Medieval Jewish Studies

Professor
Raymond P. Scheindlin, Jewish Literature, Program Adviser, spring 2008 (on leave, fall 2007)

Associate Professors
Benjamin R. Gampel, Jewish History, Program Adviser, fall 2007
Robert Harris, Bible

Assistant Professor
Eitan Fishbane, Jewish Philosophy (on leave, spring 2008)
Evyatar Marienberg, Talmud and Rabbinics (on leave, spring 2008)

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 admission to List College, please click here.

Degree Requirements
From the Core Curriculum

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

For Medieval Jewish Studies Majors
Twenty-one credits (seven courses) beyond the core curriculum as follows:

• At least 6 credits (2 courses) in medieval Jewish history
• At least 6 credits (2 courses) in medieval Jewish literature
• At least 6 credits (2 courses) in medieval Jewish philosophy
• 3 credits (1 course) in one of the above fields or in a related discipline, such as parshanut, to be determined in consultation with the adviser

Master of Arts

Admission Requirements
For admission to The Graduate School, please 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 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 (2 courses) in history
• At least 6 credits (2 courses) in literature
• At least 6 credits (2 courses) in philosophy
• At least 6 credits (2 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 admission to The Graduate School, please click here.

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:

• At least 9 credits (3 courses) in history
• At least 9 credits (3 courses) in literature
• At least 9 credits (3 courses) in philosophy
• 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)

Students who have not received a MA in medieval Jewish studies may be required to complete additional courses as prerequisite work. All courses will be determined through consultation with the adviser.

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 admission to The Graduate School, please click here.

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

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

• At least 9 credits (3 courses) in each of the three disciplinary areas (history, literature, philosophy) and special concentration in one of them
• At least 3 credits (1 course) in Hebrew manuscripts and paleography or the equivalent
• Cognate courses in one or more disciplines of medieval studies outside of Judaica (e.g., medieval history, Latin or vernacular literature)
• Participation in a 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)

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

Comprehensive Examination
Upon satisfactory completion of all course work, students must take an oral examination on defined topics in three disciplines of the major fields and in the minor area(s) of cognate studies.

Dissertation
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.

Search the Course Catalog for MED courses