The department's graduate program in Jewish Studies comprises one of the largest
Judaic Studies faculties in the Diaspora, and embraces all eras in Jewish life,
as well as a wide variety of disciplines and scholarly approaches. The Ph.D. program
is highly selective and is designed to train scholars and teachers in such areas
as Jewish history, Jewish thought, Modern Jewish studies, American Jewish history
and life, Israel Studies, Contemporary Jewish studies, and Jewish education. Potential
applicants are encouraged to consult with the Graduate Advisor or with faculty
members in their areas of interest to ensure that they are a good match for the
program.
Preparation for the Ph.D.: Students applying for the Ph.D. generally
have at least an undergraduate background in Jewish Studies and in the discipline
which they seek to pursue, as well as a working knowledge of Hebrew. An undergraduate
concentration in Jewish Studies is not required, though training in the humanities
or social sciences (e.g., languages, literature, philosophy, history, sociology,
or anthropology) is helpful. Students with less training are nonetheless encouraged
to apply to the program. All applicants are encouraged to consult the faculty
of their program prior to their application to seek answers to questions, especially
if they have questions concerning qualifications. Students lacking adequate
preparation may want to consider applying to the MA program.
Course work: Three years of full-time residence are required at the
normal rate of at least seven term courses each academic year. Students who
enter with graduate credit from other recognized institutions may apply for
up to a maximum of one year of credit (7 courses) toward the residence requirement
on the recommendation of the chair of the department. Students should discuss
with their advisors the desirability of taking reading courses with faculty
members, as well as courses at member institutions of the Boston Consortium
during their time in residence.
Language requirements: Hebrew is an essential language for all students
in Jewish Studies. All students must pass a reading exam in Hebrew, usually
by the end of their first year in the program. All students must pass a reading
exam in at least one other foreign language by the end of their third year of
residence. Students whose focus is Jewish education or Jewish sociology may
substitute statistics for this language, typically by passing a course approved
by their advisor(s). By the time their Ph.D. proposal is submitted for approval
to the department, all students must also pass a reading exam in a third language
required for their doctoral research. Language exams are administered by the
student's advisor(s) and test for the ability to read the necessary literature
with the aid of a dictionary.
Comprehensive examinations: All candidates for the Ph.D. degree Jewish
Studies are required to pass two comprehensive examinations. The first exam,
which usually includes both a written and an oral component, tests for knowledge
of a broad discipline or body of literature, e.g. the breadth of Jewish history,
central Jewish texts in context, or medieval and modern Hebrew writings. Precise
details should be worked out with the student's advisor. The second exam tests
for proficiency in the student's area of specialization related to the proposed
area of the dissertation. This may be combined with the defense of the dissertation
proposal. In the semester in which they are preparing for their examinations,
students are encouraged to sign up for reading courses with the members of the
faculty who will participate in those examinations.
Dissertation Proposal: Students must write a dissertation proposal following
the guidelines provided by the department. The proposal is defended in a formal
meeting with the proposed dissertation committee to help the student polish
and prepare it for presentation at the full NEJS faculty meeting. This defense
may be combined with the second comprehensive examination.
Dissertation: The dissertation, ordinarily between 250 and 400 pages
in length, must constitute an original contribution to knowledge and demonstrate
thorough mastery of a field as well as competence in pursuing independent research.
Students must successfully defend their dissertations at a final oral examination.
Structure and Length of Program: The doctoral program in Jewish Studies
typically requires a minimum of five years to complete: three years for course
work and exams, and two years for researching and writing the dissertation.
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