Winter Term 2027 Courses

JST 311 / HST 311 Introduction to New Testament  
INSTRUCTOR: Professor Loren Spielman
MODE: In-Person
TIME: T/H, 11:00 AM - 12:40 PM
CRN: 43811

Come learn what modern scholarship has to say about the contents, contexts and composition of the New Testament. This course focuses on what the earliest Christian writings reveal about the origins of Christianity, its early history and the varieties of its practice and belief. Special attention will be paid to identifying different perspectives on the life and role of Jesus, the relationship between faith and law, and the nature of divine salvation within (and to some extent outside of) the New Testament canon.

JST 336U / WS 336U Gender and Judaism
INSTRUCTOR: Nina Spiegel 
MODE: Online
CRN: 43810

Have you ever wondered what Judaism has to say about gender? What are Jewish attitudes and ideas about gender? This course explores a variety of topics including religious and spiritual life, religious leadership, sexuality, life cycle events, new rituals, images of parenting and varieties of pathways to becoming a parent. Throughout, the course will examine a range of experiences, choices and dilemmas related to gender in contemporary Jewish life, including experiences of Jews from different denominations and locations around the globe, Jews of color, and LGBTQ and nonbinary Jews.

Note: this course takes place fully online. No prerequisites are required.

Fulfills a requirement for University Studies cluster: Gender and Sexualities

HUM 299 Exploring Careers in the Humanities (two-credit course)
INSTRUCTOR: Nina Spiegel
MODE: In Person
TIME: T/H, 11:00 AM - 12:40 PM
CRN: 43809

Have you ever been asked, “What can you do with a humanities degree?” This course helps you find your answer by exploring the many career paths open to humanities* majors. Through interactive workshops and conversations with local professionals from different fields, you’ll learn how to turn your creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking skills into marketable career qualifications. By the end of the course, you’ll have practical tools, strategies, and confidence to shape your next steps and use your degree as your greatest professional strength.

Exploring Careers in the Humanities is a two-credit course.

This is a Community Engaged Learning (CEL) course: CEL courses involve collaboration among community partners, students, and faculty/staff for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge, experience, and resources.

* The humanities refers to academic disciplines that study the human experience, culture, and expression. At PSU, humanities departments include Arts and Letters, Black Studies, Chicanx/Latinx Studies, Communications, English, History,  Judaic Studies, Liberal Studies, Philosophy,  Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and World Languages and Literatures.

ENG 330U Jewish and Israeli Literature
INSTRUCTOR: Professor Moshe Rachmuth
MODE: In Person
TIME: M/W 11:00 AM - 12:40 PM
CRN:  

Introduction to modern Jewish literature in its diasporic and national contexts. Emphasis on the transition from sacred to secular literature; reflection of historical and social realities; development of literatures in Europe and the Middle East.  

University Studies clusters: Global Perspectives, Examining Popular Culture

WLL/ENG 383U Topics in Comparative Literature, Film, and Comics: 
Witches and Feminists
INSTRUCTOR: Moshe Rachmuth
MODE: In-Person
MEETING TIMES: Mon/Wed, 1:30 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.
LOCATION: TBA
CRN: 

Many know Medea as one of the most iconic figures in Greek mythology. Medea was a powerful sorceress who betrayed her homeland for her love, Jason of the Argonauts. Her story is widely regarded as one of passion, love, betrayal, and revenge.

In this course we will delve into the classic Medea story as told in five pieces over four forms: the graphic novel Medea by Blandine Le Callet, Euripides’s play, Medea, Christa Wolf’s novel, Medea, Pier Paolo Pasolini’s film Medea, and Jules Dassin’s Dream of Passion. Why do so many artists want to create their own Medea? Why has her character come back into fashion in the later part of the 20th century and the first quarter of the 21st? We’ll cover the importance of this character in the foreground of the rise of two trends: feminism on the one side and authoritarianism.

This course falls under WLL: Topics in Comparative Literature, Film, and Comics. Students learn how to compare literary, film, or comic-book genres across two or more world cultures; readings (viewings) of texts/films are followed by discussion of cultural differences. Students also learn how to discuss genre differences and how cultural attitudes shape those different artistic responses and appropriations of global artistic ideas. Analysis of critical texts reveal how cultural attitudes create different expectations or requirements for genres. Readings and discussions are in English. This course may be repeated for up to 8 credits. This is the same course as ENG 383U. Section Notes: Course taught in English.

This course fulfills a University Studies/ Junior cluster requirement for Examining Popular Culture or Global Perspectives