Welcome to the Jewish Studies Program at Kent State University! The Jewish Studies Program was introduced in the fall of 1975 and has proudly served the students of KSU (Jewish and non-Jewish alike) with quality academics and interesting programs in the decades since.


Students minoring in Jewish Studies have access to the highest-quality course instruction in the culture, language, literature, history, philosophy, and religious customs of the Jewish people from antiquity to the present. We also offer engaging and substantive programming including on-campus, local, and international events and travel. Special events held throughout each semester, including lectures, films, and art exhibitions, complement and enrich Jewish studies courses. Graduates take a well-developed knowledge of Jewish history and community as well as a skill set applicable in a wide array of careers with them as they journey beyond Kent State University.

The Jewish Studies Minor is housed within Kent State University’s School of Multidisciplinary Social Sciences and Humanities. It is recognized as one of Kent State’s premier programs in interdisciplinary work, providing students with a sophisticated understanding of the ways in which multiple academic fields of study speak to a specific topic in a holistic way. The School provides students with expert instruction, faculty and student mentoring, and a support system designed for student success.

Join us for an evening honoring Chaya Kessler, esteemed retiring director of Jewish Studies at Kent State University. Friends, colleagues, and community members are all invited to celebrate her invaluable contributions while kicking off the program's 50th anniversary year. Expect an evening of commemoration and camaraderie as we pay tribute to Chaya's legacy and the enduring impact of Jewish Studies at Kent State. Please save the date. A registration page is forthcoming.