The Jewish Theological Seminary
Academics
Jewish Gender and Women's Studies
Professors
Judith Hauptman, Talmud and Rabbinics
David Kraemer, Talmud and Rabbinics
Burton L. Visotzky, Midrash
Associate Professors
Barbara Mann, Jewish Literature (on leave 2011–2012)
Stefanie Siegmund, Jewish History, Program Adviser
Shuly Rubin Schwartz, Jewish History
Assistant Professors
Shira Epstein, Jewish Education
Amy Kalmanofsky, Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages
Jewish Gender and Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to afford students the opportunity to examine the history, literature, image, and culture of Jewish women and men through the perspective of gender. Students may focus on Jewish women's texts, experiences, and images in literature, law, film, and art. They will also learn to apply a gender studies approach to traditional Jewish biblical and rabbinic texts.
Students in the program will ordinarily focus on one historical period or discipline while taking courses from among the many areas of study taught at The Jewish Theological Seminary and may take complementary courses in women's studies, feminist studies, or queer studies at neighboring institutions.
Students are also supported by the many feminist and gender-focused activities and organizations associated with the larger nearby colleges and universities of New York City. The Jewish Gender and Women's Studies Program prides itself on its commitment to combining feminist and Jewish perspectives, and trains students to bring women's scholarship and experience and a gendered lens to all areas of Judaic Studies.
Degrees
Bachelor of Arts
Master of Arts
Rabbinical School Concentration
Bachelor of Arts
Admission Requirements
View the List College admissions page.
For Jewish Gender and Women's Studies Majors
Thirty credits (usually 10 courses) chosen in consultation with the program adviser, distributed as follows:
- One course double-counted with the List College core
- Six courses (18 credits) in Jewish gender and women's studies, chosen from at least three different fields or disciplines (e.g., Jewish history, Jewish literature, Talmud and rabbinics, Jewish thought, Bible). Courses that do not have the JGW prefix may sometimes, with prior approval of the instructor and the program adviser, be adapted for credit toward the major. If an honors thesis is written, those 3 credits may be applied toward the 18 credits.
- Two courses in feminist studies, queer studies, or women's studies, which may be taken at Columbia, Barnard, or the Union Theological Seminary, with approval of the adviser
- Capstone course
Master of Arts
Admission Requirements
See The Graduate School admissions page.
Degree Requirements
Courses
In addition to courses required of all students in The Graduate School, 30 graduate credits are required as follows:
- A program seminar required of all students, preferably during their first year of study (3 credits); this course will ordinarily be Readings in Jewish Gender Studies.
- One course in feminist or queer theory (3 credits), which may be taken at any of the graduate schools in the Consortium Program.
- Five additional courses (15 credits) in Jewish Gender and Women's Studies.
- Three courses (9 credits) in an area of concentration selected by each student from any one department or program. Courses cross-listed with Jewish Gender and Women's Studies may be counted toward both the cognate and the Jewish Gender and Women's Studies distribution requirement.
Once the distribution requirement has been met, the remaining credit requirement may be met with electives, to be chosen in consultation with the program adviser. For cross-listed courses taken to fulfill the 15 credits of elective JGW courses, where a syllabus is not fully dedicated to a women's studies or gender studies approach, students are expected to fulfill their elective assignments and papers by choosing gender and women's studies themes.
Master's Thesis or Project
The master's thesis (40–60 pages), ordinarily on a topic in the area of concentration, is written in consultation with the program director and under the supervision of a faculty member who is preferably both in the area of concentration and on the Jewish Gender and Women's Studies committee. An alternative path is permitted for artists who design a serious creative project (e.g., creative writing, visual, musical, or performance arts) and enlist an appropriate JTS faculty member as co-adviser.