The Two-Year Program in Ancient Philology focuses on Ancient Greek and Biblical Hebrew and offers intensive full immersion language training in both languages. Students will gain the ability to read moderately difficult narrative texts without the need of a dictionary/translation, save for rare occasions. Students complete the program with courses in linguistics, philology, philosophy, paleography, history, and literature. Some of these courses are taught in Ancient Greek.
This Ancient Philology program is ideal for people interested in a career teaching Ancient Greek and/or Biblical Hebrew, as well as for scholars interested in Antiquity, classical philosophy, classical philology, religious studies, or the connection between Greek Antiquity and Judeo-Christian heritage.
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, which focuses on preparing the student for a career in teaching languages in an immersive setting. Students gain firsthand experience teaching as well as participating in methodological courses and workshops. This track grants an additional 8.5 ECTS free of charge.
This two-year program is also offered as a one-year certificate program. Not sure if you want to do one or two years? No problem! If you start the one-year program you can always get your courses accredited and switch to the two-year program for the following year!
The application form is available online and in printable format. Scholarships are also available for this program.
Please note that the degree is awarded by a third-party university ( International University of Catalonia - Barcelona) and not by Polis.
Open
Aug 30, 2023
2 Years
Jerusalem
| Language Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Ancient Greek | 24.0 |
| Biblical Hebrew | 20.0 |
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 into higher levels
| Theoretical & Practical Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Greek Philology | 1.5 |
| Historical Geography I | 2.0 |
| Historical Geography II | 2.0 |
| History of the Near East III/IV | 2.0 |
| History of Writing Systems | 1.5 |
| Issues in Semitic Languages | 1.5 |
| Lexicon, Code, and Interaction | 2.0 |
| Rabbinic and Early Christian Literature | 1.5 |
| Syntax of Natural Languages | 2.0 |
| Language Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Ancient Greek | 6.0 |
| Biblical Hebrew | 14.0 |
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 into higher levels.
| Theoretical & Practical Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Phonetics and Phonology | 2.0 |
| Derivational Morphology | 2.0 |
| Historical Geography III | 2.0 |
| Historical Geography IV | 2.0 |
| History of the Near East I/II | 2.0 |
| Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Philology | 1.5 |
| Medieval Sources | 2.0 |
| Patristic Sources | 1.0 |
| Greek Palaeography | 1.5 |
| Introduction to Jewish Sources | 1.5 |
| Critical Apparatus | 1.5 |
| Translation Theory | 1.5 |
| Speech in Ancient Language | 6.0 |
| Theoretical & Practical Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Master's Thesis | 20.0 |
| Theoretical & Practical Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Seminar Paper | 10.0 |
| Extra Mandatory Courses | 10.0 |
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 | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Ancient Greek | 18.0 |
| Biblical Hebrew | 9.0 |
| Classical Syriac | 5.0 |
| Coptic | 6.0 |
| Latin | 28.0 |
| Modern Hebrew | 40.0 |
| Theoretical & Practical Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Hebrew Literature | 1.5 |
| Ancient Greek Readings: Attic Greek Prose | 3.0 |
| Ancient Greek Readings: Koine Greek Prose | 3.0 |
| Ancient Greek Readings: Greek Philosopher | 3.0 |
| Ancient Greek Readings: Fathers of the Church | 3.0 |
| Greek Lunch (Symposium) | 12.0 |
| Semitic Palaeography | 1.5 |
| Seven Seals (Taught in A. Greek) | 4.0 |
| Qumran Hebrew Readings (taught in Hebrew) | 2.0 |
| Mishnaic Hebrew Readings (taught in Hebrew) | 2.0 |
| Jewish Feasts | 0.5 |
| Selected Near Eastern Language | 4.0 |
| Applied Philology Seminar 1: Practicum | 1.0 |
| Applied Philology Seminar 2: Practicum | 1.5 |
| Applied Philology Seminar 3-6: Practicum | 40.0 |
| History of the Near East | 4.0 |
| The Genre of Parables in Gospels and Early Jewish Texts | 1.5 |
| The Human Person - Part I: Historical Overview // Part II: Manifestations of the Human Being | 4.0 |
| The Notion of God According to the Tanakh, Christian Bible and Qur'an | 2.0 |
| Readings in Classical Philosophy I: Aristotle’s Categories and Metaphysics | 1.5 |
| Readings in Classical Philosophy II: Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics, On the Soul | 1.5 |
Graduates and students registered in the second year of the program or have the equivalent language level according to the Polis method may apply to the Emphasis in Teaching Ancient & Modern Languages, a track that focuses on the particularities of teaching languages in an immersive setting. Students following this track will gain first-hand experience in teaching and the ability to participate in methodological courses and workshops. Registration for the Emphasis track grants an additional 8.5 ECTS free of charge.
| Theoretical & Practical Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Issues in Teaching Ancient Languages | 1.5 |
| Workshops | 3.0 |
| Assistant Teaching | 4.0 |
Please prepare the following documents in order to apply. Application can be submitted online or by mail.
All documents must be submitted as PDF. Files should include the candidate’s family name followed by the item name (ex: Rodriguez passport copy). Documents can be sent individually.
Applications are examined by the Academic Board, which decides on the admission in the weeks following the submission of the full application.
Callimachus is a full tuition scholarship discount for one academic year. The recipient of this scholarship will be required to fulfill 15 hours of volunteer work per week during the academic year.
The recipient will maintain the Polis Academic Library collection and catalogue, as well as supervise fellow student
volunteers in the various tasks necessary for the successful operation of the library.
Prerequisites: Applicants should be registered students at Polis. Candidates should also have previous library experience and at least a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in one of the fields of Humanities.
NB: This grant is subject to the General Requisites of the Grant Fund, which can be found on the application form and upon request from the Administrative Office. These policies are in effect for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Deadline: March 15, 2023
Hierosolyma is a 13,000 NIS scholarship in the form of a tuition discount for one academic year. Students who receive this grant will be required to fulfill 10 hours of volunteer work per week during the academic year.
Prerequisites: All applicants should be students of the MA, One Year, or Fluency program at Polis or have begun the application process for the program. All applicants will be required to submit a writing sample once the application form and other documents have been submitted.
NB: This grant is subject to the General Requisites of the Grant Fund, which can be found on the application form and upon request from the Administrative Office. These policies are in effect for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Deadline: March 15, 2023
Origen is a 6,000 NIS scholarship in the form of a tuition discount for one academic year. Students who receive this grant will be required to fulfill 7 hours of volunteer work per week during the academic year.
Prerequisites: All applicants should be students of the MA, One Year, or Fluency program at Polis or have begun the application process for the program. All applicants will be required to submit a writing sample once the application form and other documents have been submitted.
NB: This grant is subject to the General Requisites of the Grant Fund, which can be found on the application form and upon request from the Administrative Office. These policies are in effect for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Deadline: March 15, 2023
Plato is a 19,500 NIS scholarship in the form of a tuition discount for one academic year. Students who receive this grant will be required to fulfill 12 hours of volunteer work per week during the academic year.
Prerequisites: All applicants should be students of the MA, One Year, or Fluency program at Polis or have begun the application process for the program. All applicants will be required to submit a writing sample once the application form and other documents have been submitted.
NB: This grant is subject to the General Requisites of the Grant Fund, which can be found on the application form and upon request from the Administrative Office. These policies are in effect for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Deadline: March 15, 2023
For processing the application
For language courses: To book a seat in the course, the student needs to pay the full tuition or the registration fee.
For academic programs: Students who have been accepted to a program will be asked to confirm their attendance by paying the registration fee which is part of the total tuition fee for the academic year when they begin their studies.
Discount is available for students who are financing their studies from their own resources or loans or their close family.
Discount is available for students who register and pay in full by June 1, 2023.
This program, offered at the Polis Institute in Jerusalem, is accredited by the International University of Catalonia (Barcelona). Please note that the ECTS are awarded by the accrediting institutions and not by Polis.
ECTS = European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System
1 ECTS = 10 academic hours
Ancient Greek
Biblical Hebrew
Classical Syriac
Coptic
Latin
Modern Hebrew
Modern Standard Arabic
Spanish
Spoken Arabic