The Graduate School

The Graduate School offers programs leading to the degrees of MA, MPhil, DHL, and PhD in Judaic studies. It is the largest academic program of advanced Judaica in North America.

All programs are open to qualified students irrespective of age, sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin.

Applicants to the master's programs must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and present evidence of the ability to pursue studies on the graduate level. Applicants to doctoral programs in most disciplines may be required to have earned a master's degree in a related discipline.

The MA Program

The MA program of The Graduate School is designed to provide advanced academic training in ancient Judaism, Bible and ancient Semitic languages, interdepartmental studies, Jewish art and visual culture, Jewish history, Jewish literature, Jewish philosophy, Jewish women's studies, Liturgy, medieval Jewish studies, Midrash, modern Jewish studies, and Talmud and rabbinics. It also conducts two Dual-Degree Programs for students pursuing careers in Jewish professional leadership; one with the Columbia University School of Social Work and another with the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.

The Graduate School offers a number of merit fellowships for students pursuing the MA. In addition to general Graduate School MA merit fellowships, fellowship opportunities include the Ben Zion and Baruch M. Bokser Memorial MA Fellowship in Classical Jewish Studies; the Phyllis and Gerald Haas Graduate Fellowship in Jewish Communal Service; the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship; the Robert Lee Kohn's Foundation Fellowship; Klagsbrun Fellowships for Jewish Leadership; the Sylvia and Julius Pollak Scholarship Fund for Michigan Students (for students in the social work program); the Satinover Family Fellowship in Jewish Women's Studies; the David G. and Syd E. Cullen Fellowship; the Bernard Manekin Fellowship in the History of Jewish Art; the Tuttleman Fellowship for Jewish Art; and The Pollak Family Charitable Fund Fellowship for the Master's Program in Jewish Art.

Application Procedures
Application forms may be obtained from the Office of Admissions, The Graduate School, 3080 Broadway, New York, New York 10027; (212) 678-8022, or through our website.

An applicant for admission must submit the following:

A completed application form and a $50 fee;
An official transcript of academic records from each college and university previously attended;
Official scores of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT);
Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which must be academic references;
A writing sample in English (MA applicants only).

Applicants whose native language is other than English and who have not been educated at a college where English is the language of instruction must submit official scores of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum TOEFL score of 100 (Internet-based) is required. The Graduate School also may require that nonnative English speakers prove satisfactory proficiency by scoring at level 10 on the placement test administered by Columbia University's American Language Program (ALP). For more information, please contact The Graduate School's Admissions Office at (212) 678-8022;

Please note that we no longer require the Application Information Sheet, as listed in the matriculated application booklet.

An interview with a member of the admissions committee and/or department chairman is recommended and may be required.

Requirements
Hebrew and prerequisite courses listed immediately below are not counted toward the credit minimum.

Hebrew
All entering students must take the Hebrew placement examination on line. In order to receive the degree, students must demonstrate proficiency in Hebrew equivalent to the level of HEB 5203 (intermediate) in both the reading comprehension and the grammar modules. Beginning with their first semester of matriculation, students must study Hebrew every semester until this proficiency is attained.

Prerequisite Courses
In addition to department or program requirements, all students must complete the year-long interdisciplinary seminar MDS 5101-5102: Classics of the Jewish Tradition I and II; or demonstrate that the course material was taken for credit previously; or show proficiency by examination. This seminar is to be taken during the first year of graduate study.

Students who have never studied Bible in the original with a scholarly perspective are required to take BIB 5011: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. Students who have never studied Talmud in the original are required to take TAL 5025: Introduction to Text Study, for which BIB 5011 and Hebrew proficiency at the level of HEB 2201 are prerequisites. Individual departments and programs may also require additional course work from students as appropriate. See the departmental listings for details.

Course Work
Most departments require completion of at least thirty graduate-level credits with a minimum of twenty-one credits in the area of specialization. A minimum of eighteen credits must be taken at the New York campus. All courses must have the approval of the department or program adviser. For additional information regarding departmental and program variations, consult Courses of Instruction.

Consortium
All matriculated MA students in The Graduate School may take courses offered through the MA consortium schools including the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary. Students must receive the approval of the adviser and register for those courses on their JTS registration cards. The host institution reserves the right to give its own students priority enrollment.

Transfer Credit
A student who wishes to request transfer credit for graduate-level courses taken at other institutions of higher learning must submit an official transcript with complete course descriptions to The Graduate School, which will consult with the appropriate department. Credits counted toward another degree will not be considered. The maximum number of credits accepted for transfer is nine. No credit will be accepted for transfer from courses in which a grade lower than B was earned. To be considered for transfer, credits may be no older than ten years.

Comprehensive Examination
In most departments, upon completion of all course work, a student is required to prove competence in his or her chosen field by passing a comprehensive examination. The date of the examination is determined in consultation with the student's academic adviser. The comprehensive examination will be graded on the following scale: pass with distinction, pass, fail. A student who fails the comprehensive examination may take it once more. A second failure automatically terminates the student's participation in the MA program.

In lieu of a comprehensive examination, students in the interdepartmental studies program take additional credits; students in the MA/MSW Dual-Degree Program participate in special seminars. Certain departments and programs require a thesis in lieu of a comprehensive examination.

Completion of Requirements
All work must be completed within six years of the date of admission to the program. The dean regularly reviews student files to ascertain that appropriate progress is being made toward the completion of degree requirements. Permission for an extension must be requested in writing and submitted to the dean.

Normally twelve credits or one-sixth of the student's total program credit requirements (whichever is greater), must be completed each year for a student to remain eligible for federal Title IV funds (student loans).

MA with Distinction
The MA degree with distinction offers an additional opportunity for students who wish to engage in serious research on the MA level and be recognized for their efforts on their transcripts and diplomas.

In addition to completing all degree requirements, a candidate for the degree of MA with distinction must:

Maintain at least an A- average;
Receive a "pass with distinction" on the comprehensive examination;
Submit a suitable essay to the department for approval; the essay may not be identical with one submitted for the satisfaction of a course requirement but may be identical with one submitted for consideration for a prize; it may be a revision of a paper submitted for a course requirement.

Students in the interdepartmental studies or Dual-Degree Program (MA/MSW) should contact the program adviser for further information on how to fulfill these requirements. Graduation with distinction is noted on a student's transcript.

Special MA Programs

Joint Graduate School MA/Ordination Program

Students currently enrolled in the The Rabbinical School of The Jewish Theological Seminary who wish to study simultaneously for a master's degree in The Graduate School may apply to The Graduate School for admission to the joint master's/ordination program. They are encouraged to apply no later than their second year in rabbinical school and to begin the program no later than their third year. The Graduate School will follow its regular admissions procedures. Upon the approval of the student's Graduate School adviser, the course requirements for the MA can be met in part by courses taken in the rabbinical school in the student's field of concentration. All requirements for the master's degree (course work, applicable foreign languages, and examinations or thesis) remain in effect.

Joint Graduate School MA/Davidson School MA Program

Students currently enrolled in the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education who wish to study simultaneously for a master's degree in The Graduate School may apply to The Graduate School for admission to the joint master's degree program. They may apply no earlier than their second year in The Davidson School and must have fulfilled their Davidson Hebrew requirements and their Davidson prerequisites. The Graduate School will follow its regular admissions procedures. Upon the approval of the student's Graduate School adviser, the course requirements for the MA can be met in part by courses taken in The Davidson School in the student's field of concentration. All requirements for the master's degree (course work, applicable foreign languages, and examinations or thesis) remain in effect.

Conversely, students currently enrolled in The Graduate School who wish to study simultaneously for a master's degree in The Davidson School may apply to The Davidson School for admission to the joint master's degree program. They may apply no earlier than their fourth semester of residency, and must have fulfilled their Graduate School Hebrew requirements and their Graduate School prerequisites. All requirements for the Graduate School master's degree (course work, applicable foreign languages, and examinations or thesis) remain in effect.

Joint Graduate School MA / Cantorial Investiture Program

Students currently enrolled in the H. L. Miller Cantorial School and College of Jewish Music who wish to study simultaneously for a master's degree in The Graduate School may apply to The Graduate School for admission to the joint master's/investiture program. They are encouraged to apply no later than their second year in cantorial school and to begin the program no later than their third year. The Graduate School will follow its regular admissions procedures. Upon the approval of the student's Graduate School adviser, the course requirements for the MA can be met in part by courses taken in the cantorial school in the student's field of concentration. All requirements for the master's degree (course work, applicable foreign languages, and examinations or thesis) remain in effect.

BA/MA Option

A special BA/MA program has been developed in conjunction with List College. Details about application procedures and requirements may be found in the List College section.

The DHL Program

The program leading to the doctor of Hebrew literature degree in The Graduate School is designed for students who wish to pursue advanced academic work in a field of Jewish studies but do not wish to pursue an academic career. The degree is intended to certify that the recipient is qualified to teach his/her field on an undergraduate level and in non-university settings. This program may be pursued on a part-time basis.

Programs leading to the degree of doctor of Hebrew literature are available in ancient Judaism, Bible and ancient Semitic languages, Jewish history, Jewish literature, Jewish philosophy, liturgy, medieval Jewish studies, Midrash, modern Jewish studies, and Talmud and rabbinics.

Application Procedures
Application forms may be obtained from the Office of Admissions, the JTS Graduate School of JTS, 3080 Broadway, New York, New York 10027; (212) 678-8022, or through our website.

An applicant for admission as a degree candidate must submit the following:

A completed application form and the $50 fee;
An official transcript of academic records from each college and university previously attended;
Official scores of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT);
Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which must be academic references;
A sample of written academic research in English in the field of study.

An interview with a member of the admissions committee and/or department chairman is recommended and may be required.

Requirements

First-Year Review
The candidacy of each first-year DHL student will be reviewed after the first year. The student's department, in conjunction with the dean, will review the progress the student has made and assess the student's potential to complete the degree. If the department or the dean is not satisfied with the student's progress or potential, the student will be dropped from the DHL program but will be allowed to complete the first year of residence.

Hebrew
All entering students must take the Hebrew placement examination online and demonstrate knowledge of at least one year of college-level Hebrew, placing into HEB 2103 or higher in both the reading comprehension and grammar modules. Progress beyond this level is part of the first-year review. To receive the degree, students must demonstrate proficiency in Hebrew equivalent to the level of HEB 5303 (advanced) in both the reading comprehension and grammar modules. Beginning with their first semester of matriculation, students must study Hebrew every semester until this proficiency is attained.

Prior to taking the Comprehensive Examination, doctoral students are required to pass a proficiency exam in reading Hebrew academic texts, for which HEB 5999: Reading Academic Texts provides the requisite skills.

Prerequisite Courses
In addition to department or program requirements, all students must complete the year-long interdisciplinary seminar MDS 5101-5102: Classics of the Jewish Tradition I and II (see page 195), demonstrate that the course material was taken for credit previously or demonstrate proficiency by examination. This seminar is to be taken during the first year of graduate study.

Students who have never studied Bible in the original with a scholarly perspective are required to take BIB 5011: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. Students who have never studied Talmud in the original are required to take TAL 5025: Introduction to Text Study, for which BIB 5011 and Hebrew proficiency at the level of HEB 2201 are prerequisites. Individual departments and programs may also require additional course work from students where appropriate. See department listings for details. All of these requirements are in addition to the thirty-credit department or program minimums.

Course Work
A minimum of thirty credits of graduate course work beyond the master's degree in Judaica is required. Twenty-one credits are to be in the field of specialization. A minimum of eighteen credits must be taken at the New York campus. All courses must be approved by the adviser.

Consortium
All matriculated DHL students may take courses offered through the DHL consortium including the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Columbia University, Fordham University, and Union Theological Seminary. Students must receive the advance approval of the adviser and register for those courses on their JTS registration cards. The host institution reserves the right to give its own students priority enrollment.

Transfer Credit
A student who wishes to request transfer credit for graduate-level courses taken at other institutions of higher learning must submit an official transcript with complete course descriptions to the dean, who will consult with the appropriate department. Credits counted toward another degree will not be considered. The maximum number of credits accepted for transfer is nine. No credit will be accepted for transfer from courses in which a grade lower than B was earned. To be considered for transfer, credits may be no older than ten years.

Comprehensive Examination
Most departments require a comprehensive examination in the field of specialization after completion of course work. The comprehensive examination will be graded on the following scale: pass with distinction, pass or fail. A student who fails the examination may take it once more. A second failure automatically terminates the student's participation in the DHL program.

Dissertation
A candidate is required to write a dissertation in the field of specialization. This work must be a contribution to the field and may be a synthesis of extant scholarship on the topic. A written proposal for the dissertation must be submitted for approval to a faculty adviser. Both the proposal and the adviser's written approval must be submitted to The Graduate School for approval by the dean. The dissertation is then to be written under the supervision of the faculty adviser who approved it. Dissertations are to be written in English.

Upon completion of a first draft of the dissertation and upon the recommendation of the faculty adviser, the adviser and dean shall select and appoint one additional reader. Rejection of a dissertation automatically terminates the student's participation in the DHL program. Upon final approval by both readers, the dissertation requirement shall be considered fulfilled. Thereafter, the dissertation shall be prepared in final form for deposit at least six weeks before the date on which degrees are conferred. Guidelines for the preparation and deposit of doctoral dissertations are available in the Office of The Graduate School.

Completion of Requirements
All work for the DHL must be completed within ten years of the date of admission to the program. The dean regularly reviews student files to ascertain that appropriate progress is being made toward the completion of degree requirements. A candidate engaged in the writing of the dissertation may apply in writing to the dean for an extension, which ordinarily cannot exceed two years.

To be considered making satisfactory academic progress in order to continue receiving federal Title IV funds (student loans), full-time students normally must complete all the course requirements within the first four years of the program or a minimum of one-third the required number of credits, depending on area of specialization and prerequisites needed. Students in the fifth and sixth years prepare for the comprehensive exam and begin research for the dissertation. The remaining years are devoted to completion of the dissertation, which must be defended by the second semester of the seventh year.

The PhD Program

The program leading to the PhD in The Graduate School provides advanced academic training in broad areas of Judaic scholarship with intensive specialization in one area in preparation for an academic career. The degree certifies that the recipient is qualified to teach a wide range of Judaica on the undergraduate level and to train graduate students in his/her field of specialization. It also requires the knowledge of foreign languages and may require course work at other institutions participating in a consortium with The Graduate School. It is a full-time program.

Students working toward the PhD may specialize in ancient Judaism, Bible and ancient Semitic languages, Jewish history, Jewish literature, Jewish philosophy, liturgy, medieval Jewish studies, Midrash, modern Jewish studies, and Talmud and rabbinics.

Upon successful completion of all requirements for the PhD other than the dissertation, a student may apply for the degree of MPhil.

The Graduate School offers a number of substantial merit fellowships for students pursuing PhD studies. All entering students are automatically considered for these fellowships. These include the Revson Fellowships, made possible through the Charles H. Revson Foundation; the Professor Saul Lieberman and Dr. Judith Berlin Lieberman Graduate Fellowships in Talmudic Studies, made possible by the Dr. Bernard Heller Foundation; the Dr. Bernard Heller Fellowship; the Rabbi Seymour Siegel Scholarship; the Rabbi Benjamin Plotkin Fellowship; the Gerson D. Cohen Fellowship; the Stroock Fellowship in Ancient Judaism; the Anna and William Blanksteen Fellowship for the study of European Jewish Civilization; the Robert Lee Kohns Foundation Graduate Fellowship; the Michael Klebanoff Graduate Fellowship; the Jacob Shatzsky Memorial Fellowship; the Stanley J. Friedman Graduate Fellowship in Jewish History; the Louis and Alice Shimberg Fellowship; the Betsy and Edward E. Cohen Fellowship; and the Elbogen Fellowship.

All entering and continuing PhD students are automatically considered for these fellowships.

Application Procedures
Application forms may be obtained from the Office of Admissions, JTS Graduate School, 3080 Broadway, New York, New York 10027; (212) 678-8022, or through our website.

An applicant for admission as a degree candidate must submit the following:

A completed application form together with the $50 fee;
An official transcript of academic records from each college and university previously attended;
Official scores of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT);
Three letters of academic recommendation;
A sample of written academic research in English in the field of study;

An interview with a member of the admissions committee and/or department chair is recommended and may be required.

Requirements

Residence
Two consecutive academic years of full-time residence are required of all students in the PhD program.

Full-time residence demands that advanced study be the student's principal responsibility. The student must be free to devote himself/herself primarily to study and research, schedule courses without limitations on hours, participate fully in Graduate School and departmental activities and arrange conferences with the adviser and other faculty members. A student fulfilling full-time residence may accept outside employment only with permission of the dean.

For information concerning student status following completion of the two-year residence requirement, click here.

First-Year Review
The candidacy of each first-year PhD student will be reviewed after the first year of residence. The student's department, in conjunction with the dean, will review the progress the student has made to date and assess the student's potential to complete the degree. If the department or the dean is not satisfied with the student's progress or potential, the student will be dropped from the PhD program but will be allowed to complete the first year of residence.

Hebrew
All entering students must take the Hebrew placement examination online and demonstrate knowledge of at least one year of college-level Hebrew, placing into HEB 2103 or higher in both the reading comprehension and grammar modules. Progress beyond this level is part of the first-year review. To receive the degree, students must demonstrate a proficiency in Hebrew equivalent to the level of HEB 5303 (advanced) in both the reading comprehension and grammar modules. Beginning with the first semester of matriculation, students must study Hebrew every semester until this proficiency is attained.

Prerequisite Courses
In addition to department or program requirements, all students must complete the year-long interdisciplinary seminar MDS 5101-5102: Classics of the Jewish Tradition I and II (see page 195); demonstrate that the course material was taken for credit previously; or may show proficiency by examination. This seminar is to be taken during the first year of graduate study.

Students who have never studied Bible in the original with a scholarly perspective are required to take BIB 5011: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. Students who have never studied Talmud in the original are required to take TAL 5025: Introduction to Text Study, for which BIB 5011 and Hebrew proficiency at the level of HEB 2201 are prerequisites. Individual departments and programs may also require additional course work from students where appropriate. (See department listings for details.) All of these requirements are in addition to the thirty-credit minimums.

Course Work
A minimum of thirty credits of graduate course work beyond the master's degree in Judaica is required. Twenty-one credits are to be in the area of specialization and ancillary subjects; the remainder may be distributed according to the student's needs. All programs must be worked out in consultation with the departmental or program adviser and require the adviser's advance approval.

As part of the thirty-credit minimum, PhD students are required to take at least one graduate-level course in religion (which may include Theory and Method in Study of Religion, History of Religion or similar courses approved by The Graduate School) at one of the institutions in the consortium.

Consortium
The Graduate School has a consortium agreement on the PhD level with numerous institutions including Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Columbia University, Fordham University, New York University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton University, Union Theological Seminary, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and Yale University. Students may be required to take courses in other universities for supplementary study in the area of their specialty. A student may receive credit for courses taken at these institutions only with the advance approval of the adviser and registers for them at JTS. These credits are not considered transfer credits. The host institution reserves the right to give its own students priority enrollment.

Transfer Credit
A student who wishes to request transfer credit for graduate-level courses taken at other institutions of higher learning must submit an official transcript with complete course descriptions to the dean, who will consult with the appropriate department. Credits counted toward another degree will not be considered. The maximum number of credits accepted for transfer is nine. No credit will be accepted for transfer from courses in which a grade lower than a B was earned. To be considered for transfer, credits may be no older than ten years.

Foreign Language Requirements
Every PhD candidate must demonstrate reading proficiency in German and at least one other modern research language to be determined by the candidate's department or program. Some departments or programs require proficiency in additional languages as well. Proficiency can be demonstrated by one of three options. First, by examination. Foreign language examinations are offered once each semester; for specific dates consult the academic calendar. Use of a dictionary is permitted during the exam. Second, by course work completed within the previous four years. Two years of study of a foreign language on the undergraduate level with a grade of B or better each semester of the second year will be accepted in lieu of the examination. The third option is successful completion of the second semester of a year-long reading course with a grade of B or better. Foreign language requirements must be completed prior to taking the comprehensive examinations.

Communication Skills
Each candidate for the degree of doctor of philosophy is required to demonstrate skill in communicating scholarly findings to students or to an educated public. Students may provide evidence of such skill in one of two ways:

The successful teaching of an undergraduate course in the candidate's field, under expert supervision, with an appraisal of performance by a qualified and experienced teacher; or
The presentation, in a public lecture or in print and in language understandable to the educated public, of the findings and significant implications of his or her research.

The adviser will confirm in writing to the dean that the requirement has been fulfilled.

Comprehensive Examination
Most departments require a comprehensive examination in the field of specialization and related ancillary subjects. It is to be taken upon completion of all required course work and foreign language examinations. The comprehensive examination will be graded on the following scale: pass with distinction, pass, fail. A student who fails the examination may take it once more. A second failure automatically terminates the student's participation in the PhD program.

Dissertation
Upon completion of all course and examination requirements, the student must select an appropriate dissertation topic for an original contribution to the area of research. A written proposal must be submitted to the adviser and approved in writing by the adviser. Both the proposal and the adviser's approval are then submitted to The Graduate School office for final approval. The dissertation is written under the direct guidance of the adviser who approved the proposal and a second member of the faculty selected by the adviser and the student in consultation with the dean. Dissertations are written in English.

After the dissertation is approved by the adviser and the second reader, it is defended before a committee. The committee consists of at least five members: the adviser, the second reader and three other faculty members, one of whom is from another JTS department, and one of whom is from another institution. The committee will be determined by the dean, the adviser, and the student. Copies of the approved dissertation must be submitted to the office of The Graduate School for distribution to the members of the committee at least eight weeks before the defense. A student must apply for permission to defend the dissertation during the registration period of the semester in which he/she plans to defend. The defense committee may approve the dissertation as submitted, accept it with minor or major revisions, or reject it. If major revisions are required, a subcommittee will be appointed by the defense-committee chair and adviser in consultation with the dean to review the revised dissertation. Rejection of a dissertation automatically terminates the student's participation in the PhD program.

After final approval by the defense committee or the subcommittee, the dissertation shall be prepared in final form for deposit at least six weeks before commencement. Guidelines for the preparation and deposit of doctoral dissertations are available in The Graduate School office.

Completion of Requirements
A candidate must complete all requirements for the PhD degree including courses, demonstration of foreign language proficiency, comprehensive examination, and deposit of the dissertation in no more than seven years from the date of formal admission to the PhD program. The dean regularly reviews student files to ascertain that appropriate progress is being made toward the completion of degree requirements. However, candidates engaged in the writing of the dissertation may apply in writing to the dean for an extension, which ordinarily cannot exceed two years.

To be considered making satisfactory academic progress in order to continue receiving federal Title IV funds (GSL), full-time students normally must complete all the course requirements within the first three years of the program or a minimum of one-third the required number of credits, depending on area of specialization and prerequisites needed. Students in the fourth and fifth years prepare for the comprehensive examination and begin research for the dissertation. The sixth and seventh years are devoted to completion of the dissertation, which must be defended by the second semester of the seventh year.

Special Doctoral Program

Joint Doctoral / Ordination Program
Students who wish to study simultaneously for the PhD degree and rabbinic ordination may apply to The Graduate School and The Rabbinical School for admission to the joint doctoral/ordination program. Students currently enrolled in The Rabbinical School are also eligible to apply, no earlier than the fourth year of rabbinical school. Each school will follow its own admissions procedures. Upon the approval of the student's doctoral adviser, the course requirements for the PhD can be met in part by courses taken in The Rabbinical School in the student's field of concentration. All requirements for the doctoral degree (course work, foreign languages, examinations, and dissertation) remain in effect. To be considered for fellowships, students must take a minimum of fifteen doctoral program credits per year.

Non-Matriculated Students

Students who wish to take courses, either as auditors or for credit, but who do not intend to earn a degree, may be admitted as non-matriculated students. Applicants must submit a completed application form together with the thirty-five-dollar fee and an official transcript indicating satisfactory completion of a bachelor's degree.

Any non-matriculated student placed on academic probation is subject to dismissal from The Graduate School.

Students who wish to be accepted as degree candidates at a later date may apply up to nine credits of the work done as nonmatriculated students within the previous ten years.

Academic Standards

Attendance
Regular attendance is expected. Instructors shall have the right to stipulate attendance requirements and penalties that may be incurred as a result of failure to comply with these requirements, provided that they so stipulate within the first two weeks of the semester.

Grades
The grading system is as follows: A, excellent; B, good; C, fair; D, poor; F, failure. No credit will be given for grades of C- or lower.

Once a grade has been received in the Registrar's oOfice, it may be changed by the course instructor only upon written application from the instructor to the dean of the school in which the student is enrolled. The dean's approval will be required.

Graduate students are permitted to take one course per year pass/fail, with the permission of the departmental or program adviser.

Auditing
The grade R signifies that the student has attended classes and completed all course work except for the final exam and/or paper. Students must notify the Office of the Registrar, in writing by the date stipulated in the academic calendar, of their intention to audit. Failure to do so will mean that the course is being taken for credit. No credit will be given for courses taken for the grade R; such courses will not count toward fulfilling the requirements for the degree.

Withdrawal
With the permission of the dean, students may withdraw from a course by the date listed in the academic calendar. In such cases, the symbol W will appear on the transcript. Students who discontinue attendance in a course and who fail to withdraw formally within the designated period will receive the appropriate alternate letter grade.

Academic Probation
An MA or DHL student who receives in any one semester one grade of D (or lower) or two grades of C (or lower) will be placed on academic probation the following semester. To be restored to good standing, a student must register for coursework for the next semester equivalent to the number of credits which led to the probation and may neither receive a grade lower than B- nor take an Incomplete during the semester of probation. Failure to meet this standard will constitute grounds for dismissal. The student shall have the right to appeal in accordance with the Student Disciplinary Procedures, available in the Office of the Registrar.

A PhD student who receives a grade lower than B will be placed on academic probation the following semester. To be restored to good standing the student must register for the next semester and may neither receive a grade lower than B nor take an Incomplete during the semester of probation. Failure to meet this standard will constitute grounds for dismissal. The student shall have the right to appeal in accordance with the Student Disciplinary Procedures, available in the Office of the Registrar.

Students in The Graduate School are permitted no more than one semester of probation toward any degree.

Incompletes
A student who, for compelling reasons, finds it necessary to postpone the submission of required course work may petition for an Incomplete (INC). The student must obtain a Request for Incomplete Form from the Office of the Registrar. This form must contain all information requested, including a description of the work to be completed and the due date, which cannot be later than the date specified in the academic calendar. The form must be signed by the student, instructor, and dean or academic adviser. The form must be returned to the registrar's office. The last day to request an INC and submit the form is indicated in the academic calendar.

All outstanding course work must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar no later than the date specified in the academic calendar. Generally, this date is six weeks from the end of the final examination period.

The registrar shall record that the work has been submitted and provide a written receipt to the student for the work received. The registrar will transmit the completed work to the instructor. No work should be sent or given directly to the instructor by the student. The student is advised to retain a copy of all work submitted to the registrar's office.

After a student has the receipt for the submitted work, the grade of INC shall remain on the student's transcript until a grade has been submitted by the instructor.

If a student fails to submit the outstanding work to the Registrar's Office by the specified due date, the grade of INC will be converted to the alternate letter grade previously submitted by the instructor. This alternate grade reflects the instructor's assessment of a student's performance taking into account the fact that work is missing. Students should be aware that the missing work may have been counted as an F (or 0) in the computation of the final grade for the course.

In special circumstances, the dean has the authority to grant an extension for the submission of overdue work as long as it is agreeable to the instructor. This extension must be sent in writing by the dean to the registrar's office.

Students may not request an INC for any course during the semester of their graduation.

Absence from Final Examinations
A student who, because of illness or personal emergency, cannot be present for a scheduled final examination must inform the Registrar's Office as soon as possible to indicate the reasons for the absence. The Registrar's Office will inform the instructor and the dean of the student's absence. The student must arrange with the instructor for a make-up examination if the student still cannot be present for the regularly scheduled make-up examination day. The instructor will inform the Registrar's Office of the arrangement and provide the office with the exam so that it can be given to the student.

Students may not request incompletes in advance for an in-class final examination. The student must take the make-up examination as soon as possible, but no later than the date indicated in the academic calendar governing the completion of outstanding work.

Leave of Absence
Students who, for compelling reasons, are unable to take courses or continue with appropriate academic progress in a particular semester may request a leave of absence from the dean and must register for a leave of absence each semester until they resume their studies.

MA students may generally not be granted a leave of absence for more than one semester; DHL and PhD students, for not more than two semesters. During the period of leave, a student may not take an examination, written or oral, be advised by the academic adviser, or submit any part of a thesis or dissertation required for the completion of a degree.

Continuous Registration
The Continuous Registration category applies to matriculated students who, for extenuating academic circumstances, cannot register for graduate school courses in a given semester but will still receive academic advisement. Students who have completed all course work and who are eligible for Extended Residence may not enroll as Continuous Registration.

Graduate school students may enroll in the Continuous Registration category for no more than one semester while in residence in New York.

Graduate school students who are dually enrolled in the JTS rabbinical or cantorial schools and who cannot take courses in The Graduate School during their required semester or year in Israel should enroll as Continuous Registration in The Graduate School.

Distance-learning students who are unable to take courses due to course availability issues must register as Continuous Registration to maintain their status as current students.

MA students who have not completed their course work but take courses only during the summer sessions must register for Continuous Registration each semester. Students must attend at least one summer session each year to be eligible.

Written approval must be obtained from a dean of The Graduate School to register for the Continuous Registration category.

The Jewish Theological Seminary

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