Overview
Programs of Study
Seton Hall University's Graduate Department of Jewish-Christian Studies offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree and a certificate in Jewish-Christian studies, which cover all aspects of the historical relationships between Jews and Christians--their respective values and traditions. The programs serve as a model for eliminating prejudice through mutual understanding.
Students working toward a degree normally gain an elementary knowledge of Hebrew early in the program, allowing them to enter the Hebrew mind-set of the writers. Courses provide critical study of foundational sources in their social world contexts, tracing how these traditions developed within diverse local settings. Students examine the religious, ethical, and social issues central for understanding Christians and Jews today against the background of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust.
The Department requires that M.A. students choose from either of two programs of study--the thesis or the nonthesis option--in consultation with an adviser. Students in the thesis program complete 27 credits offered by the Department and 6 credits in the reading of Hebrew texts. An adviser's approval must be obtained for all courses chosen. Three credits must be completed in JCST 9001 Thesis (with the topic approved by the Thesis Committee). The thesis must make a contribution to continuing research in some aspect of Jewish-Christian studies. After consultation with the faculty members, students with a strong background in research may choose to do a more extensive investigation of an approved topic and produce a thesis for 6 credits (JCST 9002). Students in the nonthesis program complete 36 credits in Jewish-Christian studies, selecting courses with the approval of the Departmental adviser. Students must demonstrate a basic knowledge of biblical Hebrew.
In the 12-credit Certificate in Jewish-Christian Studies program, students take a required class, Christian Jewish Encounter, and then select three other courses in consultation with the chair of the Department.
For further details, students should see the Department's Web site at: http://www.shu.edu/academics/artsci/ma-jewish-christian-studies/index.cfm.
Research Facilities
The Institute of Judaeo-Christian Studies, founded in 1953, is primarily a center for research and publication. Its area of study is the Church's rootedness in Judaism and the relationship between the Church and the Jewish people through the ages. Its work includes an annual series of lectures, study days, and conferences. These are intended to inform the general public about various facets of Christian-Jewish relations.
The Walsh Library, a state-of-the-art 155,000-square-foot building, houses 500,000 titles, 1,875 current periodicals, and an extensive collection of microform and other nonprint items that include videotapes, CD-ROM music, and other electronic media. Fahy Hall has twenty-eight classrooms, two TV studios, a Macintosh and IBM graphics lab, two classroom amphitheaters, and language and statistics labs. The recently renovated McNulty Hall has well-equipped science labs. Completed in 1997, Jubilee Hall, a six-story facility with 126,000 square feet of academic space, features high-tech classrooms with computer and multimedia capabilities.
Financial Aid
The H. Suzanne Jobert Scholarship Fund assists students pursuing the M.A. in Jewish-Christian Studies. Inquiries about this tuition scholarship may be made through the Department chair. The Sister Rose Thering Endowment for Jewish-Christian Studies, established in 1993 in honor of Sister Rose's work as an educator and advocate for improving relations between Christians and Jews, provides scholarships for teachers who want to learn more about promoting interreligious understanding and cooperation through education. Scholarships are available to teachers who wish to enroll as nonmatriculated students and take up to 12 credits to receive a certificate of completion.
Cost of Study
In 2009-10, tuition is $901 per credit. Full-time students pay $305 per semester in University and technology fees; part-time students pay $185.
Living and Housing Costs
Housing and living costs in South Orange and surrounding towns are comparable to most suburban cities, with studio and one-bedroom apartments renting for $750 to $1000 per month.
Student Group
Most students in the Jewish-Christian Studies degree and certificate programs are teachers in public, private, or parochial schools; education and ecumenical administrators; or clergy and seminarians. However, the programs also attract educational generalists who seek the means to explore Jewish and Christian studies for personal or career enrichment.
Location
Seton Hall is located on 58 acres in the village of South Orange, New Jersey, a suburban residential area 14 miles southwest of New York City. The town center is a 10-minute walk from the campus and features bookstores, coffee shops, and restaurants. The heart of midtown Manhattan is about 30 minutes away by train; students can take advantage of everything this exciting city has to offer while still living in a suburban area.
The University
Founded in 1856, Seton Hall is a private coeducational Catholic institution--the nation's oldest diocesan institution of higher education in the United States. With a total enrollment of about 10,000, including approximately 4,500 graduate students, the University comprises nine colleges and schools. Seton Hall is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Through the incorporation of technology into the curriculum, the College of Arts and Sciences seeks to enhance and enliven the learning environment. Rooted in tradition, yet looking to the future, the College offers a rich set of opportunities for intellectual discovery. Graduate students are guided by scholars and specialists toward the mastery of academic and professional areas.
Applying
In addition to the general University requirements for admission, the Department of Jewish-Christian Studies strongly recommends an interview or suitable correspondence with the Department chair to determine the objectives of the student in relation to the resources of the Department. Students must submit the completed application (available online at http://www.shu.edu/academics/artsci/apply-graduate.cfm), the $50 application fee, and transcripts from all previously attended universities and colleges. The deadlines for fall and spring admission are July 1 and November 1, respectively. Applications are processed on a rolling basis.
The Faculty and Their Research
David M. Bossman, Professor and Director of the Sister Rose Thering Endowment; Ph.D., Saint Louis. Editor of the Biblical Theology Bulletin since 1981, Dr. Bossman applies cross-cultural analysis to the study of Christian and Jewish sources, contemporizing Jewish and Christian values and fostering cooperative partnerships. He is the founding director of the Sister Rose Thering Endowment for Jewish-Christian Studies.
Alan Brill, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Fordham. Teaches modern Jewish studies and is engaged in interfaith dialogue. Rabbi Brill holds a rabbinical degree from Yeshiva. He is the Cooperman-Ross Endowed Chair in Jewish-Christian Studies in Honor of Sister Rose Thering.
Asher Finkel, Professor; Ph.D., Tübingen (Germany). Postbiblical Judaism, Jewish thinkers, early Christianity. Rabbi Finkel holds a rabbinical degree from Yeshiva.
Lawrence Frizzell, Associate Professor, Chair of the Department of Jewish-Christian Studies, and Director of the Institute of Judaeo-Christian Studies; S.T.L., S.S.L., D.Phil., Oxford. Jewish literature of the Second Temple Period, Paul and John, Bible and liturgy.
John Morley, Faculty Emeritus, Religious Studies; Ph.D., NYU. The Holocaust: history and interpretation.
Correspondence and Information
Seton Hall University
The Rev. Lawrence Frizzell, Department Chair
Department of Jewish-Christian Studies
240 Fahy Hall
400 South Orange Avenue
South Orange, New Jersey 07079
Telephone: 973-761-9751
Email: jcst@shu.edu
