Jewish Studies M.A.
Degree: Master of Arts
https://www.towson.edu/cla/departments/interdisciplinary/grad/jewishstudies/
Program Director: Dr. Benjamin Fisher
Phone: 410-704-2910
Email: bfisher@towson.edu
The Jewish Studies M.A. is a liberal arts program that offers students immersion in the history, literature, and culture of Judaism as well as comprehension of the scope of the Jewish experience. Graduates of this program typically go on for a Ph.D. or seek employment requiring a depth of Judaic knowledge. The program consists of a five-course core sequence and a concentration in one of five fields: Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Civilization, Rabbinic Literature, Jewish Thought and Mysticism, Jewish History, or Contemporary Jewish Studies.
Admission Requirements
Application deadlines and a full listing of materials required for admission can be found on the website.
Prerequisites for Admission
- Minimum of a “B” average: overall GPA of 3.00/4.00
Degree Requirements
The M.A. in Jewish Studies requires successful completion of 35 units with an average GPA of 3.00 or higher. Core Courses: 15 units; Concentration Courses: 12 units; Jewish Studies Seminar: minimum 2 units; Culminating Experience (either Master’s Thesis or Comprehensive exams): 6 units.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Studies Core Courses | ||
| Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Civilization | ||
| JDST 600 | BIBLICAL LITERATURE AND CIVILIZATION | 3 |
| Rabbinic Literature | ||
| JDST 680 | INTRODUCTION TO RABBINIC LITERATURE AND HISTORY | 3 |
| History | ||
| JDST 630 | MEDIEVAL JEWISH HISTORY | 3 |
| or JDST 631 | JEWS IN THE MODERN WORLD | |
| Jewish Thought and Mysticism | ||
| JDST 666 | INTRODUCTION TO JEWISH THOUGHT | 3 |
| Contemporary Jewish Studies | ||
| Examples of courses that fulfill this requirement include: | 3 | |
| DIASPORA JEWISH COMMUNITIES | ||
| AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY | ||
| CONTEMPORARY JEWISH ETHICS: RESHAPING THE JEWISH IDENTITY IN OUR GENERATION | ||
| Concentration | ||
| Select 4 courses in a concentration: Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Civilization; Rabbinic Literature and History; Jewish Thought and Mysticism; Jewish History; or Contemporary Jewish Studies | 12 | |
| Degree Completion | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 6 | |
Option 1 - Take additional Jewish studies electives and sit for a Comprehensive Exam in their major field of study | ||
Option 2 - Write a thesis in their major field of study: | ||
| JDST THESIS (6 units–one term) | ||
| JDST THESIS (3 units–two consecutive terms) | ||
| THESIS CONTINUUM (1 unit–thesis continuum) | ||
| Jewish Studies Practicum Seminar | ||
| The following is required every term until student graduates (2-unit minimum): | 2 | |
| JEWISH STUDIES SEMINAR | ||
| Total Units | 35 | |
Hebrew Requirement
Knowledge of Hebrew is the foundation of Judaic learning. All entering students must take the Hebrew placement examination. In order to receive the degree, students must demonstrate proficiency in the Hebrew equivalent to the level of two years of college Hebrew (through Biblical or Modern Hebrew IV). Beginning with their first term of matriculation, students must study Hebrew every term until this proficiency is attained. Students taking Hebrew course work at TU must attain a grade of “B” or better each term in order to be considered proficient. Courses through Biblical Hebrew IV or Modern Hebrew IV do not count toward the 35 units required for the degree.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| HEBR 101 | ELEMENTS OF HEBREW I | 3 |
| HEBR 102 | ELEMENTS OF HEBREW II | 3 |
| HEBR 201 | HEBREW INTERMEDIATE I | 3 |
| HEBR 202 | HEBREW INTERMEDIATE II | 3 |
| JDST 544 | BIBLICAL HEBREW I | 3 |
| JDST 545 | BIBLICAL HEBREW II | 3 |
| JDST 546 | BIBLICAL HEBREW III | 3 |
| JDST 547 | BIBLICAL HEBREW IV | 3 |
- Students will demonstrate content knowledge in Jewish Studies ranging from the world of the Bible and ancient Near East to modernity in the West and Middle East.
- Students will acquire a mastery of the Hebrew language that will be sufficient to facilitate serious academic work in Jewish Studies.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of research techniques in order to:
- access information effectively and efficiently
- evaluate critically the sources and content of information
- use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose, be it ones thesis or a research paper for a particular course