Program: Jewish Thought MA - University at Buffalo

Apr 09, 2025

WORKING 2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

The MA in Jewish Thought, a comprehensive, 30-credit program, provides advanced training in the intellectual and spiritual history of Judaism, with special emphasis on medieval, modern and contemporary thought. You will explore both classical and modern texts, and examine authors and philosophers who have an impact on the field. These authors and texts will be read closely to discover original ideas, the conceptual and historical relations of these ideas and thinkers to one another, and their relation to the broader intellectual issues of their times and our times.

Required Core (18 credits)

Advanced Late Antique & Medieval Jewish Texts (3 credits)

Select 1 from:

JDS 715SEM - Advanced Late Antique and Medieval Jewish Texts Credits: 3
JDS 709SEM - Jewish Law and Theory Credits: 3

Classical & Contemporary Jewish Philosophers (3 credits)

Select 1 from:

JDS 650SEM - Modern Jewish Thought Credits: 3
JDS 655SEM - Medieval Jewish Thought Credits: 3

Ethics (3 credits)

Select 1 from:

JDS 720SEM - Ethics of Emmanuel Levinas Credits: 3
JDS 725SEM - Politics, Ethics and Religion Credits: 3
JDS 729SEM - Virtue Ethics in Abrahamic Religions Credits: 3

Literature of Mysticism (3 credits)

Select 1 from:

JDS 680SEM - Kabbalah (Jewish Mysticism) Credits: 3
JDS 685SEM - Jewish Magic Credits: 3

Secular Jewish Literature (3 credits)

Select 1 from:

JDS 690SEM - Jewish Identity in Modern Jewish Literature Credits: 3
JDS 695SEM - Jewish Literature After Auschwitz Credits: 3

Special Topics (3 credits)

Select 1 from:

JDS 526SEM - Special Topics Jewish Thought Credits: 3
JDS 598TUT - Supervised Reading Credits: 1 - 3

Electives & Culminating Experience (12 credits)

Electives

Number of elective credits may vary depending on choice made to complete the culminating experience. Be sure to complete enough elective credit to reach 30 minimum total credit hours.

Select a minimum of 6 credits from graduate level JDS courses.

Culminating Experience: Project or Thesis (6 credits)

JDS 599TUT - Masters Project Guidance Credits: 1 - 6
JDS 600TUT - Thesis Guidance Credits: 1 - 6

Total Credit Hours: 30

3.0 Degree GPA required

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

1) Distinguish main components of academic study of religious and literary texts versus studying/practicing them in religious and/or lay context in order to produce critical academic work on these texts.

2) Recognize and critically evaluate issues in contemporary broader humanities today with an emphasis on the contribution of Jewish thought.

3) Identify, analyze and describe main texts and traditions of Jewish thought.

4) Develop skills in the close and critical reading of primary sources in Jewish thought including historical documents and texts.

5) Use, apply, and critically evaluate secondary sources that theorize or historically/culturally contextualize topics in Jewish thought.

6) Develop critical skills in mutual renegotiation of classical Jewish and general philosophical, rhetorical and ethical thought.

7) Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the research writing process through the creation of their own work with elements of original research.

In Person (100 percent of courses offered in person)

Admission Tests **

GRE

SED Statement

This program is officially registered with the New York State Education Department (SED).

** At least one of the admissions tests are required for admission. Test and score requirements/exceptions vary by program. Contact the department for details.