Doctor of Philosophy in Divinity - History of Judaism

In the History of Judaism Area we concentrate on Jewish thought, from antiquity to the present.Midrash and piyyut, Biblical interpretation and belles-lettres, Sufism and Kabbalah, philosophy and theology these are the main subjects that we explore, in historical and hermeneutical context. The main focus is textual, the study of ideas as they emerge in the vast and varied literary production of the Jews throughout time. Although students are required to gain expertise in one historical period and geographical realm, they are encouraged also to acquire a sense for the development of ideas through the ages, from Biblical to Second Temple, Hellenistic and Rabbinic Judaism, into the Medieval period in the Islamic world and Christian Europe into Modern times, in Germany, France, Italy, Israel and America. The subsequent flourishing of Jewish Studies at Chicago has been sustained by appointments in a wide range of departments: Classics, Philosophy, History, Social Thought, Political Science, Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Music, Germanic Studies, Slavic Languages and Literatures, Romance Languages and Literatures, to name a few. In 1994 the Divinity School established its History of Judaism program for the training of graduate students in Jewish Studies. During the decade and a half since, the School has appointed eminent scholars in the study of Hebrew Bible, Midrash, Medieval Jewish Thought, and Modern Jewish Thought. Working together, these fields and disciplines have created the most comprehensive, distinguished and interdisciplinary program in Jewish Studies available at any American university.

International applicants must hold a US master’s degree or an international equivalent in a field of inquiry related to thier intended study in the Divinity School. The master’s degree should also include coursework in the academic study of religion. Divinity School Application for Graduate Admission Personal Statement Academic Transcripts 3 Letters of Recommendation GRE Scores Current Resume or CV Writing Sample, not to exceed 25 pages The minimum required score for the TOEFL is 104 overall, with 4 sub-scores of 26 each. The minimum required scores in the IELTS are an overall score of 7, with sub-scores of 7 each. Please note that students are required to take the Academic Reading/ Writing test within IELTS, not the General Training Reading/Writing test.