Admission Requirements

Ideally, applicants would have completed a B.A. in Jewish Studies. If an applicant is otherwise deemed acceptable, it is possible to be admitted to a qualifying year. Students seeking admission to History of Jewish Interpretation of the Bible must demonstrate competence in Hebrew prior to beginning the program.

In addition to the appropriate references, transcripts, and examination scores, applicants should send samples of their academic work in their field of interest. Personal interviews are strongly recommended.

M.A. in Jewish Studies (45 credits)

Required Courses (33 credits)

JWST 699 - Research in Jewish Studies (3)
JWST 695 - M.A. Thesis 1 (9)
JWST 696 - M.A. Thesis 2 (9)
JWST 697 - M.A. Thesis 3 (12)

Complementary Courses: 12 credits of courses at the 500 level or higher, chosen according to each student鈥檚 specialization in consultation with the student鈥檚 thesis advisor.

Language requirements: Students choosing Eastern European studies, Jewish thought, or Hebrew literature must demonstrate fluency in either Hebrew or Yiddish according to their field of specialization. Mastery is normally determined by an examination administered by the Department.

M.A. in Jewish Studies: History of the Jewish Interpretation of the Bible (45 credits)

(Note: This stream is currently not offered.)

Required Courses (33 credits)

JWST 510 - Jewish Bible Interpretation 1 (3)
JWST 511 - Jewish Bible Interpretation 2 (3)
JWST 699 - Research in Jewish Studies (3)
JWST 690 - M.A. Thesis 1 (3)
JWST 691 - M.A. Thesis 2 (6)
JWST 692 - M.A. Thesis 3 (12)
JWST 694 - M.A. Thesis 4 (3)

Complementary Courses: 12 credits of courses at the 500 level or higher, chosen in consultation with the student鈥檚 thesis advisor.

Language requirements: In addition to Hebrew, students of Jewish Interpretation of the Bible must master another language in which primary documents in this field have been written; in most cases, this will be Aramaic, but classical Arabic and Greek are also accepted. Mastery is normally determined by an examination administered by the Department.

Non-Thesis option (45 credits)

Required Courses
All students pursuing this option must take JWST 699.

Complementary Courses (42 credits)
Students will normally take 15 credits in two of the following areas and 12 credits in a third area: Jewish Thought, Jewish History, Jewish Literature, Bible Interpretation. Courses will be chosen according to each student鈥檚 individual interests in consultation with the program director. Courses taken in other departments are permitted if relevant to the student鈥檚 program of studies.

M.A. Residence Information

Although only three terms of residence are required for an M.A., experience has shown that most students will take two full academic years to complete the program.