Historical Studies in Christianity and Judaism

The graduate program in historical studies in Christianity and Judaism provides specialization in the areas of Judaism and Christianity in antiquity: textual and historical studies, European and American history, and historical theology.

Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity: Textual and Historical Studies

The program in "Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity" provides the opportunity for the advanced study of Judaism from the early Second Temple period through the period of the Talmud, and of Christianity from its origins through the Arab conquest.  The program combines the fields traditionally distinguished as “Hebrew Bible,” “Second Temple literature,” "New Testament," “Early Christianity,” “Rabbinic literature” and "Patristics."

The rationale for the breadth of the program lies in the close historical relationship between Christianity and Judaism in the ancient world, their emergence from a common set of scriptural texts, and their common concern with scriptural exegesis as a medium through which to develop and express theological visions.  The program is designed to allow the student to study biblical and para-biblical texts not only in their historical settings, but also as they have been received and interpreted within Jewish and Christian communities. 

The program provides a broad range of resources through which students can engage ancient Judaism and Christianity. 

The program trains students in:

• the languages in which ancient Jewish and Christian texts were composed
• close reading of scriptural and exegetical texts
• the reconstruction of the social and intellectual settings to which the texts belong
• the history of interpretation of scriptural texts
• points of historical contact between Judaism and Christianity 

I. Areas of Concentration

The breadth of the program is qualified by the requirement that each student elect a major and minor area of concentration from the four subject areas:

A. Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Literature
B. New Testament and Early Christian Literature
C. Rabbinic Literature
D. Patristics

These choices reflect only areas of concentration, and serious coursework is required in the other fields.

Note: Since both Christianity and Judaism belonged to, shaped, and were shaped by a larger common environment, the program also entails careful attention to Graeco-Roman society and culture.

II. Course Requirements

Normally a student will be required to accumulate 72 hours of credit (12 hours per semester for 6 semesters). If, however, a student brings to the program a strong post-baccalaureate degree with clear relevance for the program, advanced standing may be granted. In that case, the course requirement may be reduced by up to 24 credit hours.

A student's course load in any given semester will normally consist of two language courses and two graduate seminars OR one language course and three graduate seminars.  By agreement among instructors, not more than two major research papers will be required of any student in a single semester. 

The program regularly offers courses in each of the four subject areas.  The faculty recommends taking these courses whenever possible.  Courses offered recently include:

• Hebrew Bible and Its Interpretation (e.g. Genesis, 1st and 2nd Samuel, Wisdom Literature)
• Judaism in Antiquity: 586 BCE-600 CE
• Philo and Hellenistic Judaism
• Jesus and the Gospel Tradition
• Paul Seminar (e.g., 1st Corinthians, Romans, Pauline Theology)
• Canon Formation (Hebrew Bible and New Testament)
• Second Century Christianity
• Ethics and Theology of the Rabbis
• Religion and Culture of the Rabbis
• Rabbinic Text Seminars (e.g., Midrash, Mishnah, Targum, Talmud)
• Literary Approaches to Rabbinic Literature
• Patristic Greek
• Survey of Patristic Literature
• Alexandrian Christianity
• From Nicea to Chalcedon
• Augustine Seminar

Students are strongly encouraged to take courses in other departments (principally Classics, History, Philosophy and Art) as available and as relevant to their programs of study.  Courses offered recently include:

• Plato
• Roman History
• Byzantine Art
• Greek Religion

III. Languages

Because knowledge of the classical languages of the Jewish and Christian traditions is essential to advanced study and productive scholarship, students are expected to pursue language study each and every semester they are in residence. 

Students are expected to develop competency in two ancient languages from among the following: 

• Hebrew
  Competence in Hebrew is understood as the ability to read biblical and rabbinic texts.
• Greek
  Competence in Greek is understood as the ability to read texts in ecclesiastical Greek.
• Latin
  Competence in Latin is understood as the ability to read texts in ecclesiastical Latin.
• Aramaic
  Competence in Aramaic is understood as the ability to read texts in rabbinic Aramaic.

A student who enters already well-prepared in two of these languages will be strongly encouraged to develop competence in a third language.

In each case, competence is assumed when a student can translate passages supplied by an examiner with the aid of a dictionary.

IV. Comprehensive Examinations

1. While enrolled in courses, students are expected to achieve reading level competence in French and German.  Students are to demonstrate this competence through exams administered through the French and German departments.
2. Before beginning comprehensive examinations, students need to demonstrate mastery in two ancient languages by written examination.
3. Within six (6) months of completing coursework and language exams, each student will sit for written comprehensive examinations.  An oral exam will be held a week or so after the written exams are completed.  Though students’ major and minor concentrations will vary, every student in the program will be examined in the following five areas:
   • Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Literature
   • New Testament and Early Christian Literature
   • Rabbinic Literature
   • Patristics
   • Graeco-Roman Society and Culture

Each student sits for an eight (8) hour exam in the subject area of major concentration (A, B, C or D) and a six (6) hour exam in the subject area of minor concentration (A, B, C or D). 

In addition, each student sits for a four (4) hour examination in each of the remaining subject areas.

Finally, all students sit for a four (4) exam in Graeco-Roman society and culture. 

Examinations will be set in accordance with fundamental issues in the field, the student’s coursework and the student's specialized interests.

V. The Colloquium in Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity

The program sponsors an on-going colloquium of faculty and graduate students which meets several times each semester and provides an informal but informative extra-curricular occasion for discussion.  The format varies from meeting to meeting, and may include the presentation of a paper by a faculty member or a student, a presentation by a visiting scholar, discussion of a piece of common reading, or of dissertation work.  Though extra-curricular, the colloquium has an important function in the intellectual formation of graduate students, and all graduate students in the program are expected to participate on a regular basis.

VI. Program Faculty in the Department of Religious Studies

Elizabeth Shanks Alexander
Harry Gamble
Greg Schmidt Goering
Martien Halvorson-Taylor
Judith Kovacs
Robert Wilken

VII. Faculty in Other University Departments

Malcolm Bell (Art History)
Jenny Clay (Classics)
Daniel Devereux (Philosophy)
John Dillery (Classics)
John J. Dobbins (Art History)
Coulter George (Classics)
Gregory Hays (Classics)
David Kovacs (Classics)
J.E. Lendon (History)
Elizabeth A. Meyer (History)
Jon D. Mikalson (Classics)
John F. Miller (Classics)
Eric Ramirez-Weaver (Art History)
Dominic Scott (Philosophy)
Tyler Jo Smith (Art History)
A.J. Woodman (Classics)

 

European and American Religious History

The program in European and American Religious History is interdisciplinary, drawing upon the resources of the departments of Religious Studies and History.

It offers the opportunity for specialized concentration in:

• Medieval or Early Modern European religious history
• American religious history
• European and American Catholicism since the eighteenth century

The program requires that each student choose two (2) concentrations: a primary concentration (in,e.g., European religious history) and a secondary concentration in, e.g., American religious history).

A. Course Requirements for the Ph.D.

The total program requirements are as follows:

Total of 72 credits = 18 courses = 54 credits + 6 "dummy" courses

• Seven (7) courses in primary concentration: European or American History (these 27 credits need not be entirely restricted to the department of religious studies).
• Three (3) courses in secondary concentration. If the primary concentration is American, then three courses in European are needed. If the primary concentration is European, then three courses in American are needed.
• Two (2) courses in antiquity (before 7th century C.E.).
• Two (2) courses in theology or philosophy.
• Two (2) courses in literature or art history.
• Two (2) courses, each of which will serve as an introduction to a social-scientific approach to historical studies (e.g. ethnographic, sociological, or anthropological methodology).

B. Examinations

Four (4) total comprehensive examinations are required. Three (3) examinations are to be written in the following areas:

1. European religious history (exclusive of the dissertation area);
2. American religious history (exclusive of the dissertation area);
3. the area of specialization incorporating one question on one of the methodological approaches chosen in course work, (literary/aesthetic, social-scientific, or philosophical/theological)

These three (3) written exams are to be taken over the space of one week's time, no later than the second semester after the completion of all course work. (In October, January, or April). The fourth exam is an oral exam, which is conducted in conjunction with the defense of the student's dissertation proposal, is to be taken no later than one semester after the completion of the written exams.

C. Languages

All students must pass exams in French, German, and Latin. Substitutions may be allowed according to area of concentration.

After the first semester of graduate study all students will be expected to use at least one foreign language in their research assignments.

D. Dissertation

Dissertation is as per requirements of the Religious Studies Department and the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GSAS). See the GSAS physical standards for thesis and dissertations.

Historical Theology

Historical Theology provides opportunity for advanced study of the history of Christian thought. Students will concentrate on one historical period, e.g. early church, medieval, early modern, but will be examined on theological sources from other periods. One exam will deal with some aspect of the Scriptures as interpreted within Christian tradition. Besides French and German students will be required to pass examinations in ecclesiastical Greek and Latin.