Examining the Jewish studies program at
I came to college for two reasons: to acquire a better understanding of Judaism in relation to the world around me, and perhaps more importantly, to get a job. I have been job hunting now for the majority of this school year and have come to one conclusion – I am not prepared to enter the world of Jewish professionalism. If a degree in Jewish Studies, however, didn’t prepare me for this, what exactly did it do?
We were asked in class a while back to design our own Jewish Studies program for a university and this was an interesting task for many reasons. Despite Horowitz’ reasoning for not considering Jewish Studies an ethnic studies program, I believe students and departments of this nature would benefit from this. Studies of people come about, I believe, because they are a minority group (sometimes considered an ethnic, racial, or religious group) and those who associate with that group want to understand and tell the world about “their” story. This is why I will be acquiring a degree on this subject matter.
But how exactly does a degree in any area of ethnic studies or liberal arts prepare someone for life after an undergraduate degree? I am unsure whether ethnic studies and most liberal arts degrees can translate into something concrete – may that be a lesson learned or a job skill acquired. I believe that the questions we discussed in class that day do not solely relate to Jewish studies but to the field of liberal arts. Through my lenses, I am seeing this not only as a Jewish question but as one to ask university president or faculty members. If not to lead to graduate school or refined study programs, where will a degree in liberal arts take you?
3 comments:
I agree that this is not just a question about Jewish studies, but of any liberal arts degree. While I certainly do not have an answer for your questions, I think that there are many people who spend a lot of their time trying to convince students that an undergraduate liberal arts degree can lead a student somewhere. I definitely think it is more difficult for someone to find the right profession when they have taken this educational path. In terms of an "ethnic" studies degree, I think that employers value the diversity of experiences that a person is bringing to his or her position.
It is disappointing to hear that after spending tuition money, there is uncertainty as to how to recuperate it. While you say you aren't exactly sure what to do with your degree in Jewish Studies and liberal arts, I believe that if you have an interest and the passion to take that interest and really do something with it, you can be successful at it. When I was addressed about the business school and its placement office as a prospective student, I was told that a vast majority of its students get many offers for both internships and jobs. Now while I'm not at the job search point yet, I have had a number of interviews for internships and have not had much success, but rather I relied on connections I had to get me some great internships. One of the things that is constantly reiterated to me at the bschool is the importance of networking and who you know. Try and look at your network of family and friends around you and see what you can come up with. Good luck!
Great blog Becca. After reading what you had wrote and how jessica responded to your ideas I agree with what she said. How to decide what might be the right profession or studies to go into is always a difficult decision. I have always had a problem that I really am unable to explore any other interests that I have without staying extra years in school or no achieving a completed major. I Just don't understand what the direction people want to see with a future unless you become a rabbi with a Jewish Studies degree.
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