Degree requirements: Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible/Ancient Near East CURRENT REQUIREMENTS (Effective through 2015-16 Academic Year) Course requirements 1. -IV (12 hours); 2. MEL 383 (RS 386H) Hebrew Bible Doctoral Seminar (12 hours); 3. Comparative Semitic Grammar (3 hours); 4. Minor field (12 hours); 5. 2 courses dedicated to preparing students for comprehensive exams: 1 in primary texts and 1 in secondary literature (6 hours). Language requirements 1. High-intermediate reading knowledge of German, tested no later than the beginning of the 2 nd year; 2. 4 semesters of approved Near Eastern language work: either 4 semesters of an ANE language other than Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Aramaic, or 2 semesters of each of 2 ANE languages other than Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Aramaic; 3. An exam in the Hebrew and Aramaic of the Bible, testing how well a student can translate and analyze biblical passages without aids. The exam must be taken before the student can proceed to comprehensive exams and is normally taken at the end of the 3rd year. Comprehensive exams Comprehensive exams are taken between the third and fourth years of study or between the fourth and fifth years of study, depending on the student s background. There will be three exams. One exam tests a student s knowledge of the secondary literature of the field. It will be based on a long list of questions handed out ahead of time, but the exam itself will be a sit-down exam, written in a 3-hour period. Two other comprehensive exams test research and analytical skills, and will be take-home exams written within a 28-day period. One of these exams will ordinarily test some aspect of an area the student is considering for a dissertation topic; the other will be a commentary on a passage chosen specifically for the student. Within ten days of the submission of the completed written exams, an oral exam is held in which the student defends before her/his committee the research, analyses, and arguments presented in the exam essays. The oral exam also includes a discussion of the student s future professional development. Admission to candidacy Upon passing the comprehensive exams, the student will prepare a dissertation proposal and establish a dissertation committee. In order for the student to advance to candidacy and enroll in dissertation hours, the student s supervisor, graduate advisor, and graduate dean must approve the program of work (establishing that the student has met all requirements), the dissertation proposal, and the dissertation committee. Once admitted to candidacy, students may register for dissertation hours. Students must complete one semester of MEL x99r and at least one semester of MEL x99w in the semester in 1
which they defend their dissertation and apply to graduate. courses are graded on the CR/NC basis. UPDATED REQUIREMENTS (Effective for students entering in 2016-17 Academic Year) Course requirements 1. -IV (12 hours); 2. R S 383M Theory & Method in Study of Religion (3 hours); 3. MEL 383 (REL 386H) Critical Problems in Hebrew Bible (3 hours); 4. MEL 383 (REL 386H) Topical Seminar in Hebrew Bible (3 hours); 5. MEL 383 Comparative Semitic Grammar OR Historical Hebrew Grammar (3 hours); 6. Minor field (12 hours); 7. Semester Hours dedicated to preparing students for comprehensive exams (at least 6 hours). 8. 4 semesters of approved Near Eastern language work: either 4 semesters of an ANE language other than Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Aramaic, or 2 semesters of each of 2 ANE languages other than Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Aramaic; Language requirements 1. High-intermediate reading knowledge of German, tested no later than the beginning of the 2 nd year; 2. An exam in the Hebrew and Aramaic of the Bible, testing how well a student can translate and analyze biblical passages without aids. The exam must be taken before the student can proceed to comprehensive exams and is normally taken at the end of the 2nd year. The exam will consist of the translation of several passages taken from anywhere in the Hebrew Bible, analysis of grammatical forms, and the vocalization of a selection of unpointed classical Hebrew. Advising For their first year of study in the program, each student will be assigned an adviser from among the core faculty of the program. By the start of their second year of study, each student will select a faculty member to serve as their mentor for their remaining years in the program. Course Descriptions This course entails reading the entire Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy) in Hebrew, reading approximately 30 pages of Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia per week. In addition, students will be introduced to source criticism and the various theories for the composition of the Pentateuch. This course entails reading the Former Prophets (Joshua through 2 Kings) and 1 and 2 Chronicles in Hebrew, reading approximately 30 pages of Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia per week. In addition, students will be introduced to methods for textual criticism and current critical discussions about the interrelationship of Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, Vulgate, Peshitta, Dead Sea Scrolls, and other relevant texts. I 2
This course entails reading the prophetic corpus in Hebrew, reading approximately 30 pages of Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia per week. In addition, students will be introduced to the phenomenon of prophecy in Israel and the ancient Near East. This course entails reading the Writings in Hebrew (except 1 and 2 Chronicles), reading approximately 30 pages of Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia per week. In addition, students will be introduced to the critical discussion about late biblical Hebrew and linguistic dating as well as scholarly treatments of ancient Hebrew poetry. MEL 383 (REL 386H) Critical Problems in Hebrew Bible This course will examine the issues that are current in one major area of Hebrew Bible scholarship. Past seminars have focused on the Deuteronomistic History and Achaemenid Period Yehud (Judah). MEL 383 (REL 386H) Topical Seminar in Hebrew Bible This seminar involves a close examination of a biblical book (e.g., Song of Songs) or topic (e.g., Jubilee). Students will employ a wide range of methods in their study of this work or topic including, but not limited to, history, philology, literary theory, poetics, history of interpretation, and linguistics. Qualifying exams Qualifying exams are taken generally between the third and fourth years of study. There will be three exams. One exam tests a student s knowledge of the secondary literature of the field. It will be based on a long list of questions handed out ahead of time, but the exam itself will be a sitdown exam, written in a 3-hour period. Two other qualifying exams test research and analytical skills, and will be take-home exams written within a 28-day period. One of these exams will ordinarily test some aspect of an area the student is considering for a dissertation topic; the other will be a commentary on a passage chosen specifically for the student. Within ten days of the submission of the completed written exams, an oral exam is held in which the student defends before her/his committee the research, analyses, and arguments presented in the exam essays. The oral exam also includes a discussion of the student s future professional development. Admission to candidacy Upon passing the qualifying exams, the student will prepare a dissertation proposal and establish a dissertation committee. In order for the student to advance to candidacy and enroll in dissertation hours, the student s supervisor, graduate advisor, and graduate dean must approve the program of work (establishing that the student has met all requirements), the dissertation proposal, and the dissertation committee. Once admitted to candidacy, students may register for dissertation hours. Students must complete one semester of MEL x99r and at least one semester of MEL x99w in the semester in which they defend their dissertation and apply to graduate. courses are graded on the CR/NC basis. 3
SAMPLE DEGREE PLAN YEAR ONE (2016 17) R S 383M Theory & Method in Study of Rel. Second Language 1 Second Language 2 *Take German Exam MEL 383 (REL 386H) Critical Issues in the YEAR TWO (2017 18) I MEL 383 Comparative Semitic Grammar OR MEL 383 (REL 386H) Topical Seminar in the Historical Hebrew Grammar Second Language 3 Second Language 4 *Take Hebrew Exam YEAR THREE (2018 19) Elective *Take Qualifying Exams YEAR FOUR (2019 20) YEAR FIVE (2020 21) 4
SAMPLE DEGREE PLAN (entering Fall 2017) YEAR ONE (2017 18) I MEL 383 Comparative Semitic Grammar OR MEL 383 (REL 386H) Topical Seminar in the Historical Hebrew Grammar Second Language 1 Second Language 2 *Take German Exam YEAR TWO (2018 19) R S 383M Theory & Method in Study of Rel. Second Language 3 Second Language 4 *Take Hebrew Exam MEL 383 (REL 386H) Critical Issues in the YEAR THREE (2019 20) Elective *Take Qualifying Exams YEAR FOUR (2020 21) YEAR FIVE (2021 22) 5