Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

For admission, see The Graduate School.


Additionally, students must have a master's degree or its equivalent in Midrash or Medieval Bible exegesis, or a cognate field with the approval of the Midrash and Scriptural Interpretation program adviser.

Degree Requirements

Languages
In addition to German and one other modern research language required of all students in The Graduate School, reading proficiency must be demonstrated in one or more primary text languages (e.g., Greek, Arabic, Syriac, Latin, etc.) the adviser deems necessary for the dissertation.

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

  • MID 8525-8526: Critical Methods I and II (if the student has taken 8525–8526, he/she is required to add 6 credits in Midrash or Medieval Bible exegesis);
  • Two doctoral level courses in midrash aggadah and one course in Medieval Bible exegesis for Midrash concentrators; OR one doctoral level course in midrash aggadah and two courses in Medieval Bible exegesis for Medieval Bible exegesis concentrators;
  • One course in midrash halakhah;
  • One course in Talmud (6241 [level IV] or higher);
  • One or more courses in cognate studies (e.g., Roman social history, Roman religions, Introduction to Christianity to 325, Introduction to New Testament, Patristic Literature, Introduction to Islam, Introduction to Quran and Hadith, Karaite Exegesis); and
  • Other courses may be selected (with consent or requirement of adviser) in rabbinics, Medieval Bible exegesis, or cognate fields.

Comprehensive Examinations
Upon satisfactory completion of all course work, the student will take two examinations as follows:

Oral
The student must demonstrate critical expertise in:
  • Genesis Rabbah (with the Theodor/Albeck commentary); or
  • Leviticus Rabbah (with Margulies commentary), plus one-half of Genesis Rabbah (with commentary); or
  • the equivalent amount of text in Midrash or Medieval Bible exegesis (with approval of adviser).

Written
The student must compose an extensive reading list with the advice of the adviser. The list shall survey major critical contributions to the field of Midrash or Medieval Bible exegesis and emphasize those works which formed the direction of critical studies during the last two centuries. The final reading list, on which the candidate will be examined, requires the approval of the program faculty.

Dissertation
An original piece of research which advances knowledge in the candidate's field of specialization.