Ancient Jewish Studies
专业详情
The program in Ancient Jewish Studies is interdisciplinary, designed to enable students to explore the history and culture of the Jews of antiquity (6th century BCE to 6th century CE). It has three components: gaining competence handling rabbinic texts, studying the political and social history of the Jews of antiquity and the political and social history of the empires that ruled them (Persian, Greek, Roman, Parthian, Sassanian, and early Byzantine), and studying the intellectual and religious history of ancient Judaism and the other religious and intellectual traditions of late antiquity (Persia, Egypt, Hellenistic and Roman empires, Christianity, gnosticism, philosophy, magic, and law). Students are expected to take courses in Bible, history, and rabbinics.
Students entering the program will be required to take the following courses, or the equivalent, if they have not had the equivalent previously:
- One Bible course beyond BIB 5011
- 6 credits of Talmud text
Students are permitted to register for courses counting toward the degree while fulfilling these prerequisites.
In addition to courses required of all students in the Gershon Kekst Graduate School, 30 graduate credits are required, including one 3-credit survey course in ancient Judaism, one 3-credit ancient history elective, and one 3-credit graduate Talmud course. Other courses will be determined in consultation with the advisor.
All students must satisfactorily complete either an examination based on primary and secondary readings or a thesis, to be determined in consultation with the advisor. If the exam is selected, the reading list will be prepared in consultation with the advisor.
