MA in Israel Studies
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Key Information
Campus location
Jerusalem, Israel
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 year
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 10,400 / per year
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
Introduction
Dare to discover - HUJI Digital Open Day
Join our Digital Open Day for international degree programs, and discover how we combine excellence with a rich student life.
Register Here >>https://tinyurl.com/436h9jkz
Why M.A. in Israel Studies?
- Develop an in-depth, comprehensive understanding of the Israeli state and society while studying in the heart of Jerusalem.
- Learn from top scholars in Israel studies and be exposed to the latest groundbreaking research.
- Immerse yourself in the study of Modern Hebrew.
- Position yourself for a career in government, academia, or journalism.
Overview
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 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 the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.
Taught by world-renowned scholars, the program incorporates courses from a wide array of disciplines within the social sciences, history, and cultural studies. You’ll learn not only through academic studies and faculty-led tours but also by delving into the complexity of Israeli society 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 and gain a thorough understanding of the relationships Israel maintains with its neighbors and other actors on the international stage. Additionally, you’ll have the option of gaining a comprehensive foundation in Modern Hebrew.
Admissions
Curriculum
Curriculum
Structure
As a student in the M.A. in Israel Studies, you will take a combination of required courses and electives, including optional Hebrew language courses, over two consecutive semesters.
Modern Hebrew studies during the autumn and spring semesters are optional but are included intuition. Participation in the Summer Ulpan (Hebrew language training) before the start of your program is not required but is strongly encouraged.
Credits
The M.A. in Israel Studies consists of 36 credits over two 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
- Social and Political History of the State of Israel from 1948 to Today
Elective Courses
Recent elective courses include:
- Media, Culture, and Identity in Israel.
- 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
- Religion in Israeli Society
- Palestinian Society in Palestine and the Diaspora: Trends of Social and Political Change
- Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism: the Israel-Arab Conflict and Beyond
You may select electives from among the courses offered in Israel studies and 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 taught in Hebrew offered in the Departments of Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology, Journalism and Communications, International Relations, and History.
Study tours: A number of courses in the M.A. program include tours to Israeli landmarks and museums, as well as to different ethnic and religious communities in Jerusalem.
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 toward the 36 required for the degree.
Modern Hebrew Requirement
Knowledge of Modern Hebrew will give you critical access to Israeli society and primary source material. You’ll have the opportunity to study Modern Hebrew for 10 hours per week during the autumn and spring semesters. Modern Hebrew courses are optional and do not count as credit toward your degree.
If possible, we encourage you to obtain at least Level Gimel in Hebrew by the end of your studies, so that you can read contemporary texts in Hebrew.
While it is not required, we also strongly encourage you to attend the Summer Ulpan(intensive Hebrew language training) prior to the start of the autumn semester, as it will help you advance quickly through Modern Hebrew. This is particularly true for students who have little or no prior knowledge of Modern Hebrew.
Additional Language Studies
If you wish to study an additional language, you may do so with approval from your academic advisor. You may also request your advisor’s approval to use half of the credits you earn by studying an additional language toward degree requirements; such requests are 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.
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Career
Graduates of this program go on to pursue careers in foreign affairs, government administration, relevant NGOs, journalism, and academia.