Ancient Judaism

Professors
Stephen A. Geller, Bible
Richard Kalmin, Talmud and Rabbinics, Program Adviser (fall)
Seth Schwartz, History, Program Adviser (spring)

The program in Ancient Judaism is interdisciplinary, designed to enable students to explore the history and culture of the Jews of antiquity (sixth century BCE to sixth century CE). It has three components: gaining competence handling rabbinic texts; studying the political and social history of the Jews of antiquity and the political and social history of the empires that ruled them (Persian, Greek, Roman, Parthian, Sassanian, and early Byzantine); and studying the intellectual and religious history of ancient Judaism and the other religious and intellectual systems of late antiquity (Persia, Egypt, Hellenistic and Roman empires, Christianity, gnosticism, philosophy, magic, and law). Students are expected to take courses in Bible, history, and rabbinics.

Degrees

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

Bachelor of Arts

Admission Requirements
For admissions to List College, click here.

Degree Requirements
From the Core Curriculum:

  • HIS 1010: Ancient Jewish History
  • TAL 1021: Introduction to Talmud I
  • TAL 1022: Introduction to Talmud II

For Ancient Judaism Majors:
Twenty-one credits (seven courses) beyond the core curriculum requirements, distributed as follows:

  • Six credits in classical Greek
  • One course in Talmud
  • One course in history
  • One course in Midrash
  • One additional course in Talmud, history, or Midrash
  • One elective chosen in consultation with the adviser
Master of Arts

Admission Requirements
For admission to The Graduate School, click here.

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 Bible course beyond BIB 5011
  • Talmud Text Level C I and II

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, thirty graduate credits are required, including HIS 6117, MDS 6101, and MID 8525–8526. Other courses will be determined in consultation with the adviser.

Comprehensive Examination or Thesis
All students must satisfactorily complete either an examination based on primary and secondary readings or a thesis, to be determined in consultation with the adviser. If the exam is selected, the reading list will be prepared in consultation with the adviser.

Doctor of Hebrew Literature

Admission Requirements
For admission to The Graduate School, click here.

Degree Requirements
Courses
In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, thirty graduate credits beyond the MA are required, including at least three credits in an advanced text course in Midrash and three credits in an advanced text course in Talmud. Students who have not received a master's degree in Ancient Judaism may be required to complete additional courses as prerequisite work. All course selections will be determined in consultation with the adviser.

Comprehensive Examination
Upon satisfactory completion of all course work, students must take an oral or written exam on both the political and social history of the Jews of antiquity and the intellectual and religious history of ancient Judaism. The examination will be divided into two parts: one covering roughly the Persian and Greco-Roman periods, and the second covering the Roman, Iranian, and early Byzantine periods. Reading lists will be prepared in consultation with the adviser.

Dissertation
A book-length dissertation that makes a contribution to the study of the Jews and Judaism in antiquity.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements
For admission to The Graduate School, click here.

Degree Requirements
Languages
In addition to languages required of all students in the The Graduate School, students must demonstrate proficiency in Hebrew, Aramaic, French, German, Greek, Latin, and other languages (e.g., Syriac) deemed necessary for dissertation research.

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

  • At least three credits in a Midrash seminar
  • At least three credits in a Talmud seminar
  • Cognate courses in one or more areas of ancient studies outside Judaica (early Christian, Greek, Roman cultures, etc.)

Students who have not received a master's degree in Ancient Judaism or its equivalent may be required to complete additional courses as prerequisite work. All courses will be determined in consultation with the adviser.

Comprehensive Examinations
Upon satisfactory completion of all course work, students must take two exams as follows:

  • An oral or written exam on both the political and social history of the Jews of antiquity and the intellectual and religious history of ancient Judaism, divided into two parts: one covering roughly the Persian and Greco-Roman periods, and the second covering the Roman, Iranian, and early Byzantine periods.
  • A shorter exam in a minor area of cognate studies.

Reading lists will be prepared in consultation with the adviser.

Dissertation
A book-length dissertation that makes an important and original contribution to the study of the Jews and Judaism in antiquity.

Search the Course Catalog for ANC courses