Admission Requirements

For admission, see The Graduate School.

Degree Requirements

Courses
Students entering the program will be required to take the following courses, or their equivalent, if they have not had the equivalent previously:

• BIB 5013: Pentateuch With Rashi
• TAL 6113: Survey of Mishnah
• MID 5022: Midrash for Beginners

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:

• MID/MDS 6101: Introduction to Exegesis I (3 credits)
• MID 6307: Miqraot Gedolot I (3 credits)
• MID 8525–8526: Critical Methods I and II (6 credits)
• HIS 6117: Jews and Judaism in the Ancient World or HIS 6313: Jews and Judaism in the Middle Ages (3 credits)
• 6 credits of electives in Midrash, Talmud, Bible, or medieval Bible exegesis at the 6000 level or above
• 9 credits chosen in consultation with the adviser, at least one course of which focuses on biblical narrative

Comprehensive Examinations

Oral
Students must exhibit the ability to read and translate with fluency from an unmarked text (previously prepared): fifty chapters of Genesis Rabbah, all of Leviticus Rabbah, or the equivalent amount of text in Midrash or medieval Bible exegesis (with approval of the adviser).

Written
Students must answer essay questions on a reading list (to be determined annually by the adviser).