The Hebrew Bible and Its Interpretation

Bachelor of Arts

Degree Requirements for Bible Majors

30 credits (generally 10 courses), beyond the core-curriculum requirements, chosen in consultation with the major advisor, distributed as follows:

  • 3 credits covering all or part of the Torah and appropriate secondary literature
  • 3 credits covering all or part of the Nevi’im and appropriate secondary literature
  • 3 credits covering all or part of the Ketuvim and appropriate secondary literature
  • 3 credits BIB 3009, covering critical methodologies at an advanced level
  • 3 credits BIB 5560: Biblical Grammar
  • 3 credits on Rabbinic Exegesis/Parshanut (e.g., Miqra’ot Gedolot, Pentateuch with Rashi, etc.)
  • 9 credits of Bible electives chosen in consultation with the major advisor
  • 3 credits senior capstone seminar 

 

Master of Arts Degree Requirements

Hebrew Bible and Its Interpretation requirements are determined on the basis of an evaluation of the undergraduate transcript. Students entering the program may be required to take certain prerequisite courses during the first year of graduate study if they have not had the equivalent previously, as described below.

Bible Courses

Students entering the program will be required to take the following courses during the first year of graduate study if they have not had the equivalent previously:

  • One semester of biblical Hebrew grammar
  • Two semesters of Hebrew Bible texts

Students are permitted to register for courses counting toward the degree while fulfilling these prerequisites.

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

  • First Year Seminar
  • 21 credits in Bible, including one seminar
  • 6 credits of electives (students who intend to pursue a doctorate in Bible should take most of the electives in Bible or related courses)

Comprehensive Examination

Students must satisfactorily complete a comprehensive examination. For the reading list and text requirements, contact the Gershon Kekst Graduate School Office.

 

Doctor of Hebrew Literature Admission Requirements

Students must have a master’s degree in Bible or Judaica. Further course work may be required in the case of students who have an MA in Judaica. Students must pass an examination in biblical Hebrew grammar.

 

Doctor of Hebrew Literature Degree Requirements

Courses

In addition to courses required of all students in Gershon Kekst Graduate School, 30 graduate credits beyond the MA are required, to be selected from the following list:

  • Two advanced text courses (6 credits)
  • Two courses in biblical law, religion, or history (6 credits)
  • One course in medieval exegesis (3 credits)
  • One course in a Semitic language other than Hebrew (3 credits)
  • Two courses in electives in the area of specialization (6 credits)
  • Two additional courses, to be selected in consultation with the advisor (6 credits)

Note: Two of the above courses must be research seminars with major papers.

Students may be asked to audit courses and must display a basic familiarity with the particulars of biblical literature of the type implied by the traditional term beqi’ut (expertise), to be established by examination.

Paper

Shortly before the oral comprehensive examination, each candidate is required to write one 10-page paper in history, religion, canon, or text criticism. The candidate is asked to identify a major problem in one of these areas and discuss it, paying special attention to the history of the problem and how critical scholars today might approach a solution.

Comprehensive Examinations

Programs require a comprehensive examination in the field of specialization after completion of course work.  Some fields, such as Bible and Talmud, require additional exams based on primary texts. 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 or compose three article length papers of publishable quality.

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 advisor. Both the proposal and the advisor’s written approval must be submitted to the Gershon Kekst Graduate School for approval by the dean. The dissertation is then to be written under the supervision of the faculty advisor who approved it. Dissertations must be written in English.

Upon completion of a first draft of the dissertation and upon the recommendation of the faculty advisor, the advisor 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 or papers 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 Gershon Kekst Graduate School Office.

COMPLETION OF REQUIREMENTS

All work for the DHL must be completed within 10 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 their dissertation or papers. The remaining years are devoted to completion of the dissertation, which must be defended by the second semester of the seventh year.

 

Doctor of Philosophy Admission Requirements

Students must have a master’s degree in Bible or Judaica. Further course work may be required in the case of students with an MA in Judaica. All students must pass Reading Proficiency Exams in German, Modern Hebrew, and one other modern research language.

The area of Hebrew Bible and Its Interpretation can fashion a PhD program that matches the strengths of its faculty and the interests of the prospective students. The following reflects past programs, and should not be seen as a definitive outline or limitation of additional courses of study.

 

Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements

The course of study is organized around two methodological approaches: Hebrew philology and another approach chosen by the student. As early as possible, a specialization will be selected from the following (with the guidance of a departmental advisor): anthropology, comparative law, comparative literature, hermeneutics (including traditional Jewish exegesis), historiography, linguistics (Hebrew/Semitic), literary criticism, religion/theology, Semitic philology, sociology, and textual criticism.

Courses

In addition to courses required of all students in Gershon Kekst Graduate School, two semesters of Greek or Latin (with the advisor’s permission); and a minimum of 42 credits beyond the MA (see above); the precise number of courses will be assessed upon admission. Up to 9 credits (three courses) taken at the graduate level at another university may be counted toward this total. Required courses include:

  • Five courses in biblical texts (15 credits)
  • Two courses in biblical history, religion, or law (6 credits)
  • Two courses in biblical Hebrew or comparative Semitics (6 credits)
  • Two courses in Akkadian (6 credits)
  • One course in Aramaic (3 credits)
  • One course in Ugaritic (3 credits)
  • One course in inscriptions (3 credits)

 Note: Two of the above courses must be research seminars with major papers.

Comprehensive Examinations

The examinations proceed in two stages. First, a set of four oral examinations on Bible text, language, and content (beqi’ut): Torah, Former Prophets, Latter Prophets, Writings. Each one is administered by a single faculty member.

For the remainder of the examinations, students must compose three essays on topics of their choosing, normally in the areas of biblical text criticism, history of Israel, and religion of Israel, respectively (the three areas are negotiable depending on the student’s specific interests). Following submission of these essays and assuming that they are deemed acceptable, there is a follow-up oral examination in which all faculty may participate. The oral can include discussion/critique of the essays or range into other topics of the examiners’ choosing to test for general knowledge, probe potential areas of specialization, etc.

Dissertation

An original contribution to the study of Bible that applies the student’s selected discipline and any pertinent methodologies.

 

The Davidson School MA in Jewish Education

Core Courses in Hebrew Bible and Its Interpretation

All students in The Davidson School are required to take the following three courses or their equivalent, in consultation with the dean:

  • BIB 5011: Introduction to Hebrew Bible
  • BIB 5012: Survey of the Pentateuch
  • BIB 5013: Parshanut: Pentateuch with Rashi; or BIB 5826: Classical Medieval Commentaries; or MID 5022: Introduction to Rabbinic Narrative (Aggadah)

 

The Rabbinical School

Core Courses in Hebrew Bible and Its Interpretation

The following courses are required of all rabbinical students; substitutions may be made in consultation with the dean and the area coordinator for Hebrew Bible and Its Interpretation:

Note: HEB 2201: Intermediate Hebrew I; HEB 5203: Intermediate Hebrew II; and HEB 5009: Hebrew Grammar must be taken prior to or in conjunction with these courses, in consultation with the dean and the area coordinator for Hebrew Bible and Its Interpretation.

  • Skill Level 1-BIB 6060: Introduction to Biblical Hebrew and BIB 6070: Introduction to Miqra’ot Gedolot
  • Skill Level 2-BIB 6106: Hebrew Bible: Torah Text, Context, and Meaning and BIB 6107: Hebrew Bible: Prophets and Writings

After concluding the beit midrash course of studies in New York City, rabbinical students continue to Israel, where they take required and elective courses in Bible and Midrash. Returning to the Iyun stage in New York, they take BIB 6307: Medieval Biblical Exegesis; and MID 5022: Introduction to Rabbinic Narrative (Aggadah) and at least two Bible electives. Iyun students pursuing an MA degree in Biblical Interpretation complete the additional requirements in that field.