Department of Germanic Studies
Minor in Yiddish Studies
The Minor in Yiddish Studies focuses on a high German language once widely used by eastern European Jews and by Jewish emigrants through the world. The Yiddish tradition continues to exert a strong influence on contemporary media and literature. Drawing on courses taught in conjunction with the Jewish Studies Program, the minor offers students the opportunity to develop Yiddish language skills, as well as to learn about the history, literature, drama, and film of Eastern European and American Yiddish culture.
Requirements
The minor requires at least 15 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
- Beginning Yiddish II. One (1) course:
- GER-Y 150 Beginning Yiddish II
GER-Y 150 Beginning Yiddish II
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- GER-Y 100
- Description
- Introduction to the Yiddish language and selected aspects of Yiddish-language culture. Development of listening comprehension, simple speaking proficiency, controlled reading and writing skills.
- Intermediate Yiddish I. One (1) course:
- GER-Y 200 Intermediate Yiddish I
GER-Y 200 Intermediate Yiddish I
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- GER-Y 150 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Development of speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills. Review of basic grammar and study of new grammatical topics. Reading of short fictional texts and other writings on Jewish culture. Taught in alternate years.
- Intermediate Yiddish II. One (1) course:
- GER-Y 250 Intermediate Yiddish II
GER-Y 250 Intermediate Yiddish II
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- GER-Y 200 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Continuing development of active and passive skills. Additional new grammar concepts. Emphasis on development of reading skills and cultural knowledge through literary and journalistic texts including texts in nonstandardized orthographies. Taught in alternate years.
- Electives. Nine (9) credit hours:
- One of the following:
- GER-E 351 Topics in Yiddish Literature
- CMLT-C 377 Topics in Yiddish Literature
- One of the following:
- CMLT-C 378 Topics in Yiddish Culture
- GER-E 352 Topics in Yiddish Culture
- GER-X 493 Individual Readings in Yiddish Studies: Language, Literature, Culture
- HIST-D 304 Jews of Eastern Europe
GER-E 351 Topics in Yiddish Literature
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Selected topics focusing on Yiddish fiction and drama (1810-1914) or twentieth-century Yiddish fiction, drama, and poetry. Taught in English. No prior knowledge of Yiddish required. Topics vary.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours in CMLT-C 377, GER-E 351, and GER-Y 300.
- Fall 2026CASE AHcourseSummer 2026CASE AHcourse
CMLT-C 377 Topics in Yiddish Literature
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- R: CMLT-C 205 or 3 credit hours of literature
- Description
- Selected topics focusing on Yiddish fiction and drama (1810-1914) or twentieth-century Yiddish fiction, drama, and poetry. Taught in English. No prior knowledge of Yiddish required. Topics vary.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours for any combination of CMLT-C 377 and GER-E 351.
- Fall 2026CASE AHcourseSummer 2026CASE AHcourse
CMLT-C 378 Topics in Yiddish Culture
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- R: CMLT-C 205 or 3 credit hours of literature
- Description
- Selected topics on history of Ashkenazic Jews; Old Yiddish and premodern Yiddish folklore and popular culture; history and sociology of Yiddish; modern Yiddish culture; and centers of modern Yiddish culture. Taught in English. No prior knowledge of Yiddish required. Topics vary.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours for any combination of CMLT-C 378 and GER-E 352.
- Fall 2026CASE AHcourseSummer 2026CASE AHcourse
GER-E 352 Topics in Yiddish Culture
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Selected topics on history of Ashkenazic Jews; Old Yiddish and premodern Yiddish folklore and popular culture; history and sociology of Yiddish; modern Yiddish culture; and centers of modern Yiddish culture. Conducted in English. No prior knowledge of Yiddish required. Topics vary.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours in CMLT-C 378, GER-E 352, and GER-Y 350.
- Fall 2026CASE GCCcourseSummer 2026CASE GCCcourse
GER-X 493 Individual Readings in Yiddish Studies: Language, Literature, Culture
- Credits
- 1–3 credit hours
- Prerequisites
- Consent of instructor
- Description
- Readings in Yiddish or English translations on a topic in Yiddish Culture.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credit hours in GER-X 493 and GER-Y 495.
HIST-D 304 Jews of Eastern Europe
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Study of the history of Jewish life in Eastern Europe. Topics to be discussed will include Hasidism, Kabbalah, shtetl life, Haskalah (the Jewish Enlightenment), Socialism, Yiddish literary traditions, and the Holocaust.
- Fall 2026CASE SHcourseSummer 2026CASE SHcourse
- One of the following:
- Minor Hours and Minimum Grade Requirements.
- Minor Residency. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
- Minor Upper Division Courses. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed at the 300-499 level.
- Minimum Grade. A grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the minor.
Minor Area Courses
-
Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:
- Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
- Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
Exceptions to and substitutions for minor requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.