The Jewish Theological Seminary
Academics
Modern Jewish Studies
Professors
David Fishman, Jewish History
Alan Mintz, Jewish Literature
Alan Mittleman, Jewish Thought
David G. Roskies, Jewish Literature
Jack Wertheimer, Jewish History; BA Program Adviser
Associate Professors
Barbara Mann, Jewish Literature
Shuly Rubin Schwartz
Adjunct Associate Professor
Eric Goldman
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Daniel Belasco
Adjunct Instructor
Shira Kohn, MA Program Advisor
Ginor Visiting Professor of Israel Studies
Hannan Hever (Fall, 2012)
Yossi Yizraeli (Spring, 2013)
The program in Modern Jewish Studies is designed to provide the student with multidisciplinary training in the study of the modern Jewish experience (approximately 1750–1980), with an emphasis on religion and culture. Students take courses in a variety of fields but focus on either history or literature.
Degrees
Admission Requirements
Visit the List College Admissions page.
Degree Requirements
From the core:
At least one Jewish literature course and at least one Jewish thought course must cover the modern period.
For the Modern Jewish Studies major:
- 3 credits (1 course) HIS 1012, Modern Jewish History
- 3 credits (1 course) of a modern Jewish language
- 3 credits (1 course) of modern Jewish history
- 3 credits (1 course) of modern Jewish thought
- 3 credits (1 course) of modern Jewish literature
- 12 credits (4 courses) or electives chosen in consultation with the adviser (one of these courses may be on the 1000 level)
- 3 credits (1 course) senior seminar
Admission Requirements
See The Graduate School Admissions page.
Degree Requirements
The Modern Jewish Studies program consists of three fields: modern Jewish history, modern Jewish literature, and modern Jewish thought. The master's degree requires 30 credits in addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, distributed as below. Students must also select a major and minor field, on which they will be examined in their comprehensive exams.
I. Required courses: 15 credits (five courses)
- 3 credits (one course) first-year seminar
- 6 credits (two courses) surveying modern Jewish history and American Jewish history
- 3 credits (one course) in modern Jewish literature
- 3 credits (one course) in modern Jewish thought
II. Jewish language: 6 credits (two courses)
- 6 credits of modern Jewish language beyond requirements of The Graduate School, such as Advanced Hebrew (HEB 5301 or HEB 5303) or Introduction to Yiddish (LIT 1051 or LIT 1052). Literature courses taught in Hebrew or Yiddish may satisfy this requirement.
III. Electives in modern Jewish studies: 9 credits (three courses)
- 6 credits (two courses) in the student's major field
- 3 credits (one course) in the student's minor field
Comprehensive Examination
Students must take a comprehensive examination, which tests their understanding of a list of required readings and their ability to place the readings in the broader contexts covered in course work.
Students may apply to the Committee on Modern Jewish Studies to write an MA thesis in lieu of a comprehensive exam.
Admission Requirements
See The Graduate School Admissions page.
Degree Requirements
Language
Students must demonstrate satisfactory reading comprehension of Hebrew prior to matriculation.
Courses
In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, 30 graduate credits beyond the MA are required as follows:
- 15 credits (five courses) in the major discipline (modern Jewish history, modern Jewish literature, modern Jewish thought)
- 6 credits (two courses) in the non-major discipline (modern Jewish history, modern Jewish literature, modern Jewish thought)
- 3 credits (one course) in a third department
- 6 credits (two courses) of electives
Comprehensive Examination
Upon satisfactory completion of all course work, students must take a comprehensive examination (with both a written and an oral component), which tests their understanding of a list of required readings and their ability to place the readings in the broader contexts covered in course work.
Dissertation
An original monograph-length dissertation on a topic in Modern Jewish Studies, to be approved by a faculty committee.
Admission Requirements
See The Graduate School Admissions page.
Degree Requirements
Languages
In addition to languages required of all students in The Graduate School, students must demonstrate satisfactory reading comprehension of Hebrew prior to matriculation. Students must also demonstrate satisfactory knowledge of German and either French or Yiddish prior to taking the comprehensive exam. Additional languages may be required depending upon research needs.
Courses
In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, 30 graduate credits beyond the MA are required as follows:
- 15 credits (five courses) in the major discipline (modern Jewish history or modern Jewish literature)
- 6 credits (two courses) in the non-major discipline (modern Jewish history or modern Jewish literature)
- 3 credits (one course) in a third department
- 6 credits (two courses) of electives
A course in medieval Jewish history must be among the courses selected. All PhD students doing course work must register for the departmental seminar. Each student will develop a coherent concentration with the advisor, focusing on a particular geographic area, and will be required to take cognate courses through the consortium.
Comprehensive Examinations
Upon satisfactory completion of all course work, students will take a written and an oral examination. The written exam consists of four essays, one from each field (i.e., one from each examiner). The student will select one out of two questions submitted by each examiner. The student will have a two day period to complete the essays. The oral exam picks up on the written answers and explores other topics as well, such as the essays not chosen by the student.
Dissertation
An original monograph-length dissertation on a topic in modern Jewish studies that demonstrates the ability to pursue original research in at least two disciplines, to be approved by a faculty committee.