Degree requirements: Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible/Ancient Near East

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Degree requirements:

Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible/Ancient Near East

CURRENT REQUIREMENTS (Effective through 2015-16 Academic Year) Course requirements

1. HEB 380C The Bible in Hebrew I-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 2nd 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.

Dissertation

Once admitted to candidacy, students may register for dissertation hours. Students must

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which they defend their dissertation and apply to graduate. Dissertation courses are graded on the CR/NC basis.

UPDATED REQUIREMENTS (Effective for students entering in 2016-17 Academic Year) Course requirements

1. HEB 380C The Bible in Hebrew I-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 2nd 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

HEB 380C The Bible in Hebrew I

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.

HEB 380C The Bible in Hebrew II

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

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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.

HEB 380C The Bible in Hebrew IV

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 sit-down 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.

Dissertation

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. Dissertation courses are graded on the CR/NC basis.

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SAMPLE DEGREE PLAN YEAR ONE (2016–17)

FALL SPRING

HEB 380C The Bible in Hebrew IV HEB 380C The Bible in Hebrew I

R S 383M Theory & Method in Study of Rel. MEL 383 (REL 386H) Critical Issues in the Study of the Hebrew Bible

Second Language 1 Second Language 2

*Take German Exam YEAR TWO (2017–18)

FALL SPRING

HEB 380C The Bible in Hebrew III HEB 380C The Bible in Hebrew II MEL 383 Comparative Semitic Grammar OR

Historical Hebrew Grammar MEL 383 (REL 386H) Topical Seminar in the Study of the Hebrew Bible

*Take Hebrew Exam YEAR THREE (2018–19)

FALL SPRING

Minor Area Course Minor Area Course

Minor Area Course Comps Course

Elective Comps Course

*Take Qualifying Exams YEAR FOUR (2019–20)

FALL SPRING

Dissertation Dissertation

Minor Area Course Dissertation

YEAR FIVE (2020–21)

FALL SPRING

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SAMPLE DEGREE PLAN (entering Fall 2017) YEAR ONE (2017–18)

FALL SPRING

HEB 380C The Bible in Hebrew III HEB 380C The Bible in Hebrew II MEL 383 Comparative Semitic Grammar OR

Historical Hebrew Grammar

MEL 383 (REL 386H) Topical Seminar in the Study of the Hebrew Bible

*Take German Exam YEAR TWO (2018–19)

FALL SPRING

HEB 380C The Bible in Hebrew IV HEB 380C The Bible in Hebrew I

R S 383M Theory & Method in Study of Rel. MEL 383 (REL 386H) Critical Issues in the Study of the Hebrew Bible

*Take Hebrew Exam YEAR THREE (2019–20)

FALL SPRING

Minor Area Course Minor Area Course

Minor Area Course Comps Course

Elective Comps Course

*Take Qualifying Exams YEAR FOUR (2020–21)

FALL SPRING

Minor Area Course Dissertation

YEAR FIVE (2021–22)

FALL SPRING