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Graduate Programs in Hebrew and Judaic Studies

The Ph.D. is a research degree. Its completion signifies that the recipient is able to conduct original research and has made a serious contribution to knowledge of the field. Students must train in a major and a minor field, and must acquire both the Judaic and general background and methodology necessary for their research.

Applicants must have completed a B.A. in Hebrew and Judaic studies (or a related field), and are admitted on the basis of both their undergraduate and graduate records.

To qualify for the doctorate, a student must satisfactorily complete graduate studies totaling 72 points (a minimum of 32 in residence at New York University, one of which must be G78.1005), pass qualifying examinations in the major and minor fields, and present an acceptable dissertation. Students must demonstrate proficiency in the Hebrew language in its various phases as well as in another appropriate research language. Students also must demonstrate a reading knowledge of two modern Western languages.

Joint Ph.D. Program with History Department

Admission to the joint program with the History department (ACTIVE LINK) must be granted by both departments upon entry or at the point of screening. Students in these programs normally are expected to complete the Hebrew & Judaic Studies core course requirements, including "Problems & M ethods" as well as the History department's "literature of the field" courses. They must also take a written major field examination in both the Hebrew & Judaic Studies and the History departments. Joint candidates are exempt from the departmental requirements for a both oral major exams and minor field exams. Joint students will also have academic advisors in both Hebrew & Judaic Studies and  History.

Education and Jewish Studies Ph.D.

The Ph.D. program in Education and Jewish Studies at New York University prepares researchers and practitioners for leadership positions in a wide range of Jewish educational settings. Students benefit from the rich resources and course offerings of The Steinhardt School of Education and the Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies in the Graduate School of Arts and Science. While providing a core of academic, research, and cohort experiences in education, Jewish education, and Judaic studies, the program is also tailored to its students' individual needs and interests. For more information, please visit the School of Education website.

The M.A. in Hebrew and Judaic studies may be pursued either as preparation for the Ph.D. program or for careers in education, communal service, library science, and public affairs.

Admission: Applicants must have proficiency in Hebrew at the intermediate level, as determined by the department. Applicants are expected to have a broad background in Jewish history and civilization.

Course of Study: Students are required to satisfactorily complete 32 points of graduate course work (a minimum of 24 in residence at New York University, one of which must be G78.1005). Students also need to demonstrate proficiency in Hebrew and at least one Western language. Master's degree students write a thesis or take comprehensive examinations as determined by the department.

The Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies has a cooperative arrangement with the program in Museum Studies. A candidate for the Master of Arts degree in Hebrew and Judaic Studies with a concentration in Museum Studies must complete 38 credits and a full summer internship in a museum or cultural institution. This concentration is aimed primarily at those who are or will be museum professionals in collections relating to Jewish history and civilization. Students interested in these options should consult the Chair of the Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, Professor Lawrence H. Schiffman, at (212) 998-8980 or the Director of the Program in Museum Studies at (212) 998-8080.

The dual degree Program in Nonprofit Management and Judaic Studies, sponsored jointly with the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, leads to the M.P.A. degree and the M.A. degree in Hebrew and Judaic studies. It is intended to train students for careers in Jewish communal service. Interested students should consult Alya Kashper at 992-87174 or via email at wagner.skirball@nyu.edu, or view the program webpage.

This new dual-degree program provides a student with two Master's derees, an M.S.L.I.S. from The Palmer School and an M.A. from the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) at NYU. GSAS offers 48 programs in 200 fields of study. The purpose of this new program, approved by the New York State Department of Education (May 2006) is to produce subject specialists and scholar-librarians for academic and research institutions and the information industry. Students take 13 fewer credits in the dual-degree program than if they took each Master's separately. An important part of this program is a specially designed mentorship program with NYU Libraries' library subject specialists. Mentors stay with the student from the beginning until the end of the degree.

Admission
Students apply separately for admission to each school. A student must be admitted to NYU's GSAS and The Palmer School before they can be considered dual-degree students. GSAS requires the GRE examination. The Palmer School requires the GRE's for all students with a grade point average below a 3.0. The GSAS application deadline is January 4 and The Palmer School admits students throughout the year.

All students who apply for the dual-degree should complete the following for The Palmer School:

1. M.S.L.I.S. online admissions form
2. Dual-degree supplementary form from The Palmer School
3. In-person information session with the program director at the Bobst Library.

While students may take courses at any campus of The Palmer School, all GSAS courses are taught at NYU's Washington Square Campus in Manhattan. We offer all courses for the M.S.L.I.S. at our NYU Bobst Library location. Students already enrolled in the M.S.L.I.S. program may apply for the dual-degree program as long as they have completed no more than 16 credits by the time they enter the program. Students with more than 16 credits in the NYU GSAS program can apply to The Palmer School for a traditional M.A. degree.

Requirements
The Palmer School degree requires 28 credits. Four core courses are:LIS 510, LIS 511, LIS 512 and LIS 514. There is also a mentorship (4 credits) that includes an internship program as well as four electives (12 credits total). The Hebrew and Judaic Studies requirements can be found under the "M.A." listing on this page. Students are advised to speak with the Director of Graduate Studies before they complete their GSAS application.

After completing 12 credits at NYU and 12 credits at Palmer, students in the dual-degree program will transfer 8 credits from their NYU program towards the Palmer degree and 9 credits from their Palmer program towards the GSAS degree. Students are responsible for applying for this transfer of credit and should do so once 12 credits are completed at either institution.

Specialization
Within the dual-degree program, students can complete a concentration in rare books or archives ora more general M.S.L.I.S. with elective courses in information technologies, subject reference and organization of information. Because the School Library Media Specialist program has a minimum of 6 mandatory courses in addition to the core courses, it is not part of the dual-degree program.