Course summary

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (October/November 2024). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas MSt This MSt in Jewish Studies in the Graeco-Roman Period aims to provide a good general knowledge of Jewish history, religion and culture in the period from 200 BCE to 135 CE, the period of the Second Temple and early Rabbinic Judaism; to introduce you to the range of primary sources for Jewish history in this period; and to equip you with both the understanding and the ability to use a range of historiographical and critical methods in the treatment of such primary sources. The course consists of instruction in the history and institutions of the Jews and in three specialised areas of Jewish studies which involve close study of particular types of primary texts. You will be expected to have a working knowledge of the relevant languages before starting the course, and no time is set aside for basic language instruction. You can expect to be engaged in academic work for at least thirty-five hours a week during the full term and to be expected to carry out a considerable amount of work during the vacations. The course is taught by a mixture of tutorials and classes. Tutorials will normally consist in one-to-one discussion with a tutor of your written work. The general paper on Jewish history and institutions is taught entirely by a series of weekly tutorials (usually eight) in this manner. The classes provide instruction in the translation and interpretation of most but not necessarily all of the set texts which you are required to study for your specialised papers. General questions about these texts are discussed in tutorials. MPhil The MPhil in Jewish Studies in the Graeco-Roman Period aims to provide you with a good general knowledge of Jewish history, religion and culture in the period from 200 BCE to 425 CE, the period of the Second Temple and the Talmud. The course will introduce you to the range of primary sources for Jewish history in this period and equip you with both the understanding and the ability to use a range of historiographical and critical methods in the treatment of such primary sources. The course consists of instruction in the history and institutions of the Jews and in three specialised areas of Jewish studies which involve close study of particular types of primary texts. Teaching comprises of a mixture of tutorials and classes. Tutorials consist normally of one-to-one discussions with your tutor and written work produced by yourself. The general paper on Jewish history and institutions is taught entirely by a series of weekly tutorials (usually eight) in this manner. The classes provide instruction in the translation and interpretation of most but not necessarily all of the set texts which you are required to study for your specialised papers. General questions about these texts are discussed in tutorials. You can expect to be engaged on academic work for at least thirty-five hours a week during the full term and you will be required to carry out a considerable amount of work during the vacations. Most work for the written examinations is normally completed in the first year of the course, so that most of the second year can be devoted to the dissertation, but some text work may be carried over into the second year if this is convenient. You will be required to choose, in consultation with your supervisor, the special subjects that you wish to study during your first term so that set texts can be approved by the Faculty Board towards the end of that term. After approval by the Faculty Board, set texts will be published in the Course Handbook, which can be accessed via the faculty's course webpage.