Program Requirements
An M.A. in Jewish Studies (thesis option) is offered in the following areas: History of the Jewish Interpretation of the Bible, Eastern European Jewish History, Jewish Thought, Hebrew Literature, and Modern Jewish Literatures. These areas of specialization are broadly construed to accommodate the range of research interests in the Department. The M.A. can be completed in one year, though most students spend two years in the program.
Note: Students can choose from either the Jewish Studies Stream or History of the Jewish Interpretation of the Bible Stream.
Jewish Studies Stream (45 credits)
Thesis Courses (30 credits)
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JWST 695 M.A. Thesis 1 (9 credits)
Overview
Jewish Studies : Bibliography and preparation of a research proposal.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
For detailed course content go to .
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JWST 696 M.A. Thesis 2 (9 credits)
Overview
Jewish Studies : Thesis preparation and ongoing presentation of research results.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
For detailed course content go to .
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JWST 697 M.A. Thesis 3 (12 credits)
Overview
Jewish Studies : Writing and submission of thesis.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
For detailed course content go to .
Required Course (3 credits)
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JWST 699 Research in Jewish Studies (3 credits)
Overview
Jewish Studies : Practical problems and resources related to research and key theoretical debates in the field will be discussed.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Silver, Christopher (Fall)
For detailed course content go to .
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
12 credits of courses at the 500, 600, or 700 level, chosen according to each student's specialization in consultation with the student's thesis adviser.
Language Requirement
Students choosing Eastern European studies, Jewish thought, or Hebrew literature must demonstrate fluency in either Hebrew or Yiddish according to their field of specialization. Mastery is normally determined by an examination administered by the Department.
History of the Jewish Interpretation of the Bible Stream (45 credits)
Thesis Courses (24 credits)
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JWST 690 M.A. Thesis 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Jewish Studies : Normally done during the first semester of residence, this project entails original bibliographic research related to the history of Jewish Bible interpretation, usually the preparation of an extensive bibliography of one writer, text or theme. The choice may relate to the thesis topic.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
For detailed course content go to .
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JWST 691 M.A. Thesis 2 (6 credits)
Overview
Jewish Studies : A study of the history of Jewish interpretation of one verse, based on 100 primary sources of a topical analysis of a major issue in the history of Jewish Bible interpretation.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
For detailed course content go to .
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JWST 692 M.A. Thesis 3 (12 credits)
Overview
Jewish Studies : Preparation of the thesis.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
For detailed course content go to .
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JWST 694 M.A. Thesis 4 (3 credits)
Overview
Jewish Studies : A directed reading project devoted to the modern critical scholarship on one Biblical work.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
For detailed course content go to .
Required Courses (9 credits)
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JWST 510 Jewish Bible Interpretation 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Jewish Studies : The issues, approaches, and texts of Jewish Bible interpretation between the Biblical and Talmudic eras: Bible interpretation in the Bible; in Greco-Roman Jewish literature; in the Mishnah, Tosefta, Targumim, and Talmudim; early Samaritan interpretation, Bible interpretation in ancient synagogue art, and in the massoretic literature.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
For detailed course content go to .
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken JWST 512
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JWST 511 Jewish Bible Interpretation 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Jewish Studies : The issues, problems, approaches, and texts of Jewish Bible interpretation in medieval, renaissance, early modern, and modern times. Interpretation in the Geonic, Ashkenazi, Sefardic, North African, Italian, European, Yemenite, North American and Israeli centres of Jewish Learning.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
For detailed course content go to .
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken JWST 512
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JWST 699 Research in Jewish Studies (3 credits)
Overview
Jewish Studies : Practical problems and resources related to research and key theoretical debates in the field will be discussed.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Silver, Christopher (Fall)
For detailed course content go to .
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
12 credits of courses at the 500, 600, or 700 level, chosen in consultation with the student's thesis adviser.
Language Requirement
In addition to Hebrew, students in the History of the Jewish Interpretation of the Bible stream must master another language in which primary documents in this field have been written; in most cases, this will be Aramaic, but classical Arabic and Greek are also accepted. Mastery is normally determined by an examination administered by the Department.
