Jewish Studies (Non-Thesis) (M.A.) (45 credits)
Offered by: Jewish Studies (Faculty of Arts)
Degree: Master of Arts
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
All students pursuing this option must take JWST 699 Research in Jewish Studies. JWST 699 Research in Jewish Studies.JWST 699 Research in Jewish Studies.JWST 699 Research in Jewish Studies.JWST 699 Research in Jewish Studies.. The remaining credits will normally include 15 credits in two of the following areas and 12 credits in the third: Jewish Thought, Jewish History, and Jewish Literature. The substitution of credits in related disciplines outside of Jewish Studies may be permitted if appropriate. The coursework will be adjusted to the applicant's academic background.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Required Course (3 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JWST 699 | Research in Jewish Studies. | 3 |
Research in Jewish Studies. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Practical problems and resources related to research and key theoretical debates in the field will be discussed. | ||
Complementary Courses (42 credits)
Students will normally take 15 credits in two of the following areas and 12 credits in the third.
Jewish Thought (12-15 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JWST 504 | Seminar in Jewish Thought. | 3 |
Seminar in Jewish Thought. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Examination of a theme or philosopher in the history of Jewish thought with particular attention to the intersections between Jewish thought and other intellectual traditions (e.g. Greek, Islamic, Christian, etc.) | ||
| JWST 510 | Jewish Bible Interpretation 1. | 3 |
Jewish Bible Interpretation 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The issues, approaches, and texts of Jewish Bible interpretation between the Biblical and Talmudic eras: Bible interpretation in the Bible; in Greco-Roman Jewish literature; in the Mishnah, Tosefta, Targumim, and Talmudim; early Samaritan interpretation, Bible interpretation in ancient synagogue art, and in the massoretic literature. | ||
| JWST 511 | Jewish Bible Interpretation 2. | 3 |
Jewish Bible Interpretation 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The issues, problems, approaches, and texts of Jewish Bible interpretation in medieval, renaissance, early modern, and modern times. Interpretation in the Geonic, Ashkenazi, Sefardic, North African, Italian, European, Yemenite, North American and Israeli centres of Jewish Learning. | ||
| JWST 542 | ||
Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. | ||
| JWST 543 | ||
Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. | ||
| JWST 558 | Topics: Modern Jewish Thought. | 3 |
Topics: Modern Jewish Thought. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Studies of topics in Modern Jewish thought. Topic varies by year. | ||
| JWST 604 | Topics: In Jewish Thought. | 3 |
Topics: In Jewish Thought. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Tutorial in Jewish thought. | ||
Jewish History (12-15 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 655 | Tutorial. | 6 |
Tutorial. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. If a seminar is not available in a field judged necessary to complete the program, candidates may (with the consent of their Director of Studies and that of the Chair of the Graduate Committee) do tutorial work to replace a seminar. | ||
| JWST 585 | Tutorial: Eastern European Studies 1. | 3 |
Tutorial: Eastern European Studies 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Individualized guided research on an approved topic in East European studies. | ||
| JWST 586 | Tutorial: Eastern European Studies 2. | 3 |
Tutorial: Eastern European Studies 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Indivisualized guided research on an approved topec in East European studies. | ||
| JWST 602 | East European Jewish History 1. | 3 |
East European Jewish History 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. (1500 - 1800) Studies on specific issues and problems related to the social and cultural history of the Jews in Eastern Europe. | ||
Jewish Literature (12-15 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JWST 510 | Jewish Bible Interpretation 1. | 3 |
Jewish Bible Interpretation 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The issues, approaches, and texts of Jewish Bible interpretation between the Biblical and Talmudic eras: Bible interpretation in the Bible; in Greco-Roman Jewish literature; in the Mishnah, Tosefta, Targumim, and Talmudim; early Samaritan interpretation, Bible interpretation in ancient synagogue art, and in the massoretic literature. | ||
| JWST 511 | Jewish Bible Interpretation 2. | 3 |
Jewish Bible Interpretation 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The issues, problems, approaches, and texts of Jewish Bible interpretation in medieval, renaissance, early modern, and modern times. Interpretation in the Geonic, Ashkenazi, Sefardic, North African, Italian, European, Yemenite, North American and Israeli centres of Jewish Learning. | ||
| JWST 520 | Bible Interpretation in Antiquity. | 3 |
Bible Interpretation in Antiquity. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Studies in bible interpretation in Antiquity. | ||
| JWST 530 | Topics in Yiddish Literature. | 3 |
Topics in Yiddish Literature. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Supervised research in Yiddish literature. Work will focus on one genre, literary school or author. | ||
| JWST 538 | Early Rabbinic Parshanut 1. | 3 |
Early Rabbinic Parshanut 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Advanced level work on one aspect of Jewish Bible interpretation in late antiquity. | ||
| JWST 541 | ||
Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. | ||
| JWST 546 | ||
Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. | ||
| JWST 548 | ||
Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. | ||
| JWST 554 | ||
Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. | ||
| JWST 571 | ||
Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. | ||
| JWST 573 | ||
Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. | ||
| JWST 575 | ||
Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. | ||
| JWST 581 | Aramaic Language. | 3 |
Aramaic Language. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of the Aramaic language. | ||
| JWST 587 | ||
Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. | ||
| JWST 588 | ||
Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. | ||
| JWST 615 | Literary Analysis of Hebrew Fiction. | 3 |
Literary Analysis of Hebrew Fiction. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A methodological examination of contemporary Hebrew narratives with particular attention to literary structures and narrative form. | ||