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.
This program is ideal for people interested in 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.
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 University of Navarra (Spain) and not by Polis.
Open
Aug 30, 2023
2 Years
Jerusalem
| Language Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Hebrew | 20.0 |
| Modern Standard Arabic | 20.0 |
| Spoken Arabic | 16.0 |
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 for higher levels.
| Theoretical & Practical Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Historical Geography I/II | 2.0 |
| History of the Near East III/IV | 2.0 |
| Lexicon, Code, and Interaction | 2.0 |
| Syntax of Natural Languages | 2.0 |
| Arabic Philosophy | 1.5 |
| Issues in Semitic Languages | 1.5 |
| Introduction to Arabic Philology | 1.5 |
| Language Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Hebrew | 20.0 |
| Modern Standard Arabic | 8.0 |
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 for higher levels.
| Theoretical & Practical Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Phonetics and Phonology | 2.0 |
| Derivational Morphology | 2.0 |
| History of the Near East I/II | 2.0 |
| Historical Geography III/IV | 2.0 |
| Applied Philology Seminar 2: Arabic in Media | 1.5 |
| Introduction to Jewish Sources | 1.5 |
| Introduction to Arabic Literature | 2.0 |
| Introduction to Hebrew Literature | 1.5 |
| Theoretical & Practical Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Master's Thesis | 20.0 |
| Theoretical & Practical Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Seminar Paper | 10.0 |
| Extra Mandatory Courses | 4.0 |
| Speech in Arabic or Hebrew | 6.0 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Biblical Hebrew | 41.0 |
| Classical Syriac | 5.0 |
| Coptic | 6.0 |
| Latin | 28.0 |
| Modern Hebrew | 40.0 |
| Spoken Arabic | 28.0 |
| Speech in Arabic or Hebrew | 6.0 |
| Theoretical & Practical Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Historical Geography | 4.0 |
| History of the Near East | 4.0 |
| Phonetics and Phonology | 2.0 |
| Derivational Morphology | 2.0 |
| Lexicon, Code, and Interaction | 2.0 |
| Syntax of Natural Languages | 2.0 |
| Patristic Sources | 1.0 |
| Rabbinic and Early Christian Literature | 1.5 |
| Medieval Sources | 2.0 |
| Semitic Palaeography | 1.5 |
| Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Philology | 1.5 |
| Jewish Feasts | 0.5 |
| Selected Near Eastern Language | 4.0 |
| The Genre of Parables in Gospels and Early Jewish Texts | 1.5 |
| Jerusalem Communities | 1.0 |
| 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 |
| Islamic Modernity in Modern and Contemporary Arab Thought | 1.5 |
| Arabic Philosophy | 1.5 |
| Languages of Jerusalem (theoretical course and practicums) | 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 University of Navarra (Spain). 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