Spring 2026 Courses
HBR 102 – 0180 Beginning Modern Hebrew II, T/Th 9:30-10:45, Online Live, Shellie Batuski, shellie.batuski@maine.edu
Continued study of the basics of the Hebrew language, with equal emphasis on developing reading, listening comprehension, speaking and writing skills. Continued discussion of Hebrew as an expression of Jewish culture in Israel and the United States. For students with one semester study of Hebrew or the equivalent as determined through consultation with the instructor.
JST 383-0001 LEC (46054), History of the Holy Lands, MWF 3:00-3:50, Stevens Hall 370, Joshua Walton, joshua.t.walton@maine.edu
This course will challenge students to evaluate the cultural phenomena that are the Hebrew Bible and
Quran in their historical and cultural context by studying a broad range of historical documents and
archaeological cultures in the periods during which the Bible and Quran came to be written texts. The course introduces the history of Middle Eastern cultures 3500 BCE-700 CE in the Holy Land and its neighbors. Along the way, students will analyze and interpret the Biblical accounts of ancient cultures through contemporary historical and archaeological data. They will evaluate how the Bible, and in its wake, Jewish and Christian identities, have influenced the perception of the past. The archaeological record of a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic society throughout the history of the Holy Land provides an important framework to interpret the creation of these canonical texts.
Registration
To register for courses as a non-degree student see https://umaine.edu/dlladvising/non-degree-student-information/.
Courses are FREE for Maine residents 65 and older (https://umaine.edu/dlladvising/senior-citizen-tuition-waiver/).