StudyQA — Master: Israel Studies — Hebrew University of Jerusalem

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Description Contents Requirements

Israel is home to a complex and diverse society that regularly faces social, political, and security challenges. In the M.A. in Israel Studies program, you’ll examine the historical processes that led to the creation of today’s Israeli society, the complicated relationships between the various groups that must live side by side within the boundaries of the State of Israel, and the ways in which Israel copes with these challenges domestically and abroad. This prestigious program is offered by Hebrew University’s Rothberg International School (RIS) in conjunction with the Department of Political Science and Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

Taught by world-renowned scholars, this program incorporates courses from a wide array of disciplines in social sciences, history, and cultural studies. You’ll learn not only through academic studies and faculty-led tours, but also through opportunities to delve into this complexity as it plays out in Israel's capital, Jerusalem, via continued analysis of current events and developments that are central to the political and social debate. You will engage with the politics, media, and geography of Israel in a profound way – as well as gain a thorough understanding of the complicated relationship Israel maintains with its neighbors and other actors on the international stage.

Additionally, you’ll gain a comprehensive foundation in modern Hebrew.

The M.A. in Israel Studies program offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Israeli politics and society, incorporating history, politics, anthropology, culture, and religion. As a student in this program, you’ll read and analyze up-to-date texts and immerse yourself in the study of modern Hebrew.

Structure
As a student in the M.A. in Israel Studies, you will take a combination of required courses, electives, and Hebrew language courses over three consecutive semesters. You are required to complete two

levels of Modern Hebrew by the end of your studies. Participation in the Summer Ulpan (Hebrew language training) before the start of your program is not required, but is strongly encouraged because it allows you the opportunity to advance quickly in Modern Hebrew.

Credits
The M.A. in Israel Studies consists of 42 credits over three consecutive semesters.

Courses
Provided as an example only and subject to change:

Required Courses
• Israel: Politics and Society
• Introduction to the Anthropology and Sociology of Israeli Society: The Many Facets of Israel
• Spatial Planning in Contested Spaces: The Case of Israel and Palestine
• Touring Israeli Society: Jerusalem Majolica - Communities, Identities, and Intergroup Relations
• Media, Culture, and Identity in Israel
• Social Media and Blogging in Israel: Theory and PracticeElective Courses

Recent elective courses:
• Social and Political History of the State of Israel from 1948 to Today
• Israel from a Gendered Perspective
• Israel's Defense Policy: The Limits of Military Power
• The Holocaust and Beyond: Central Issues in History, and Their Impact on Western and Israeli Culture and Society
• Israel, the West, and Radical Islam
• Theories and Approaches in the Study of Political Violence and Terrorism
• International Security Regimes in the Middle East
• Religion in Israeli Society
• Jewish Lifecycle through Israeli Film
• Palestinian Society in Palestine and the Diaspora: Trends of Social and Political Change

You may select electives from among the courses offered in Israel Studies and other related HebrewU graduate programs with the approval of the academic head of the program. If you have a sufficient level of Hebrew, you may also choose from graduate-level courses offered in the Departments of Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology, Journalism and Communications, International Relations, and History.

Seminar Papers
At least two of the papers you will submit are seminar papers. For these papers, you will earn a total of 8 credits towards the required 42 credits of the degree.

Modern Hebrew Requirement
You are required to pass two levels of Hebrew beyond the level at which you entered the program. (i.e., If you started the program at level Bet, you are required to complete levels Bet and Gimmel.) Modern Hebrew courses do not count towards the credits of the degree. If you complete additional levels of Hebrew beyond the requirement, you may request approval from your academic advisor to apply half of the credits earned from the extra Hebrew courses towards your degree's credit requirements. Such requests will be assessed on a case by case basis.

You are strongly encouraged to obtain at least level Gimel in Hebrew by the end of your studies so that you have the ability to read contemporary texts in Hebrew. Learn more about the Hebrew levels.

While it is not required, we strongly encourage you to attend the Summer Ulpan (intensive Hebrew language training) prior to the start of the program as it allows students to advance quickly through Modern Hebrew. This is particularly true for those who have little or no knowledge of Modern Hebrew.

Additional Language Studies
If you wish to study an additional language, you may do so with your academic advisor's approval. You may request approval from your academic advisor to use half of the credits you earn towardsyour degree requirements. Such requests will be assessed on a case by case basis.

Thesis

As a student in the M.A. in Israel Studies, you are not required to write a thesis.

Optional Thesis Year
If you wish to write a thesis, you may do so by enrolling for an additional year (or more) at Hebrew University as a special research student of the Faculty of Social Sciences. All program requirements in the M.A. in Israel Studies must be completed before the Faculty of Social Sciences will admit special research students for studies.

Departments
You must select an academic department in which to continue your studies and find a thesis advisor. You may inquire about writing a thesis in the following departments:
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Department of Political Science

Additional Courses
You should obtain current information from the department you select concerning the conditions for writing a thesis. You may be required to take additional courses in preparation for drafting your thesis during the extended year, as per the policy of the department where you will be hosted. During your extended year at Hebrew University, you will be required to complete all levels of Modern Hebrew (through level Vav).

Qualified students with a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education are eligible for admission to the program. Admission is competitive and is based on transcripts and letters of recommendation. Candidates must have:

a final grade point average of at least 3.2 (B) or the equivalent
a relevant background in the areas of political science, sociology or anthropology

Knowledge of English: Applicants are required to submit official TOEFL, IELTS, or Amir scores. The minimum TOEFL score required is 89 on the internet-based test. The minimum IELTS score is 7. The minimum Amir score is 220.

Exempted from this requirement are applicants who have completed a full degree (a minimum of four years) taught solely in English at a recognized institution of higher education. Applicants who have completed a B.A. in English Language and Literature may request an exemption provided that they submit documentation from their university stating that the language of instruction is English.