Hebrew
With a history that reaches back thousands of years, Hebrew remains an essential language of discovery, innovation, creativity and beauty. Its roots in tradition and prayer found new expression with its redevelopment and renewal; after a long period of religious use, contemporary Hebrew became the national language of the state of Israel and has nearly 9 million speakers worldwide. Today, Israel has a thriving tech economy, cutting-edge agricultural and sustainability research and globally recognized poets, novelists and journalists.
The Israeli diaspora — Los Angeles has one of the largest ex-pat communities— has popularized Hebrew language music, television and film representing a vital arts and cultural footprint. Hebrew literature explores and examines the joys and conflicts of modern and contemporary experience, history and religion.
Study Hebrew at USC Dornsife and gain access to Hebrew as both a spoken and written language. A sequence of four semesters of Hebrew courses will have you speaking, reading and writing as you model life in a Hebrew immersive environment. You will learn not only how to order food and shop at a market, but how to open yourself to the deep complexities of Israel and the interrelationships between cultures, expectations and aspiration.
Courses
The Hebrew Program at University of Southern Califrina offers a rigorous and dynamic curriculum that leads students to achieve intermediate to advanced levels of fluency in Hebrew. Through the study of Israeli music, literature, and film, students gain not only language proficiency but also the skills to engage with Jewish texts and to explore the cultures, cuisines, and languages of the broader region. All courses integrate cultural materials, media, and innovative technologies to enhance language learning.
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HEBR 120: Hebrew I (4 units)
An introduction to modern Hebrew with emphasis on developing fundamental skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students acquire essential vocabulary and grammar while engaging in practical communication for everyday situations. Cultural literacy is integrated through exposure to Israeli music, clips, and contemporary media.HEBR 150: Hebrew II (4 units)
A continuation of Hebrew I, designed to expand proficiency in Hebrew. Students strengthen reading comprehension, conversational fluency, and writing skills while acquiring more complex grammatical structures. Cultural and social contexts of Israel and the Hebrew-speaking world are explored through authentic texts, songs, and media. Prerequisite: HEBR 120.HEBR 220: Hebrew III (4 units)
Builds on skills acquired in Hebrew II with greater emphasis on grammar, composition, and sustained conversation. Students read and analyze a variety of texts—including short stories, articles, and poems—while deepening their understanding of Israeli culture and society. Increased focus on self-expression and critical thinking in Hebrew. Prerequisite: HEBR 150.HEBR 315: Hebrew at Pop CultureThis course explores Israeli society through the lens of popular culture, from the neighborhood kiosk to contemporary chef restaurants. Students will engage with music, film, television, food, and digital media to discover how Hebrew both shapes and reflects everyday life. Emphasis will be placed on language in context, cultural trends, and the social forces that influence Israeli identity today. -
HEBR 121: Hebrew for Business (2.0 units)
Effective communication in Hebrew, exploration of Israels economy in the context of globalization, improving language skills for use in the global job market.
HEBR 125: Conversational Hebrew: Culture, Society and Communication (2.0 units)
Focuses on functional uses of language in every day settings and builds familiarity with and fluency in Hebrew through conversation.
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JS 504: Modern Hebrew Literature
Reading of unvocalized texts primarily from modern Hebrew literature. A survey of the development of modern Hebrew literature, with an emphasis on short story and poetry. Knowledge of Hebrew required.
Study Abroad
Israel- Jerusalem (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
The Undergraduate Study Abroad Program takes place at the Rothberg International School (RIS) at the Mt. Scopus campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ). RIS welcomes over 1,200 study abroad students each year to pursue coursework while discovering the people, geography, culture, and politics of Israel.
Tel Aviv Blog Project
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The project “Tel Aviv Blog” was to create a blog about the city of Tel Aviv that inform the readers or future visitors about; historical places, culture, entertainment, markets, and the neighborhood of Tel Aviv.Every student had the liberty to design his other own blog, by sharing paces they have been and recommend to visit. The idea was to cover the historical perspective and the cultural perspective of Tel Aviv by visiting sites.Discover these projects here:Michael Pincusm a journalism major, studied Hebrew 120, 150 and 220. Discover his story hereAliza Wallack took Hebrew 220, she is planning to immigrate to Israel and start her life there:Discover her story here
Jewish Studies Program
Stay connected with the Jewish Studies Program through their website and social media accounts.
Faculty
Meet the dedicated faculty who are eager to help you reach your language-learning goals!
Resources
The Hebrew Language Program offers a range of resources, scholarships, fellowships and more. To learn more about these opportunities, refer to the program website.
Contact Information
Undergraduate Advisors
First-year students (not transfers, Freshmen only, and only majors or First-year students interested in the major):
Jessica Kanoski, Ph.D.
jkanoski@usc.edu
Appointment link: bit.ly/accessappointment
All students (including Freshmen) wanting to minor and continuing students interested in the major:
Brianna Beltran
bnbeltra@usc.edu
Appointment link: bit.ly/accessappointment