Polis – The Jerusalem Institute of Languages and Humanities
Two-Year Academic Program in Near Eastern Languages (Master’s of Arts Degree awarded by University of Navarra)
Jerusalem, Israel
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* open enrollment
Key Summary
The Two-Year Academic Program in Near Eastern Languages consists of intensive and full immersion modern and ancient language courses in Arabic and Hebrew as well as courses in history, philosophy, and literature of the ancient and contemporary Near East. Some of these courses are taught in either Arabic or Hebrew. Students will gain the ability to read moderately difficult narrative texts without the need of a dictionary/translation, save for rare occasions.
The program is designed for students who wish to take up a career in Semitic philology, journalism, history, languages, or the study of the history of the Near East, Eastern Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. The program is also ideal for students interested in the fields of the Hebrew Bible, Arabic heritage, and manuscript studies.
Graduates of this program, or students registered in the second year, may apply to be streamed into the one-year Emphasis in Teaching Ancient & Modern Languages track, which focuses on preparing the student for a career in teaching languages in an immersive setting. Students gain first-hand experience teaching as well as participating in methodological courses and workshops. This track grants an additional 8.5 ECTS credits free of charge.
Application forms available online, by email, or in person. Scholarships available.
Disclaimer
The Polis Institute does not award academic degrees. Students who successfully complete this program may register at the University of Navarra (Pamplona, Spain) and be awarded a Master’s of Arts Degree in Near Eastern Languages by that institution once they have fulfilled its requirements. Please note that the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits are awarded by the accrediting institution and not by the Polis Institute.
1 ECTS Credit = 10 academic hours
Alternative One-Year Program
A shortened version of the Two-Year Program is available to students with a BA Degree wishing to study for only one year. Students will complete 600 academic hours including 440 hours of mandatory language courses. Scholarships and other teaching and research opportunities are also valid for the One-Year Program. Upon graducation, students will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Polis Institute.
Brochure 2022/2023
Mandatory Courses
First year
Language Courses
- Hebrew (taught in Hebrew)
- Modern Standard Arabic (taught in Arabic)
- Spoken Arabic (taught in Arabic)
Students with no prior knowledge of the target language must start with Level I. Students with prior knowledge must complete a written and oral placement test in order to qualify for higher levels.
Theoretical & Practical Courses
- Arabic Philosophy
- Historical Geography I/II
- History of the Near East III/IV
- Lexicon, Code, and Interaction
- Syntax of Natural Languages
- Issues in Semitic Languages
- Introduction to Jewish Sources
- Introduction to Arabic Philology
Second year
Language Courses
- Hebrew (taught in Hebrew)
- Modern Standard Arabic (taught in Arabic)
Students with no prior knowledge of the target language must start with Level I. Students with prior knowledge must complete a written and oral placement test in order to qualify for higher levels.
Theoretical & Practical Courses
- Phonetics and Phonology
- Derivational Morphology
- History of the Near East I/II
- Historical Geography III/IV
- Applied Philology Seminar 2: Arabic in Media (taught in Arabic)
- Introduction to Arabic Literature
- Introduction to Hebrew Literature
Research track
- Master's Thesis
Non-research track
- Seminar Paper
- Extra Mandatory Courses
- Speech in Arabic or Hebrew (taught in either Arabic or Hebrew)
Theoretical ECTS + Thesis: 43
Language ECTS: 100
Total Required ECTS: 143
Elective Courses
Elective courses listed here can be chosen over the two years without additional fees. Students may also request to register for elective courses from other programs for additional fees. Elective courses are subject to change.
Language courses
- Biblical Hebrew (taught in Hebrew)
- Classical Syriac (taught in Syriac)
- Coptic (taught in Coptic)
- Latin (taught in Latin)
- Modern Hebrew (taught in Hebrew)
- Spoken Arabic (taught in Arabic)
- Speech in Arabic or Hebrew (taught in either Arabic or Hebrew)
- Biblical Hebrew Readings (taught in Hebrew)
- Qumran Hebrew Readings (taught in Hebrew)
- Mishnaic Hebrew Readings (taught in Hebrew)
Theoretical & Practical Courses
- Historical Geography
- History of the Near East
- Phonetics and Phonology
- Derivational Morphology
- Lexicon, Code, and Interaction
- Syntax of Natural Languages
- Patristic Sources
- Rabbinic and Early Christian Literature
- Medieval Sources
- Semitic Palaeography
- Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Philology
- Applied Philology Seminar 1: Arabic Folklore & Popular Stories (taught in Arabic)
- Arabic Readings (taught in Arabic)
- Jewish Feasts
- Selected Near Eastern Language
- Modern Arabic Literature: Politics, Identity, and Gender
- The Genre of Parables in Gospels and Early Jewish Texts
- The Notion of God According to the Tanakh, Christian Bible, and Qur'an
- Islamic Modernity in Modern and Contemporary Arab Thought
Emphasis in Teaching Ancient & Modern Languages
Graduates of the Two-Year Academic Program in Near Eastern Languages, or students registered in the second year, may apply to be streamed into the one-year Emphasis in Teaching Ancient & Modern Languages track, which focuses on preparing the student for a career in teaching languages in an immersive setting. Students gain first-hand experience teaching as well as participating in methodological courses and workshops. This track grants an additional 8.5 ECTS credits free of charge.
Theoretical & Practical Courses
- Issues in Teaching Ancient Languages
- Workshops
- Assistant Teaching
