Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

For admissions, see The Graduate School.

Degree Requirements

Languages 
Students must pass exams in French, German, Greek, and Latin. In consultation with the adviser, some students may be able to substitute Syriac for Latin.

Courses
In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School (see this page):

• At least thirty credits beyond the MA 

Students who have not received a master's degree in Ancient Judaism or its equivalent may be required to complete additional courses as prerequisite work. All courses will be determined in consultation with the advisor.

Comprehensive Examinations
Upon satisfactory completion of all course work, students must take two exams as follows:

• An oral or written exam on both the political and social history of the Jews of antiquity and the intellectual and religious history of ancient Judaism, divided into two parts, one covering roughly the Persian and Greco-Roman periods, and the second covering the Roman, Iranian and early Byzantine periods
• A shorter exam in a minor area of cognate studies

Reading lists will be prepared in consultation with the advisor.

Dissertation
A book-length dissertation that makes a contribution to the study of the Jews and Judaism in antiquity.