Medieval Jewish Studies

Professor
Raymond P. Scheindlin, Jewish Literature

Associate Professors
Benjamin R. Gampel, Jewish History, Program Advisor
Robert Harris, Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages
Stefanie Siegmund, Jewish Gender and Women's Studies

Assistant Professor
Eitan Fishbane, Jewish Thought (on sabbatical, fall 2011)

The program in Medieval Jewish Studies is designed to enable students to study the history, philosophy, and literature of the Jews from late antiquity to the Emancipation in a multidisciplinary framework. Students concentrate on several complementary aspects of medieval Jewish culture and society while applying different disciplinary methodologies.

Degrees

Bachelor of Arts
Master of Arts
Doctor of Hebrew Literature
Doctor of Philosophy

Bachelor of Arts

Admission Requirements for List College.

Degree Requirements
From the Core Curriculum

  • PHI 1012: Jewish Philosophical Texts
  • HIS 1011: Medieval Jewish History

For Medieval Jewish Studies majors (for List College students who matriculated in fall 2010 or later):

Thirty courses chosen in consultation with the major advisor, of which 3 credits may be double-counted for a List College core requirement, as follows:

  • HIS 1011: Medieval Jewish History (3 credits)
  • JTH 1012: Jewish Philosophical Texts (3 credits)
  • Two courses (6 credits) in advanced Hebrew language (HEB 5301 and HEB 5303 or appropriate substitution approved by major advisor) 

The following three courses must be text intensive, i.e., the primary work of the class must involve reading primary sources in their original Hebrew language:

  • One course (3 credits) in medieval Jewish thought
  • One course (3 credits) in medieval Jewish literature
  • One course (3 credits) in medieval Jewish history
  • One cognate course (3 credits) on Medieval Christendom or Islam (may be taken at Columbia, Barnard, or elsewhere)
  • One course (3 credits) elective in the field of medieval Jewish studies (suggestions include Ancient Jewish History [for background] and Medieval Synagogue Architecture)
  • One course (3 credits) senior capstone seminar

 

Master of Arts

Admission Requirements for The Graduate School.

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

  • One course in medieval history
  • One course in medieval literature
  • One course in medieval philosophy

Students are permitted to register for courses counting toward 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:

  • At least 6 credits (two courses) in history
  • At least 6 credits (two courses) in literature
  • At least 6 credits (two courses) in philosophy
  • At least 6 credits (two courses) in Midrash or parshanut
  • One multidisciplinary seminar on a problem in medieval Jewish studies (in years when such a seminar is not offered, this requirement can be fulfilled through independent study)

All courses are determined in consultation with the adviser.

Comprehensive Examination
An examination on selected topics in each of the three disciplinary areas.

Doctor of Hebrew Literature

Admission Requirements for The Graduate School.

Degree Requirements
Courses
In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, 30 graduate credits beyond the MA are required. Courses are selected in consultation with the doctoral advisor.

Students who have not received an MA in Medieval Jewish Studies may be required to complete additional courses as prerequisite work. All courses will be determined through consultation with the advisor.

Comprehensive Examination
Upon satisfactory completion of all course work, students must take an oral examination on selected topics in each of the three disciplinary areas (history, philosophy, and literature) and on the area of the candidate's dissertation, including a review of the secondary literature in the area of the proposed dissertation.

Dissertation
An original monograph-length dissertation on a topic in medieval Jewish studies, to be approved by a faculty committee.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements for The Graduate School.

Students interested in pursuing a PhD in Medieval Jewish Studies apply to The Graduate School, expressing their interest in that area.

Degree Requirements
Languages
In addition to languages required of all students in The Graduate School, proficiency must be demonstrated in two primary source languages (Hebrew and Arabic or Latin), and two secondary source languages (German and French or Spanish).

Courses
In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, at least 30 graduate credits beyond the MA are required. Courses are selected in consultation with the doctoral advisor. 

Students who have not received an MA in Medieval Jewish Studies may be required to complete additional courses as prerequisite work. All courses are determined in consultation with the advisor.

Comprehensive Examination
Upon satisfactory completion of all course work, candidates for the PhD must take a comprehensive examination consisting of written and oral parts. The written part consists of four essays, one each in history, literature, philosophy, and a cognate subject. After the candidate has had the opportunity to study the examiners' comments on the written part, the oral examination ensues. The four essays may be written in separate sittings spread over a semester.

Dissertation
A faculty committee must approve the dissertation proposal. The dissertation will be an original monograph-length dissertation that demonstrates the candidate's ability to pursue original research in at least two disciplinary areas, to be approved by a faculty committee after an oral defense.

Search the Course Catalog for MED courses.