Jewish Studies

Fields of Study
Jewish Studies (M.A.)

The Program in Jewish Studies offers a Master of Arts degree through the Graduate Department of Religion, a division of the Graduate School of Vanderbilt University. How to apply: Click here

The Masters degree requires 30 hours and may be pursued via various interdisciplinary programs such as the human sciences, historical and literary studies, philosophical descriptions and analyses, and theological and ethical interpretations.

The MA in Jewish Studies addresses those who wish to end their formal education in the field at the MA level and also those who wish to do graduate work in Jewish Studies with the expectation that they might matriculate elsewhere in a doctoral degree. Students who apply for this degree can expect to deepen their preparation in Jewish Studies and to strengthen their credentials for application to tother programs.

Degree Overview

PREREQUISITE
Knowledge of Intermediate Biblical or Modern Hebrew*

In place of biblical or modern Hebrew, interested students may substitute one of the following languages of the Jewish people: Rabbinic Hebrew, Aramaic, Yiddish, Ladino, or Judaeo-Arabic.

A broad background in Jewish history and civilization

REQUIREMENTS (30 Hours)
Focus Courses (18 hours)
Minor (6 hours)
Thesis (no credit)

1 modern foreign research language
(GDR requirement)

FOCUS COURSES (18 Hours)
Graduate-level courses with a minimum of three courses from one of the following sub-fields of study, two of which must be text-centered, and a minimum of one course from two of the other three sub-fields (see Catalogue or Internet listing):

Area 1. Bible
Area 2. Antiquity and the Medieval World
Area 3. Modern and Contemporary Experience
Area 4. Culture, Philosophy, and Literature

MINOR (6 Hours)

Selected from any GDR or graduate field of studies and designed to complement area of specialty or methodology.

For information concerning enrollment in the Graduate Department of Religion, please click here.

For range of graduate courses available in the MA in Jewish studies, please click here.