Regulations and Guidelines
General information:
The Rosenberg School's doctoral degree program represents a broad spectrum of disciplines, fields, and methodologies. The PhD dissertation is an extensive research paper that must meet high academic standards and is subject to approval and grading by prominent experts in each field of research.
The research is conducted under the supervision of one or more of the School's faculty members. Where required, other senior scholars from Israel and abroad may be involved,.
PhD studies follow the University's regulations for research students, as well as the guidelines of the Rosenberg School's Committee for Research Students.
Terms of admission:
The Rosenberg School accepts students holding an M.A degree from a recognized academic institution (with a cumulative point average of 85 and above, and a grade of at least 85 on their final paper). M.A students who receive exceptionally high grades during the first two years of their graduate studies are allowed to enroll directly in the PhD program after completing at least 20 hours of course work with an average grade of 90, and having written at least one seminar paper with a grade of at least 95. The direct PhD program enables research students to reduce the time period required for completing their degree. This program is intended exclusively for outstanding students.
Students in the direct PhD program also receive a Master’s degree in the course of their studies; thus, even if unable to complete their PhD studies they will acquire a graduate degree.
Study program and completion of studies:
While engaged in writing their theses, students must participate in various forums at which their theses are discussed: doctoral student seminars, discipline-specific or methodological seminars, and introductions to academic theory. Doctoral students are required to complete a total of 8 course credits, with a minimum grade of 85 in each course. The courses are selected from the range of courses offered by the Rosenberg School's M.A programs. At least once during their studies doctoral students must attend the School's annual seminar, which awards 2 course credits. Students at the School are expected to study or demonstrate proficiency in at least one foreign language, as an important component of their studies. Students must register for, and obtain, a beginners and advanced level exemption in a foreign language. Exemptions are granted by the university's Department of Foreign Languages.
Stages of Study:
The doctoral program is divided into two stages:
Stage A:
Students acquire scholarly research tools (disciplinary, methodological, and linguistic training), and choose a topic for their research paper. Upon completing this stage, students submit a research proposal to the School's Committee for Research Students and the university's Committee for Research Students for approval. Students must submit their research proposal within a year of admittance to Stage A.
Stage B:
Students continue their research and write a doctoral dissertation. Upon completion, the written dissertation is submitted for review. Students are required to submit their written dissertation no later than five (5) years after beginning their doctoral studies, and must remain within the time frame approved by the Committee for Research Students.
