Master of Arts

Admission Requirements

For admissions, see The Graduate School.

Ryan Higgins, student at The Graduate School at JTS, discusses the MA program in Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages:

Degree Requirements

Courses
Bible department requirements are determined on the basis of an evaluation of the undergraduate transcript. Students entering the program will be required to take the following courses during the first year of graduate study if they have not had the equivalent previously:

• One semester of biblical Hebrew grammar
• Two semesters of Hebrew Bible texts

Students are permitted to register for courses counting towards the degree while fulfilling these prerequisites.

In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, 30 graduate credits are required as follows:

• 21 credits in Bible, including one seminar
• 9 credits of electives (students who intend to pursue a doctorate in Bible should take most of the electives in Bible or related courses)

Comprehensive Examination or Thesis
All students must satisfactorily complete either an examination based on primary and secondary readings or a thesis, to be determined in consultation with the adviser. If the exam is selected, the reading list will be prepared in consultation with the adviser.