the imperative form into students communicative skills. With this foundation, students taking the 3 credit version will read, discuss and report on assigned materials, inline work and/or a full text play/novel/movie.
HUM 243 Intermediate Modern Hebrew III (2/3 credits)
Prerequisite: HUM 242 or equivalent
In this advanced intermediate level course, students will expand and strengthen their speaking, reading, listening and writing skills in standard modern Hebrew. This class emphasizes advanced syntax and grammar as well as a rich cultural input, so that students can become more self assured, communicative and versatile users of Hebrew as it is spoken in Israel today. This course regularly uses recent Israeli movies, media, popular music and the web to explore contemporary issues of Israeli culture and society. Students are encouraged to use Hebrew word processing and e-mailing. With this foundation, students taking the 3 credit version will read, discuss and report on assigned material, online work and/or a full text play/novel/movie.
HUM 250 Advanced Topics in Modern Hebrew I (2/3 credits)
Prerequisite: HUM 243 or equivalent
This course represents a topical encounter with central issues of contemporary Israeli culture through various genres of 'texts,' from academic and literary to film and poetry. Students will read, listen, watch, discuss and write about topics ranging from the Jewish identity of Israelis to the globalization of Israeli society. Linguistically, students will learn the use of advanced syntax, mainly structures that necessitate future forms, and will start using passive forms of the verb system. With this foundation, students taking the 3 credit version will read, discuss and report on assigned materials, online work and/or a full text play/novel/movie.
HUM 260 Advanced Topics in Modern Hebrew II (2/3 credits)
Prerequisite: HUM 250 or equivalent
This course is geared for an intensive interaction with Hebrew of the communication media. Students will explore in depth a few central aspects of contemporary Israel using diverse sources. Emphasis is on sophisticated articulation, both verbal and written, and Hebrew web literacy. Grammatically, this class will emphasize the passive voice structure that is prevalent in media reporting and advanced conditional phrases. With This foundation, students taking the three credit version will read, discuss and report on assigned materials, online work and/or a full text play/novel/movie.
HUM 300 Seminar in Advanced Hebrew Language (2/3 credits)
Prerequisite: HUM 260 or equivalent
This course provides a transition to advanced level conversational, comprehensive and compositional skills. Students will consistently and confidently perform narration and debate across variety of current topics, while creating an active understanding of formal text and various media.
