Jewish History

Professors
David Fishman (on leave, spring 2008)
Ismar Schorsch
Seth Schwartz (on leave, fall 2007)
Jack Wertheimer (on leave, 2007-2008)

Associate Professors
Benjamin R. Gampel, Chair
Shuly Rubin Schwartz

Ginor Visiting Professor
Tamar El-Or (fall 2007)

Adjunct Associate Professor
Steven Bayme

Adjunct Assistant Professors
Irit Koren
Anne Polland

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

  • HIS 1010: Ancient Jewish History (3 credits)
  • HIS 1011: Medieval Jewish History (3 credits)
  • HIS 1012: Modern Jewish History (3 credits)
  • HIS 1013: American Jewish History (3 credits)

For Jewish History Majors
Twenty-one credits (seven courses) beyond the core curriculum requirements, chosen in consulatation with the adviser.

Master of Arts

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 are required as follows:

  • 21 credits in Jewish history (students may choose courses from all periods of Jewish history, but are urged to distribute these courses to prepare for the comprehensive examination)
  • HIS 6117, 6313, and 6406, unless the student has taken analogous courses on the undergraduate level
  • Departmental seminar (must be taken for credit for two years and audited thereafter until the comprehensive exam)

Comprehensive Examination
Students must satisfactorily complete a one-hour oral examination on selected primary and secondary sources from all periods of Jewish history.

Doctor of Hebrew Literature

Admission Requirements
For admission to The Graduate School, please click here. Additionally, students must have a master's degree in History or Judaica.

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:

  • 21 credits in Jewish history (students may choose courses from all periods of Jewish history, but are urged to distribute these courses to prepare for the comprehensive examination)
  • Readings in Jewish history (departmental seminar) until comprehensive exams are taken

All programs must be approved by the departmental adviser.

Comprehensive Examination
Upon satisfactory completion of all course work, students will take a two-hour oral examination on selected primary and secondary sources from all periods of Jewish history and in the area of the dissertation. The MA comprehensive exam in Jewish history, if taken at JTS, fulfills the first part of the DHL comprehensive examination and candidates will be examined only in the area of the dissertation.

Dissertation
A significant monograph-length dissertation on a topic in Jewish history.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements
For admission to The Graduate School, please click here. Additionally, students must have a master's degree in history or Judaica and demonstrate fluency in Hebrew.

Degree Requirements
Languages
In addition to languages required of all students in The Graduate School, students must demonstrate fluency in Hebrew and reading proficiency in German and one of the following languages: French, Yiddish, Spanish, or Russian. Choice of reading languages must be approved by the department chairperson and language proficiency exams must be taken prior to the comprehensive exams. While it is recommended that language proficiency be demonstrated as early as possible after formal admission to the course of study, the following schedule of language examinations will serve as the minimal requirement:

  • First reading language by the end of the first year
  • Second modern language by the end of the second year
  • Languages of general area of specialized research by the end of the third year

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

  • Courses should be distributed among three areas: the entire range of Jewish history, the period of specialization in Jewish history, and the period in general history parallel to the period of specialization
  • Courses will be taken in the Department of Jewish History and at one of the recognized university graduate schools with which special arrangements have been made for this purpose
  • The designated departmental seminar must be taken for credit until students are on extended residence, and must be audited thereafter until students have taken their comprehensive examinations.

Comprehensive Examination
Upon satisfactory completion of all course work, students will take a two-hour oral examination, testing candidates in depth on the secondary literature of all periods of Jewish history and in the area of general history related to the field of specialization.

Dissertation
An original monograph-length dissertation on a significant topic in Jewish history.

Search the Course Catalog for HIS courses