Jewish Literature

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

Courses

  • Two courses (6 credits) in Hebrew and/or Yiddish language
  • One course (3 credits) in Modern Jewish History
  • One course (3 credits) in Medieval Jewish Literature or Liturgy
  • Five to six courses (15 to 18 credits) in Jewish Literature (depending on how many language courses were taken for the language requirement) chosen in consultation with the major advisor
  • One course (3 credits) senior/capstone seminar or an additional upper-level elective

Note: Students must complete 30 credits beyond the core curriculum chosen in consultation with the program advisor.

 

Master of Arts Degree Requirements

The Jewish Literature program offers concentrations in Medieval Hebrew Literature, Modern Hebrew Literature, and Modern Yiddish Literature. Upon admission, each candidate must consult with the advisor to work out a course of study that will satisfy departmental requirements. No student will be permitted to register for any semester without the written consent of the advisor.

Languages

Students must achieve third-year competence in their respective languages.

Courses

Students entering the program will ordinarily be required to demonstrate superior performance in three literature courses if they have not done so previously. Students are permitted to register for courses counting toward the degree while fulfilling these prerequisites. It is expected that they will be taken during the first year of study.

In addition to courses required of all students in the Gershon Kekst Graduate School, at least 30 graduate credits are required, as follows:

  • Seven courses (21 graduate credits) in Jewish Literature, including courses in prose, poetry, criticism, medieval literature, Yiddish literature, and modern literature. One course may satisfy more than one distribution requirement; e.g., a course in medieval prose could satisfy both the medieval-literature and the prose requirements.
  • Three courses (9 credits) in other subjects, selected in consultation with the advisor.
  • LIT 5507, LIT 5508, and LIT 5509 or the equivalent (the three-semester introductory sequence of courses in Yiddish literature) for students concentrating in Yiddish literature (9 credits).

Comprehensive Examination

Upon satisfactory completion of all course work, candidates must pass a comprehensive examination covering the works of specific authors, literary criticism, and literary history, to be selected in consultation with the advisor. The examination is given once each semester.

 

Doctor of Hebrew Literature Admission Requirements

An undergraduate or graduate degree with a concentration in literature is recommended.

 

Doctor of Hebrew Literature Degree Requirements

The program offers concentrations in Medieval Hebrew Literature, Modern Hebrew Literature, and Modern Yiddish Literature.

Courses

In addition to courses required of all students in the Gershon Kekst Graduate School, at least 30 graduate credits are required, as follows:

  • Seven courses (21 credits) at the doctoral level in Jewish Literature, including two courses in prose and two courses in poetry
  • At least one course (3 credits) in the medieval period
  • At least one course (3 credits) in the modern period
  • Two courses (6 credits) in a field of literature related to the area of concentration (e.g., Arabic, English, French, German, Polish, Russian, or Yiddish)

Note: One course may satisfy more than one distribution requirement above (e.g., a course in medieval prose could satisfy requirements for both the medieval period and prose).

Comprehensive Examination

Upon completion of all course work, students will be examined on reading lists that they will prepare under the guidance of an advisor.

Dissertation

A substantial piece of original research or criticism.

 

Doctor of Philosophy Admission Requirements

An undergraduate or graduate degree with a concentration in literature is recommended.

 

Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements

Languages

In addition to languages required of all students in the Gershon Kekst Graduate School, students concentrating in the modern period must demonstrate a reading knowledge of Yiddish, and students concentrating in the medieval period must demonstrate a reading knowledge of Arabic.

Courses

In addition to courses required of all students in the Gershon Kekst Graduate School, at least 30 graduate credits are required, as follows:

  • Seven courses (21 credits) at the doctoral level in Jewish Literature, including one course in prose and one course in poetry
  • At least one course (3 credits) in medieval literature
  • At least one course (3 credits) in the modern period
  • One seminar (3 credits) in the area of concentration (e.g., Arabic, English, French, German, Polish, Russian, or Yiddish)
  • LIT 5507, LIT 5508, and LIT 5509 (the three-semester introductory sequence of courses in Yiddish literature), or the equivalent, for students concentrating in Yiddish literature (9 credits)

Comprehensive Examination

Upon satisfactory completion of all course work, students will be examined on a group of reading lists that they will prepare under the guidance of the advisor. The examination will have both written and oral components. Reading lists will include comprehensive works in the respective major, as well as auxiliary works of critical and literary theory, and other primary and secondary texts. Students may obtain details about the format and structure of the comprehensive exams from the departmental advisor; the final shape of their exam will be developed in consultation with their advisor and a committee made up of other departmental faculty and at least one examiner from outside the JTS.

Students must demonstrate the ability to present a developed view of a specific critical problem and to trace the development of one major genre from its origin to its most recent manifestations.

Dissertation

A major piece of original research or criticism. Students will write the dissertation after passing their comprehensive exams.