Doctor's degree Jewish Studies - Brandeis University

Doctor's degree Jewish Studies from Brandeis University is a Campus Ph.D Language degree that prepares you for a Liberal Arts career. 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 in 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. View more details on Brandeis University . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Language courses.