The Department of General History

Master's Degree  

Tracks   

Two tracks are available:   

Track A – research-based track – includes research and thesis submission.   

Research may be conducted under the guidance of department faculty members on a variety of topics and periods.   

Track B – theoretical track – not research-based and without specialization in a particular period.   

                        The theoretical track includes :  

1. A track on General History 

2. A track on Military History 

3. A teacher track.    

Admission requirements   

A bachelor's degree in history with a minimum grade point average of 76.   

Applicants who did not major in general history or who are admitted from other disciplines must make up missing courses per their individual background.   

Only holders of a teaching certificate may be admitted to the teacher track.   

  

Research track   

Credit and seminar requirements  

12 AC (annual-based credits) (24 SC – semester-based credits) as specified below:   
1 seminar in history and historiography,  including submission of a written paper– 2 AC (4 SC)   
1 seminar,  including seminar paper – 2 AC (4 SC)   
departmental courses – 8 AC (16 SC)   

a mandatory annual participation in the Department’s Colloquium and Forum for Research Students during the degree 

To make an annual inscription to the thesis’ code, from the second year to the end of the degree 

Each student must receive individual thesis guidance by their advisor, and submit a research proposal by the end of the first year of study. At the end of the first year, the departmental committee on graduate degrees examines suitability to the track and may recommend transfer to the theoretical track.   

Language proficiency   

1. English at the master’s degree level (details on placement tests, course levels and exemption eligibility criteria – see introductory chapter).    

2. An additional foreign language, per research needs and per recommendation of advisor and department head.   
     

Final exam for the master’s degree   

The final exam is oral, and is based on the thesis and its underlying bibliography.   
  

Thesis guidelines   

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

Jewish studies   

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

  

Research proposals are to 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 on Military History    

Credit and seminar requirements  

12 AC mandatory courses (annual-based credits) (24 SC – semester-based credits) as specified below:   

1 Trends in military history- 2 AC (4 SC)  
1 seminar in history and historiography,  including submission of a written paper– 2 AC (4 SC)   
1 seminar,  military biographies – 2 AC (4 SC)   
   

a mandatory annual participation in the Department’s Colloquium and Forum for Research Students during the degree 

departmental optional courses – 6 AC (12 SC) - 4 SC could be taken from optional courses of the department of the Land of Israel and Archeology  

To make an annual inscription to the thesis’ code, from the second year to the end of the degree   

Each student must receive individual thesis guidance by their advisor, and submit a research proposal by the end of the first year of study. At the end of the first year, the departmental committee on graduate degrees examines suitability to the track and may recommend transfer to the theoretical track.  
 

Language proficiency   

1. English at the master’s degree level (details on placement tests, course levels and exemption eligibility criteria – see introductory chapter).     

2. An additional foreign language, per research needs and per recommendation of advisor and department head.   
      

Final exam for the master’s degree   

The final exam is oral, and is based on the thesis and its underlying bibliography.   
   

Thesis guidelines   

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

Jewish studies   

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

  

Research proposals are to 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.   

   

Theoretical track  

Track on General History  

Credit and seminar requirements   

18 AC (36 SC) as specified below:   
1 seminar in history and historiography, mandatory– 2 AC (4 SC)   
2 seminars, including submission of seminar papers – 4 AC (8 SC)   
6 departmental courses – 12 AC (24 SC)  

Language proficiency   

English at the master’s degree level (details on placement tests, course levels and exemption eligibility criteria – see introductory chapter).  

Jewish studies   

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

  

Track on Military History  

Credit and seminar requirements   

18 AC (36 SC) as specified below:   
1 trends in military history- 2 AC (4 SC)  
1 seminar in history and historiography,  including submission of a written paper– 2 AC (4 SC)   
1 seminar,  military biographies – 2 AC (4 SC)  

departmental optional courses – 20 SC  

4-10 SC could be taken from optional courses of the department of the Land of Israel and Archeology  

Language proficiency   

English at the master’s degree level (details on placement tests, course levels and exemption eligibility criteria – see introductory chapter).  

Jewish studies   

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

Theoretical track   

Credit and seminar requirements   

18 AC (36 SC) as specified below:   
1 seminar in history and historiography, including submission of a written paper– 2 AC (4 SC)   
2 seminars,  including submission of seminar papers – 4 AC (8 SC)   
6 departmental courses – 12 AC (24 SC)   

 

Teacher track   

Credit and seminar requirements   

18 AC (36 SC) as specified below:   
1 seminar in history and historiography,  including submission of a written paper– 2 AC (4 SC)   
2 seminars, including submission of seminar papers – 4 AC (8 SC)   
6 departmental courses – 12 AC (24 SC)   

In this track students may receive an exemption from completing missing courses, up to a maximum of 6 AC (12 SC), on the basis of relevant general 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).   

Jewish studies   

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

    

PhD   

Areas of specialization   

Department faculty members specialize in a variety of topics in European and American history and different periods:   

• The classical period   

• The Middle Ages   

• The early modern age   

• The modern age and contemporary history   
     

PhD students are required to take 2 AC (4 SC) of courses or seminar, and to attend the departmental colloquium and departmental conferences each year of study.   

To make an annual inscription to the dissertation code 18-999 

Applicants who do not have earlier degrees in history are required to make up missing courses. Missing course completion and planning is determined by the department head and by approval of the School of Graduate Studies.   

Language proficiency   

English at the Ph.D degree level (details on placement tests, course levels and exemption eligibility criteria – see introductory chapter).   

   
Jewish studies   

As per general requirements for the Ph.D degree (see introductory chapter).    

  

   

For further details   

contact the department by phone at 03-5318390,   
   
via email to the Department of General History   

via email to the Program of Science and Biblical Law   

or visit the Department of General History website