The Jewish Theological Seminary
The MA Degree
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, one with the Columbia University School of Social Work and one with the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs for students pursuing careers in Jewish professional leadership.
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 of The Jewish Theological Seminary, 3080 Broadway, New York, NY 10027; (212) 678-8022, by completing our inquiry form, or through Admissions.
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; and
- 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 online. 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; and
- 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.