Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

For admissions, see The Graduate School.

Additionally, students must have a master's degree in Bible or Judaica. Further course work may be required in the case of students with an MA in Judaica.

Degree Requirements

The course of study is organized around two methodological approaches: Hebrew philology and another method that the student's chooses. As early as possible, a specialization will be selected from the following (with the guidance of a department adviser): anthropology, comparative law, comparative literature, hermeneutics (including traditional Jewish exegesis), historiography, linguistics (Hebrew/Semitic), literary criticism, religion/theology, Semitic philology, sociology, and textual criticism.

Courses
In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, two semesters of Greek, or Latin (with the adviser's permission), and seventy-two graduate credits (twenty-four courses) including the MA degree courses are required as follows:

  • five courses in biblical texts
  • two courses in biblical history, religion, or law
  • two seminars
  • two courses in biblical Hebrew or comparative Semitics
  • two courses in Akkadian
  • one course in Aramaic
  • one course in Ugaritic
  • one course in inscriptions
  • eight electives in candidate's area of specialization, approved by the student's adviser

Papers
Shortly before the oral comprehensive examination, candidates are required to write three papers of six to ten pages each in the areas of history, religion, and canon or text-criticism. The candidate must identify a major problem in each of these three areas and then discuss it, paying special attention to the history of the problem and how critical scholars today might approach a solution.

Comprehensive Examination
Students will take two comprehensive examinations:

  • An examination on the text of the Hebrew Bible, which may be taken in smaller sections during the course of study
  • A two-hour oral examination in which a candidate will be tested in depth on the secondary literature, as outlined in the prescribed reading list, and in the area of the candidate's specialization

Students must also display a basic familiarity with the particulars of biblical literature of the type implied by the traditional term bekiut, to be established by examination during the course of study.

PhD candidates who have passed all text examinations and the oral comprehensive examination are eligible to receive a master of arts degree.

Dissertation
An original contribution to the study of Bible, applying the student's selected discipline and any pertinent methodologies.