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Graduate Announcements > School of Arts and Sciences > Departments and Programs in the School of Arts and Sciences > Department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures

Department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures

Professor	Edward M. Cook
Professor Emeritus	Rev. Sidney H. Griffith, S.T.
Associate Professors	Aaron M. Butts, Andrew D. Gross, Chair
Adjunct Associate Professor	Janet A. Timbie
Senior Lecturer	Shawqi Talia
Lecturer	Monica J. Blanchard

The Department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures embodies CUA's historical commitment to integrate religious studies with the arts and sciences. From the beginning, the study of biblical and Christian Near Eastern languages and literatures has been part of the university's curriculum. Graduate programs in Semitic and Coptic languages and biblical and Near Eastern antiquities were formally established in 1895. Two years later the department was founded in the School of Arts & Sciences by Monsignor Henri Hyvernat, the first professor appointed at CUA.

Major programs (M.A. and Ph.D.) in ancient Northwest Semitic languages (hereinafter ANWSL), with a concentration in Hebrew and Aramaic, furnish the linguistic training and other auxiliary studies needed for a scholarly grasp of the texts of the Jewish and Christian Holy Scriptures in their historical and cultural contexts. Major programs (M.A. and Ph.D.) in early Near Eastern Christian languages and literatures (hereinafter NECLL), with concentrations in Arabic, Coptic, and Syriac offer future scholars the opportunity to acquire advanced first-hand knowledge and interpretation of the Christian literatures of the Near East in their historical and cultural settings, including Christian interactions with Muslims especially in the early Islamic period. The department's commitment to research and instruction in the languages, literatures, and history of the Christian Near East is unique in this country, and it is one of the few academic centers where such studies are actively pursued.

The department provides instruction supportive to programs in other departments and schools, primarily programs in biblical studies and theology in the School of Theology and Religious Studies and the interdisciplinary graduate program administered by the Center for the Study of Early Christianity. In addition, the department cooperates with the Schools of Theology & Religious Studies and of Philosophy and the Departments of History and Anthropology in the School of Arts & Sciences in the area of early Islamic studies. The facilities of the department are available to all qualified research workers. These facilities include the library, manuscripts, and collection of Oriental antiquities of the Institute of Christian Oriental Research, founded by Monsignor Hyvernat.

Course Requirements

Thirty credit hours are required for the M.A. Students select two Semitic languages (or Coptic) as their major and minor research languages, subject to faculty approval. The thirty required credit hours must include nine in the student's major language beyond the introductory course or courses and at least six credit hours, beyond the introductory course or courses, in the minor language. Up to six credit hours of Greek (beyond the elementary level) may be counted towards the M.A. requirements but not for major or minor language credit (six credit hours of Greek are required for NECLL students; see “Language Requirements” below for more details). ANWSL students may take history or language courses (including Syriac, Arabic and Coptic) from the NECLL program; NECLL students may take history and language courses (including Hebrew and Aramaic) from the ANWSL program. In addition to these thirty credit hours, the M.A. student must select (with the approval of the chair) two papers written for courses (completed with a grade of B or better) requiring a major research paper. After the courses are completed, the student must revise the papers if necessary and resubmit them to the major professor and to an additional reader for approval.

Students who wish to pursue a program combining aspects of both major programs are urged to consult in advance with all relevant faculty.

The Ph.D. program incorporates the M.A. curriculum and requires an additional thirty credit hours of coursework (i.e., sixty total credit hours). Students who enter at the Ph.D. level must meet the full sixty- credit hour requirement by coursework or transfer credit. For Ph.D. comprehensive exams, students must continue with the same major and minor languages that they chose for their M.A. comprehensive exams, unless given consent by the chair.

Transfer of relevant graduate credits earned at other accredited institutions is permitted in accordance with the university's regulations. Students entering at the M.A. level may transfer up to six credit hours; those entering at the Ph.D. level may transfer up to twenty-four credit hours.

Students are expected to maintain a good overall standing in the program; students who do not do so will be subject to faculty review and dismissal, if warranted. In particular, a student who receives one C may be subject to faculty review and may be placed on probationary standing in the program. A second C may lead to dismissal. A student may repeat a course in which the grade of C was earned, and the grade of the retake may replace the C; this can only be done once and must be done in consultation with the faculty.

Student progress is reviewed on a regular basis by the faculty. In particular, students enrolled through the M.A./Ph.D. plan are subject to faculty review upon completion of their M.A. comprehensive exams to determine their suitability for entering the Ph.D. program. This review takes into account the student’s overall performance in the program. Successfully passing M.A. comprehensive exams does not guarantee entry into the Ph.D. program.

Ph.D. students are encouraged in addition to take two graduate courses, ordinarily six credit hours, outside the department with the consultation of the adviser and the chair. The courses should complement the student's interests and be adjusted to his or her background and training. The courses can be taken in a variety of departments and programs, including biblical studies, theology, early Christian studies, English, modern languages, comparative literature, history, economics, and politics. The student may propose any courses at CUA that fit into his or her program. The courses may be taken in one or more departments. Courses offered elsewhere in the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area or at The Johns Hopkins University; the University of Maryland, College Park; or other neighboring schools may be considered.

Language Requirements

Students in the NECLL program are required to take six credits hours of Greek or to have taken a year of coursework in Greek prior to entering the program. The Greek requirement must be completed prior to sitting for M.A. comprehensive exams. Students in the ANWSL program are also encouraged to meet this requirement.

A reading knowledge of French and German is strongly recommended from the beginning of graduate studies. Before sitting for M.A. comprehensive examinations, all candidates must fulfill the modern language requirement in one of the abovementioned languages by either successfully passing the qualification examination or by completing FREN 500 or GER 500. Ph.D. candidates must fulfill the requirement in both French and German. With the consent of the chair, students have the option of substituting Modern Hebrew for French.

Comprehensive Examinations

M.A. degree candidates must, with the permission of the department chair, register for M.A. comprehensive examinations in their major and minor languages. Ph.D. candidates must, with the permission of the department chair, register for doctoral comprehensive examinations in their major and minor language areas. As stated above, for Ph.D. comprehensive exams, students must continue with the same major and minor languages that they chose for their M.A. comprehensive exams, unless given consent by the chair. All degree candidates, whether M.A. or Ph.D., must register for the comprehensive examinations (i.e., either SEM 698 or SEM 998) before the beginning of the semester in which they will take the examinations. These examinations must be passed before work on the Ph.D. dissertation can begin.

Courses Offered

For descriptions of all Semitics courses offered, consult the department website. Consult Cardinal Station for additional information about courses and to determine course offerings by semester.