Introduction

When The Catholic University of America was founded in 1887, the study of the Semitic and Egyptian languages and their associated literatures and cultures was designated as an area of special concern. Henri Hyvernat (1858-1941), the first professor appointed to the university, was a scholar of all the languages of the Near East, both those of antiquity and those of the Christian and Muslim Near East. Hyvernat was educated in Europe during a period of tremendous interest in then newly accessible phases of history--ancient, medieval and early modern. An avid collector of books, manuscripts and artifacts, his library furnished the basis for the present libraries of the Department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures, and the Institute of Christian Oriental Research: the Semitics/ICOR Library.

In the 100 years since Hyvernat began the work of Catholic University's Department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures, the program has grown in size and strength. The department's commitment to research and instruction in the languages and literatures of the Near East is unique in this country. Catholic University was founded as a graduate center, and the Semitics department remains primarily a graduate department. It is a part of the School of Arts and Sciences and enjoys close and cordial relations with departments in that school and in the School of Philosophy and the School of Religious Studies, the home of the departments of Biblical Studies, Religion and Religious Education, and Theology. The Semitics department is also closely involved with the program in Early Christian Studies, which coordinates offerings in history and theology, and with other departments and programs.

There are various outstanding achievements in the department's history. Two are associated with Patrick W. Skehan (1909-1980). Skehan was a member of the first editorial team charged with preparing for publication the 850 manuscripts found at the ancient site of Qumran. Work on papyri from the Dead Sea region continues in the department. The department also played a major role in the preparation of the New American Bible (1970); Skehan supervised the work on the Old Testament of the NAB, and much of the work was done by him and his students.

The department has long been associated with the Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium, the principal series of Christian patristic writings in the languages of the numerous churches in the Near Eastern homelands of Christianity; the series is published jointly by the Catholic Universities of Louvain and America. Recently the department initiated a new and complementary series, Eastern Christian Texts in Translation.

The department is housed in the university's John K. Mullen of Denver Library, and maintains its own extensive library holdings of journals, books and manuscripts, as well as drawing on those of the university as a whole. Students also have access to the many great libraries of the Washington area, including those of the other universities that belong to the consortium of universities in the Washington Metropolitan Area. An Internet Researcher Guide to Semitic and Christian Oriental Resources is maintained by CUA librarians and Semitics department faculty and students.

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Programs

The department offers courses in Near Eastern languages, most of which are taught on a regular cycle. The offerings cover the ancient Near Eastern languages and the languages of the early Christian Near East. Students interested primarily in the ancient world are encouraged to study the later languages and literatures as well, and students of the later period may choose to study the older languages.

Students on the master of arts level may specialize in ancient or Christian Near Eastern studies. The masters degree requires 30 hours of course work, competence in scholarly writing (though no thesis is required), and demonstrated competence in French or German. Under ordinary circumstances the masters degree, including the requisite comprehensive examinations, can be completed in two years.

A masters in ancient studies, primarily devoted to the languages of the Hebrew Bible and related literatures, includes work in Biblical Hebrew and in Aramaic. The program provides ample opportunities for reading biblical text, and the range of courses offered in Aramaic is exceptional. Students interested in doing further graduate work in biblical studies can take courses in classical and biblical Greek. Courses beyond the elementary level count toward the 30-hour degree requirement. Students interested in the ancient Near East may study Akkadian, the various Northwest Semitic languages related to the later literary languages (including Old and Official Aramaic, Phoenician-Punic and Epigraphic Hebrew), and languages of the later Near East. Masters students in the Christian Near East may specialize in Arabic, Coptic, or Syriac, and are expected to do coursework in another of these languages.

Students on the Ph.D. level generally continue from an M.A. degree in the department and progress in their primary languages. It is possible, however, to enter the program at the doctoral level. Competence in both French and German must be demonstrated. The coursework ordinarily is completed in one year after the M.A., and the student then takes another set of comprehensive examinations and prepares a dissertation. Examinations and dissertation follow the coursework, thus allowing the student to complete a doctorate in two or three years.

In the ancient Near Eastern program, students continue work on biblical texts and add familiarity with other languages, ancient and later. Occasionally students in the ancient program teach elementary biblical Hebrew.

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Admissions

All applicants to the program are expected to present the Graduate Record Examinations and, where appropriate, TOEFL (Teaching of English as a Foreign Language) test scores. A number of scholarships are available and are awarded to highly qualified students on a competitive basis. International students must present financial documentation before an I-20 form will be issued.

Inquiries should be directed to:

Prospective graduate students can now apply on-line at the CUA Office of Admissions Web Site.

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Requirements

Course Requirements

Thirty semester credit hours are required for the M.A. Credit hours at the 500 level in the student's major language do not qualify. The thirty credit hours must include twelve in the student's major language, six credit hours in a second Semitic language judged to be the most necessary for effective work in the student's major field. In the program of Northwest Semitic philology, up to six credit hours of Greek (beyond the elementary level) may be counted. In addition to these thirty semester credit hours, the M.A. student must select two papers written for three credit hour seminars (completed with a grade of B or better) requiring a major research paper. After the courses are completed, the student must revise the papers and resubmit them to the major professor and to an additional reader for approval.

The Ph.D. program incorporates the M.A. curriculum and requires an additional thirty semester hours of course work.

Transfer of graduate credits earned at other accredited institutions is permitted in accordance with the university's regulations.

Language Requirements

All students are required to take six credits of Greek or be able to demonstrate an equivalent competence. A reading knowledge of French and German is strongly recommended from the beginning of graduate studies.

Comprehensive Examinations

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Courses of Instruction

Courses at the 500 and 600 levels are open to qualified undergraduates. Language courses above the 500 level may be repeated, provided that their contents have changed in accord with the needs and progress of the students. Not all courses listed are offered every year.

SEM 501, 701 A Political and Cultural History of the Near East Through the Second Millennium (3, 3) - A brief geographical survey of the region and neighboring regions and an introduction to the archeology of late prehistoric times are followed by a review of the great innovations of writing and urbanization as they led to the early cultures of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Syria-Palestine. The early empires and the growth of warfare and trade provide background to the study of religion and the arts. Extends to the first centuries of the Iron Age.

SEM 502, 702 History of Israel and the Near East from David to New Testament Times (3, 3) - A continuation of 501. Begins during the power vacuum following the collapse of the Bronze Age empires. Devoted both to the succession of later empires (Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman) and to the fate of biblical Israel and its descendant tradition Judaism among these empires. Considers the notion of the Axial Age. Extends through the Second Jewish Revolt of 135 and the desolation of Jerusalem.

SEM 503, 703 The History of the Early Christian Near East I (3, 3) - Survey of the origins and development of Christianity in Syro-Palestine, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Persia down to the Council of Chalcedon (451 CE). Special attention to church-state relations both before and after Constantine, to the development of monasticism, and to evidence drawn from the indigenous literatures, especially Coptic and Syriac. Dr. Johnson.

SEM 504, 704 The History of the Early Christian Near East II (3, 3) - Continuation of Part I, from Chalcedon to the Arab Conquest, with an emphasis on the Monophysite movement and its impact on ecclesiastical and civil politics of the Roman Empire. Dr. Johnson.

SEM 505, 717 The History of Christians in the Islamic Near East: From Muhammad to the Crusades (3) - A survey of the history and literature of the Christian communities in the world of Islam, beginning with the Christians in the world in which Islam was born, to the irruption of the military forces of the Latin west into the area in the eleventh century. Highlights the authors and their works who responded to the religious challenge of Islam in Syriac and Arabic. Islam has been in dialogue with Christianity from its inception; the lectures and readings follow this dialogue, on both sides, from the beginning in the seventh century to the experience of the Crusades. Dr. Griffith.

SEM 511, 512 Introduction to Biblical Hebrew (3, 3) - Fundamentals of phonology, morphology, and syntax of Classical Biblical Hebrew, followed by simple readings in Biblical Hebrew prose.

SEM 521, 522 Introduction to Aramaic: Targums Onkelos and Jonathan (3, 3) - Introduction to Aramaic; an intensive introduction to the grammar of Targums Onkelos and Jonathan, exemplified in manuscripts with Babylonian pointing. Some attention given to the place of the dialect in relation to other Aramaic dialects; grammar reinforced with selected readings. Dr. Gropp.

SEM 531 Introduction to Syriac (3) - Introduction to phonology, morphology, and syntax of literary Syriac, followed by the reading and analysis of texts. Dr. Johnson, Dr. Griffith.

SEM 541, 542 Introduction to Arabic (3, 3) - Elementary grammar and syntax of the classical Arabic of the Quran and of early Islamic literature. Emphasis on mastery of the verb forms and noun types, in the context of comparative Semitic philology. Dr. Griffith.

SEM 551, 552 Introduction to Classical Ethiopic (Geez) (3, 3) - Fundamentals of phonology, morphology, syntax, and the writing system of Classical Ethiopic, followed by selected readings in the second semester. Dr. Gropp.

SEM 611, 612 Biblical Hebrew Prose I, II (3, 3) - Rapid reading in Biblical Hebrew prose, usually from the Pentateuch and/or historical books of the Old Testament. Readings supplemented by systematic presentations on Hebrew grammar, such as verbal syntax and patterns of derivational morphology. Prerequisites: 511 and 512, or equivalent.

SEM 622 Biblical Aramaic (3) - Close reading of the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, with attention to philology, syntax, and textual criticism. Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of Greek; 521 or 531 or permission of instructor. Dr. Gropp.

SEM 631, 632 Syriac Literature (3, 3) - Reading of selected texts in the several scripts and genres of Syriac literature, with a view to consolidating the student's mastery of the written language. Prerequisites: 531, 532 or the equivalent. Dr. Griffith.

SEM 641, 642 Readings in Early Islamic and Christian Arabic (3, 3) - For students with a basic knowledge of Arabic; consists of reading selected texts in Arabic from the early Islamic period, written by Muslims or Christians. Special attention to Christian/Muslim relations and dialogue. Prerequisites: 541, 542 or equivalent. Dr. Griffith.

SEM 661, 662 Introduction to Akkadian (3, 3) - Introduction to Akkadian (the language of the Assyrians and Babylonians). Fundamentals of Old Babylonian grammar and the cuneiform writing system, with reading exercises in Old Babylonian texts. Prerequisite: Reading knowledge of German. Dr. O'Connor.

SEM 681, 682 Introduction to Coptic Studies (3, 3) - The fundamentals of Sahidic phonology, morphology, and syntax, followed by the reading and analysis of texts. Prerequisite: Basic grasp of Greek. Dr. Johnson.

SEM 705 Comparative Semitic Grammar (3) - Introduction to general Semitic phonology, morphology, and syntax in the light of historical and comparative linguistics. Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of at least two Semitic languages.

SEM 706 Comparative Semitic Seminar (3) - Intensive study of selected topics in Comparative Semitic grammar. A substantial research paper is required. Prerequisite: 701 or permission of instructor.

SEM 707, 708 Ugaritic Grammar and Texts (3, 3) - Introduction to Ugaritic grammar with the background of historical Hebrew grammar and comparative Semitic philology. Reading of selected mythological and prose texts. Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of Hebrew and at least one other Semitic language. Dr. O'Connor.

SEM 709, 710 Northwest Semitic Inscriptions (3, 3) - Introduction to epigraphic method, paleography, and philology of ancient inscriptions in Phoenician, Hebrew, Aramaic, and related languages. Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of Hebrew.

SEM 711, 712 Biblical Hebrew Poetry I, II (3, 3) - Close reading of poetry from the prophetic or poetic books of the Old Testament, with attention to philology, syntax, textual criticism, and prosody. First semester includes a formal introduction to Hebrew prosody; second semester requires a paper. Prerequisites: 611, 612, or permission of chair; basic knowledge of Greek.

SEM 713, 714 Intertestamental Hebrew (Qumran) (3, 3) - Prerequisite: 611, 612, or permission of instructor.

SEM 715, 716 Textual Criticism of the Old Testament (3, 3) - Introduction to the ancient witnesses and text-critical principles for restoring the text of the Old Testament. Special reference to Septuagint problems. Prerequisites: 611, 612, or permission of chair; basic knowledge of Greek.

SEM 721, 722 Qumran Aramaic (3, 3) - Readings in the Aramaic texts from Qumran, such as the Prayer of Nabonidus, the Genesis Apocryphon, Targum of Job, Enochic literature. Prerequisite: 521 or 531 or permission of instructor. Dr. Gropp.

SEM 731, 732 Seminar in Syriac Patristics (3, 3) - For the advanced student in Syriac; concentrates on an important work in Syriac literature, often a work of Ephraem the Syrian, with a view to studying it thoroughly through translation, literary analysis, and a review of its leading ideas, in the wider context of early Christian thought. Prerequisites: 631, 632, or equivalent. Dr. Griffith.

SEM 761, 762 Reading of Akkadian Texts (3, 3) - Reading of selected texts in Akkadian, chosen both to increase students' grasp of the language (and the culture it represents) and to contribute to the students' research interests in the larger context of the ancient Near East, Semitics, and literature. Texts may represent in one semester a single period or type of text (e.g., Late Bronze Age or literary texts) and in the other, a series of explorations of different text groups. Prerequisites: 661, 662, or equivalent. Dr. O'Connor.

SEM 781, 782 Readings in Coptic (3, 3) - Reading of selected texts in Sahidic and other dialects with the introduction of more complex syntactic questions. May be repeated with different reading matter. Prerequisites: 681, 682, or equivalent. Dr. Johnson.

SEM 783, 784 Coptic Seminar (3, 3) - Studies special topics dealing with Christian Egypt as illustrated by texts that are extant in Coptic. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Reading knowledge of Coptic. Dr. Johnson.

SEM 993 Directed Readings (3) / SEM 997, 998 Doctoral Dissertation Guidance

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Faculty

Sidney H. Griffith, S.T. griffith@cua.edu

Principal areas of interest:
Syriac monasticism; medieval Christian-Muslim encounters; ecumenical and interfaith dialogue

Training:
Ph.D., S.T.L., Catholic University of America
B.A., B.S.T., Holy Trinity Mission Seminary, Winchester, Virginia

Selected publications:

Books
A Treatise on the Veneration of the Holy Icons written in Arabic by Theodore Abu Qurrah, Bishop of Harran. Eastern Christian Texts in Translation 1. Leuven: Peeters, 1997.
Arabic Christianity in the Monasteries of Ninth-Century Palestine. Collected Studies Series 380. Brookfield, Vermont: Variorum, 1992.

Articles
"Sharing the Faith of Abraham: The 'Credo' of Louis Massignon," Islam and Muslim-Christian Relations 8 (1997) 193-210.
"Julian Saba, 'Father of the Monks' of Syria," Journal of Early Christian Studies 2 (1994) 185-216.

Reference works contributed to
The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, ed. A.P. Khazdan (1991): articles on Syriac literature; Abdisho' bar Berika; Barsanouphios; others.
A Dictionary of Eastern Christianity, co-editor with D. Brady et al. (1999): articles on Arab Christianity; Eutychius of Alexandria; others.
Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart (4th ed.), ed. H.D. Betz et al. (1999): articles on Christian Arabic literature; others.

Douglas M. Gropp gropp@cua.edu or dgropp@aol.com

Principal areas of interest:
grammar and texts in Biblical Hebrew and ancient Aramaic

Training:
Ph.D., M.A., Harvard University
B.A., Duke University

Selected publications:

Book
Wadi Daliyeh II. The Wadi Daliyeh Papyri. Discoveries in the Judaean Desert. Oxford: Clarendon Press, forthcoming.

Articles
"The Function of the Finite Verb in Classical Biblical Hebrew," Hebrew Annual Review 13 (1991) 45-62.
"The Language of the Samaria Papyri," Maarav 5-6 (1990) 169-87.

Reference works contributed to
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East, ed. E. Meyers et al. (1997): articles on Imperial Aramaic; Nerab inscriptions.
Anchor Bible Dictionary, ed. D.N. Freedman et al. (1992): article on Samaria papyri.
Oxford Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls, ed. J. VanderKam et al. (1999): articles on Samaria papyri; Sanballit.

David W. Johnson, S.J. johnsond@cua.edu

Principal areas of interest:
Coptic literature; history of the Near East, especially Egypt, during late antiquity

Training:
Ph.D., M.A., Catholic University of America
S.T.M., Santa Clara University
B.A., M.A., Gonzaga University

Selected publications:

Book
Panegyric on Macarius of Tkow. Corpus Scriptorum Orientalium Christianorum 415-416. Leuven: Peeters, 1980.

Articles
"The Dossier of Apa Zenobius," Orientalia 58 (1989) 193-212.
"Coptic Reactions to Gnosticism and Manichaeism," Le Museon 100 (1987) 199-209.

Reference works contributed to
The Coptic Encyclopedia, ed. A.S. Atiya (1991): Macarius of Tkow; Nestorius.
The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, ed. A.P. Khazdan (1991): articles on Africa; Ethiopia; Nubia; others.
Dictionary of the Middle Ages, ed. J.R. Strayer (1989): articles on Arianism; Manichaeans; Nestorianism; others.

Michael Patrick O'Connor oconnorm@cua.edu

Principal areas of interest:
language and literature in Biblical Hebrew and ancient Northwest Semitic

Training:
Ph.D., A.M., University of Michigan
B.A., Notre Dame University

Selected publications:

Books
Hebrew Verse Structure. Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 1980, rpt. with supplement, 1997.
Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax (with Bruce K. Waltke). Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 1990.

Articles
"Semitic *mgn and its Supposed Sanskrit Origin," Journal of the American Oriental Society 109 (1989) 25-32.
"The Women in the Book of Judges," Hebrew Annual Review 10 (1987) 277-93.

Reference works contributed to
The World's Writing Systems, ed. P.T. Daniels and W. Bright (1995): articles on Semitic epigraphic writing; others.
The New Princeton Handbook of Poetic Terms, ed. T.V.F. Brogan et al. (1994): article on parallelism.
The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, ed. R.E. Brown et al. (1990): commentary on Judges.
Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, ed. G.J. Botterweck et al. (1974-): articles on Hebrew words for cherub, tunic; the Tetragrammaton, and others.

Richard M. Frank, Professor Emeritus

Ph.D., Catholic University of America, Arabic philosophy

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TITLE: Semitics Department
URL: http://arts-sciences.cua.edu/semitics/
CONTRIBUTORS: Michael Patrick O'Connor, Chairman, Department of Semitic
and Egyptian Languages and Literatures; Monica J. Blanchard, Semitics Librarian
MODIFIED: 22-August-2000


Send questions and comments to oconnorm@cua.edu