The Israel and Golda Koschitzky Department of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry >

This page is updated for the academic year 2023-2024.
Information for the academic year 2024-2025 will be updated in the coming days.
 

Our MA program is designed to allow students to deepen their knowledge in a particular area or period of Jewish history and contemporary Jewry, and to familiarize themselves with more advanced research materials. Those students who chose to write a Master’s thesis are expected to show a deep mastery of their chosen area of research, and to be able to integrate different research methodologies. By the end of their graduate studies, the students should be able to conduct independent research, as a starting-off point towards writing a doctoral dissertation.

Jewish History

Master's Degree

Tracks

Two tracks are available:
Track A – includes research and thesis submission.
Track B – not research-based (standard program and teacher track).

Areas of specialization

1. Ancient history
2. The Middle Ages
3. The modern age and contemporary Jewry

Admission requirements

A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 76.

Applicants who did not major in Jewish history at the undergraduate level must make up missing courses. 
 

Track A – research-based track

Credit and seminar requirements

1. Standard program

14 AC (annual-based credits) (28 SC – semester-based credits) as specified below:

2 seminars on the period of focus for the master’s degree 4 AC (8 SC)

3 courses on the period of focus (proposed by the advisor) 6 AC (12 SC)              

2 mandatory courses 4 AC (8 SC)

Colloquium participation 

Throughout the degree, colloquium participation is required each year. The colloquium is held several times a year, and does not count toward degree credits.

2.Customized programs

A individually customized program, as determined by the departmental committee, with advisor agreement and approval from the School of Graduate Studies Subcommitee.

Language proficiency

English at the master’s degree level (details on placement tests, course levels and exemption eligibility criteria – see introductory chapter). The test may be administered in the department.

An additional foreign language is also required. This course does not count toward the requisite number of courses for the degree.

Thesis guidelines

See School of Graduate Studies Rules and Regulations in the introductory chapter.

Final exam for the master’s degree

An oral exam based on the master’s thesis and its underlying bibliography (per advisor’s instruction).

Jewish studies

As per general requirements for the master's degree (see introductory chapter).

 

Research proposals should be submitted by the end of the first year of study
and no later than the end of the fall semester of the second year.

 

Track B –  non-research track

Credit and seminar requirements

18 AC (36 SC) as specified below:

2 seminars on the first period of focus including seminar papers 4 AC (8 SC)               

4 courses on the first period of focus 8 AC (16 SC)

1 seminar on the second period of focus including seminar paper 2 AC (4 SC)

2 mandatory courses 4 AC (8 SC)

Teacher track – without research work

Credit and seminar requirements

18 AC (36 SC) as specified below:

1 seminar on the first period of focus for the master’s degree, including a seminar paper 2 AC (4 SC)

1 seminar on the second period of focus, including seminar paper 2 AC (4 SC)

5 courses on the first period of focus 10 AC (20 SC)

2 mandatory course 4 AC (8 SC)

In this track students may be exempt from making up missing courses, up to a maximum of 8 AC (16 SC), on the basis of relevant Jewish history courses taken as part of teaching certificate training.

Language proficiency

English at the master’s degree level (details on placement tests, course levels and exemption eligibility criteria – see introductory chapter). The test may be administered in the department.

Jewish studies

As per general requirements for the master's degree (see introductory chapter).

Structure of MA studies in summary:

MA w/o Thesis	MA with Thesis
3 seminars: 2 in one period, 1 in a second periods	2 seminars in the period of specialization.
6 courses in the graduate program (4 courses elective in their periods, including 2 mandatory course: historiography and reading...	3 courses in the graduate program in the period of the first specialization
	2 mandatory courses in the department: Issues in historiography and reading, writing and Historical reflexion
	Colloquium/Forum for graduate students
English at MA level	English at MA level
	Foreign language advanced level.
1-2 courses in Jewish studies	1-2 courses in Jewish studies

 

Our PhD students are expected to be able to conduct independant research and to contribute new ideas and original knowledge to the field of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry.

PhD

Areas of specialization

• The department allows for a Jewish history specialization by period (ancient history, which includes the Bible; the Second Temple Period, the Mishnaic and the Talmudic period; the modern era), by geographic area (Eastern or Western Europe, Spanish Jewry and the communities of Asia and Africa, North American and Latin America, Israel, etc.), by research approach (social history, gender studies, cultural history, political history, economic history, the history of ideas, historiography, etc.).
• The department encourages interdisciplinary research, emphasizing the place of Jewish historical research in Jewish studies, and viewing Jewish history itself in the necessary contexts of general history.
• Students must take 3 courses for a total of 6 AC (12 SC), as determined by the department and in consultation with the advisor and/or departmental committee chair. In some cases additional courses are required.
• Participation in colloquium – throughout the degree, colloquium participation is required each year.

The colloquium is held several times a year, and does not count toward degree credits.

Language proficiency

1. An additional foreign language.
2. English requirements for the PhD is as specified in the School of Graduate Studies information handbook. English exams may be administered in the department itself.

• Applicants who have not written a master’s thesis must write a thesis-equivalent research paper with a minimum grade of 85.
• The School of Graduate Studies Committee does not guarantee admission to all applicants even if they meet minimum requirements and have been recommended for admission by the department.

 For further details:

Contact the department by phone at (972+) 3-5318353 or via email
or visit the Department of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry website