Students may pursue graduate studies in these major fields: Cuneiform Studies (primarily Sumerian and Akkadian), Egyptology, Biblical Studies, and Rabbinic and
Classical Jewish Literature. Programs are developed under the direction of a faculty advisor and must encompass a major and minor program of study. These programs are
adjusted to individual student needs and interests. All students must meet the following requirements in conjunction with the "Graduate Rules and Regulations" described
on the website of the Office of Graduate Studies (http://www.upenn.edu/VPGE/rules.html).
Upon entering the graduate program, each new student should contact the Graduate Chair who will assign a faculty member as the student's advisor. Under the advisor's
direction, the student will plan his or her program. A review by the Graduate Group of each new student's work will be held toward the end of the first year. The results of
this review will help determine whether the student is qualified to continue on toward the Ph.D. degree.
Ph.D. Program
M.A. Program
Cuneiform Studies
Egyptology
Biblical Studies
Rabbinics & Classical Jewish Literature
Ph.D. Program
While the experienced and exceptionally prepared student may meet the course requirements by completing a minimum of 20 course units, graduate groups will in many cases
require more extensive preparation through additional work. Of the 20 course units, at least 12 must be completed at the University of Pennsylvania.
1. Language and Literature Concentration:
a) At least 8 courses in the major language beyond the second year level.
Note: If the major area is Biblical Studies or Rabbinic and Classical Jewish Literature, only courses taken after passing a proficiency examination in Biblical Hebrew will
count toward the requirement.
b) At least 4 courses in minor language(s).
c) The distribution of the remaining courses will be worked out by the student and his or her advisor(s).
2. Archaeology Concentration:
a) For the concentration in Egyptian archaeology see EGYPTOLOGY.
b) Students pursuing the Cuneiform Studies program may elect to include a specialization in Archaeology or Art History as part of their program within NELC (see,
CUNEIFORM STUDIES, section I, D). Concentrations in the pertinent aspects of Mesopotamian studies are also offered by the Departments of Anthropology, Art History and
Ancient History. Students registered in those graduate groups are in no way restricted from taking courses in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and
Civilizations.
3. Modern research languages.
For research purposes all students must demonstrate competence to read scholarly research in their fields in two modern languages. NELC's policies regarding this
requirement are set out in its "Research Language Requirement" statement.
4. Upon completion of all required courses students must pass comprehensive examinations in the major and minor fields and such other fields as may be determined by
the faculty of the major field. In these examinations candidates must show knowledge of the languages, archaeology, history, literature and cultural significance of their
fields of study. Work taken in courses can only partially meet these requirements.
5. In the Ph.D. program, an examination may be administered to the student, at the discretion of the faculty of the Graduate Group, during the first year of study. On
occasion a master's thesis may also be required. These requirements aim to determine whether the student is qualified to continue toward the Ph.D. degree.
M.A. Program
A minimum twelve course units is required for the master’s degree.
Additional work may be prescribed in individual cases. Any student
registered for the full amount of four course units may register
as auditor for one additional course with the permission of the
dean of the student’s school. No more than four course units in
any one term may be counted toward the minimum requirement of
eight course units. No course may be counted toward degree requirements
if it has been used toward the requirements for more than one
other degree.
Course requirements for the M.A. are:
1) Two courses in the major language beyond the second year level.
Note: If the major area is Biblical Studies or Rabbinic and Classical Jewish Literature, only courses taken after passing a proficiency examination in Biblical Hebrew will
count toward the requirement.
2) Two courses in the minor language.
3) Eight courses in subjects related to the major field.
4) A reading examination in a modern language of scholarly research (French, German, or another language approved by the faculty of the student's program). Students must
pass this exam by the beginning of their second year of study.
5) Comprehensive examinations.
6) Research paper(s) or thesis.
Submatriculation
An undergraduate student may wish to undertake an intensified major program leading to the awarding of both the B.A. and M.A. degrees. Such a program of study must be
approved by the undergraduate advisor, the undergraduate chair, and the Dean of the student's undergraduate school.
Undergraduates who wish to submatriculate into the NELC Graduate Group may apply to the Graduate Group at pre-registration time in the second semester of the junior year.
If there is a question about the student's standing, the faculty may choose to wait until the semester's grades are in before making a final deci-sion. Only graduate courses
taken in the senior year will count for both graduate and under-graduate credit. An undergraduate must fulfill the graduate requirements in a course and re-ceive a grade of
A before that course can be considered for graduate credit. Courses required for fulfillment of the undergraduate major cannot be counted for graduate credit.
(The following statements will give the student a concrete idea of the major and minor fields of ancient Near Eastern Studies available within the Department. They are
also intended to help the student prepare for comprehensive examinations in these fields. Students are reminded that work taken in courses can only partially prepare them
for their examinations.)
CUNEIFORM STUDIES
I. Major Program
Students majoring in Cuneiform Studies may choose either Akkadian or Sumerian as their primary language, with the other language serving as their secondary language.
Students may also choose a specialization either in Mesopotamian literature, archaeology or art history within the major.
A) Languages:
1) Detailed knowledge of the primary language with ability to read, translate, and interpret texts representative of its major linguistic periods and of the
main genres of its literature.
2) An effective working knowledge of the secondary language based upon the essentials of its grammar.
B) History, literature and culture: knowledge of ancient Near Eastern history in gener-al, and a detailed knowledge of Mesopotamian history in particular. Familiarity with
the main aspects of Mesopotamian civilization, its culture and institutions.
C) Archaeology and Art History: basic knowledge of archaeological techniques and bibliography; basic knowledge of the history of Mesopotamian art.
D) Specialization in one of the following tracks, including familiarity with relevant interdisciplinary and theoretical literature:
1) Mesopotamian literature: In addition to advanced knowledge of both Sumerian and Akkadian and the written traditions of ancient Mesopotamia, students must
gain knowledge of other ancient Near Eastern literatures, including second year competency in another Semitic language (it is advisable for students to choose an appropriate
minor program such as Biblical Studies or Egyptology to help fulfill this requirement).
2) Mesopotamian archaeology: advanced knowledge of ancient Mesopotamian archaeology and a demonstrable ability to relate archaeological and textual materials.
3) Mesopotamian Art history: advanced knowledge of ancient Mesopotamian art history and a demonstrable ability to relate iconographic and textual materials.
II. Minor Program
A) Language: knowledge of either Akkadian or Sumerian based on a precise knowledge of the essentials of its grammar, and the achievement of a second year level of
competence in the language chosen. Students with insufficient knowledge of the language will not be allowed to use primary source material in their dissertation.
B) History, literature and culture: general knowledge of Mesopotamian history, literature and culture; familiarity with the basic tools and methods of Cuneiform research.
EGYPTOLOGY
In general, the student is to follow the rules of the Graduate Group, but the following statements outline the more specific regulations for which those students who are
in the Ph.D. degree program in Egyptology are also responsible.
I. Course Requirements
A) Language and Literature Concentration
1) Major Field:
a) Ancient Egyptian language and literature: at least 8 courses
b) History, culture, archaeology, and art of ancient Egypt: at least 6 courses.
2) Minor Field:
a) Language of chosen minor area: at least 4 courses
b) History, culture, art and archaeology of the chosen minor area: at least 2 courses.
B) Archaeology Concentration
1) Major Field:
a) Archaeology, art, and culture of ancient Egypt: at least 7 courses
b) History of ancient Egypt: at least 2 courses
c) Language of ancient Egypt: at least 4 courses
2) Minor Field:
a) Art, archeology, history, culture, and anthropology of chosen minor area: at least 6 courses
b) Archaeological interpretation and techniques: at least 1 course
II. Description of the Program in Egyptology
A) Language and Literature Concentration
1) Major Field:
a) Ancient Egyptian language and literature: for the Ph.D., the student must acquire a detailed knowledge and proficiency in all phases of ancient Egyptian:
Old, Middle, and Late Egyptian, as well as Demotic and Coptic. All genres of texts and all types of writing are to be learned. Each student is to acquire a thorough
understanding of the grammar of each period and diachronic relationships.
b) History, culture, art, and archaeology of ancient Egypt: courses chosen should provide the student with a detailed knowledge of Egyptian history from Pre-historic until
Graeco-Roman times. Familiarity with the basic trends in the history of Egyptian art and archaeology is to be acquired along with a knowledge of the chief groups of
artifacts and their chronological and cultural significance. A thorough understanding of Egyptian religion, political organizations, social structure, and technology must
be obtained. The student must acquire the ability to relate archaeological, cultural, and textual evidence.
2) Minor Field
a) Language of chosen minor area of concentration: The student must obtain a working knowledge of another language of the ancient Near East or Greece:
Akkadian, Sumerian, Hittite, Biblical Hebrew or Greek. With appropriate permission of the advisors, Arabic may in specific occasions be substituted.
b) History, culture, art, and archaeology: It is necessary to obtain a knowledge of the major aspects of the history and culture of the minor area of concentration in which
the language was chosen: Mesopotamia, Syria-Palestine, Turkey, or Greece, and, in addition, a basic knowledge of the history of the ancient Near East.
B) Archaeology Concentration
1) Major Field:
a) Language of ancient Egypt: The student must obtain a comprehensive knowledge of Middle Egyptian texts and grammar and have familiarity with texts and grammar
of Old and Late Egyptian.
b) Archaeology, art, history, and culture of ancient Egypt: The student must obtain a detailed knowledge of the main styles and development of Egyptian art and architecture,
and of their cultural functions; detailed knowledge of the chief groups of artifacts and of their chronological and cultural significance; and thorough familiarity with
archaeological techniques in general and of those relevant to Egypt in particular. Comprehensive understanding of religion, political organizations, social structure, and
technology of ancient Egypt. The student must be able to integrate cultural archaeological and textual evidence.
c) History of ancient Egypt: The student is to acquire a detailed knowledge of all phases of ancient Egyptian history, from prehistoric through Graeco-Roman times.
2) Minor Field:
a) Art, Archaeology, history, culture, and anthropology: Students will be required to demonstrate thorough knowledge of these aspects of the chosen minor area of
concentration as well as a basic general knowledge of the history of the ancient Near East.
b) Archaeological interpretation and techniques: The students must become familiar with basic archaeological field techniques and the methods used to interpret
archaeological evidence.
C) Minor in Egyptology
Students majoring in another field who minor in Egyptology must take at least four courses in Egyptian language (Middle Egyptian and another significant phase) and
two in history and culture.
III. Program Requirements
A) Course Requirements: See I, above
B) Modern Research Language Exams. Reading competence in both French and German must be demonstrated in accordance with the policies described in the Graduate Group's
"Research Language Requirement".
C) In the Ph.D. program, the graduate student will, on successful completion of the course work and research language exams, take comprehensive examinations in both
the major and minor fields. Material covered in courses can only partially cover the requirements outlined in the programs described above (I and II), and the student is,
therefore, expected to gain the necessary knowledge through independent study and supplementary reading.
BIBLICAL STUDIES
Students must acquire proficiency in the following areas:
I. Major Program
A) Hebrew and Aramaic of the Biblical period, including the language of extra-Biblical texts; knowledge of historical grammar and ability to sight-translate Biblical
prose and interpret Biblical poetry.
B) Biblical literature: ability to identify passages and details from the Hebrew or Aramaic text, and to discuss major textual, literary-critical, and methodological
issues. Exams on assigned texts and secondary literature are given at the start of each academic year.
C) History, geography, and archaeology of Israel in the Biblical period in their ancient Near Eastern context.
D) Culture: social and political institutions and history of Israelite religion within their ancient Near Eastern context.
E) Ancillary fields:
1) A minor in either Cuneiform Studies (Akkadian) or Egyptology, and comparative studies relating the minor field to Biblical Israel; or a minor in Biblical
Archaeology.
2) Hebrew epigraphy, Northwest Semitic languages, elementary Arabic, and comparative Semitics; Greek adequate for use of the Septuagint; post-Biblical literature and
exegesis.
II. Minor Program
A) Hebrew: 4 graduate-level courses in Biblical Hebrew texts; ability to sight-translate uncomplicated texts.
B) Biblical literature: familiarity with the content of the Bible, distinctive features of its main genres, and important literary-critical issues.
C) History and culture of ancient Israel.
D) Comparative studies relating Biblical Israel to the student's major subject.
RABBINIC AND CLASSICAL JEWISH LITERATURE
Students must acquire proficiency in the following areas:
I. Major Program
A) Hebrew and Aramaic of the Biblical and postbiblical periods, and ability to sight-read and interpret Biblical and Rabbinic texts.
B) Rabbinic Literature:
1) Knowledge of Talmudic literature, as demonstrated by mastery of significant selections from the Mishnah and Tosefta; and selections from the Babylonian
Talmud and parallels in the Palestinian Talmud (covering both halakhic and aggadic sources).
2) Knowledge of Midrashic literature, as demonstrated by mastery of significant selections from three Tannaitic midrashim (including Mekhilta and Sifre Devarim) and
from four Amoraic and post-Amoraic midrashim (including Bereshit Rabbah and Vayikra Rabbah).
3) Knowledge of the literature of the synagogue, including the regular liturgy and selections of piyyut.
C) History and Culture of Rabbinic Judaism and its background, from the Second Temple Period through the Geonic Period, including relevant archaeological material,
the history of its political and social institutions; the major schools of religious thought and concepts of belief; and the methodology behind the modern study of
Rabbinic histo-ry, culture, and religion.
D) Ancillary fields:
1) Two years of Greek, with ability to read koine texts.
2) Jewish and early Christian literature of the Second Temple and late Antique periods, including the New Testament, Philo, Josephus, Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha; Qumran
and the Dead Sea Scrolls; and Gnostic literature.
3) Familiarity with Hekhalot literature and its background.
4) Post-Rabbinic and medieval Biblical exegesis.
5) Literary-critical and hermeneutical issues involved in the modern study of Rabbinic literature and culture.
II. Minor Program
A) Rabbinic literature: 4 graduate-level courses in Rabbinic literature of different types, with at least one semester in Talmud and one in midrash; ability to
sight-translate uncomplicated texts.
B) Familiarity with the main genres of Rabbinic literature, its distinctive features and the history of its development, and the major literary-critical issues involved
in its study.
C) History and Culture of Rabbinic Judaism.
D) Comparative studies relating Rabbinic Judaism to the student's major subject.
