Jewish History

Professors

David Fishman, Jewish History

Ismar Schorsch, chancellor emeritus, Jewish History

Jack Wertheimer, Jewish History

Associate Professors

Benjamin R. Gampel, Jewish History

Shuly Rubin Schwartz

Stefanie Siegmund, Jewish History

Degrees

Bachelor of Arts

List College Admission Requirements

Degree Requirements
From the Core Curriculum

  • HIS 1010: Ancient Jewish History (3 credits)
  • HIS 1011: Medieval Jewish History (3 credits)
  • HIS 1012: Modern Jewish History (3 credits)

For Jewish History Majors
Twenty-one credits (seven courses) beyond the core curriculum requirements, of which one course must be on a topic in American Jewish history, chosen in consultation with the adviser.

Master of Arts

Admission Requirements for The Graduate School

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

  • 3 credits from the first-year seminar
  • 27 credits in Jewish history (students may choose courses from all periods of Jewish history, but are urged to distribute these courses to prepare for the comprehensive examination)
  • The 27 Jewish history credits include HIS 6117, 6313, and 6406, unless the student has taken analogous courses on the undergraduate level

Comprehensive Examination
Students must satisfactorily complete a one-hour oral examination on selected primary and secondary sources from all periods of Jewish history.

Doctor of Hebrew Literature

Admission Requirements for The Graduate School. Students must have a master's degree in history or Judaica.

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

  • 21 credits in Jewish history (students may choose courses from all periods of Jewish history, but are urged to distribute these courses to prepare for the comprehensive examination)
  • 9 credits of elective coursework chosen in consultation with the program adviser

Comprehensive Examination
Upon satisfactory completion of all course work, students will take a two-hour oral examination on selected primary and secondary sources from all periods of Jewish history and in the area of the dissertation. The MA comprehensive exam in Jewish history, if taken at JTS, fulfills the first part of the DHL comprehensive examination and candidates will be examined only in the area of the dissertation.

Dissertation
A significant monograph-length dissertation on a topic in Jewish history.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements for The Graduate School. Students must have a master's degree in history or Judaica and demonstrate proficiency in Hebrew.

Degree Requirements
Languages
In addition to languages required of all students in The Graduate School, students must demonstrate fluency in Hebrew and reading proficiency in German and one of the following languages: French, Yiddish, Spanish, or Russian. Choice of reading languages must be approved by the program adviser and language proficiency exams must be taken prior to the comprehensive exams. While it is recommended that language proficiency be demonstrated as early as possible after formal admission to the course of study, the following schedule of language examinations will serve as the minimal requirement:

  • First reading language by the end of the first year
  • Second modern language by the end of the second year
  • Languages of general area of specialized research by the end of the third year

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

  • Courses should be distributed among three areas: the entire range of Jewish history, the period of specialization in Jewish history, and the period in general history parallel to the period of specialization
  • Courses will be taken in Jewish history both at JTS and at one of the recognized university graduate schools with which special arrangements have been made for this purpose

Comprehensive Examination
Upon satisfactory completion of all course work, students will take a two-hour oral examination, testing candidates in depth on the secondary literature of all periods of Jewish history and in the area of general history related to the field of specialization.

Dissertation
An original monograph-length dissertation on a significant topic in Dviser

Search the Course Catalog for HIS courses.