Specialization in Phenomenology and Hermeneutics
The Hermeneutics and Cultural Studies Program now offers a new M.A. and Ph.D. specialization in Phenomenology and Hermeneutics, designed to provide training and a structured framework for interdisciplinary phenomenological research on human experience. This specialization is aimed at graduate students in the human sciences, offering dedicated instruction in phenomenological thought and methodology.
Under the guidance of Prof. Roni Miron, ten doctoral dissertations on interdisciplinary phenomenology have already been completed, and eight more are currently being written. This new specialization is intended for new research students seeking to conduct interdisciplinary studies in the human sciences using phenomenological tools.
This initiative is supported by the Israeli Phenomenology Forum, established in 2023 as an inter-university platform for collaboration with similar centers worldwide. Led by Prof. Roni Miron, the forum includes an academic committee composed of faculty members specializing in phenomenology from Bar-Ilan University and beyond, as well as graduates and current doctoral students conducting research in phenomenology and hermeneutics.
The forum has attracted significant participation, with dozens of attendees from various academic institutions at each meeting. It provides a platform for human sciences scholars and doctoral students specializing in phenomenology. Forum sessions focus on fundamental issues in phenomenology and present research applying phenomenological orientations to selected topics. As part of this specialization, the forum’s activities will be expanded and integrated into the curriculum.
Structure of the Specialization in Phenomenology and Hermeneutics
✔ Core Courses: Courses on phenomenology and hermeneutics offered in the Hermeneutics and Cultural Studies Program (as well as in relevant departments, where applicable) will serve as the foundation for the specialization.
✔ Credit Requirements: Credit hour requirements for M.A. and Ph.D. students in the specialization will remain unchanged from their respective programs.
✔ Annual Phenomenology Seminar: The annual phenomenology seminar, offered as part of the Hermeneutics and Cultural Studies Program, is a mandatory course for all specialization students.
✔ Israeli Phenomenology Forum Participation: Attendance at forum meetings will be mandatory for all students in the specialization. The annual number of meetings will increase from three to five (two per semester and one between semesters). Specialization students will be required to submit a written assignment based on selected sessions.
✔ Doctoral Workshop: The doctoral workshop, led by Prof. Roni Miron, will include training in phenomenological methodologies. Specialization students may enroll in this workshop as a credit-bearing course, submitting a written assignment for evaluation.
✔ Future Course Offerings: In the coming years, the possibility of offering personalized phenomenological research guidance courses for specialization students will be explored.
✔ Scholarship Opportunities: Students in the specialization will be eligible to compete for a significant scholarship from the Hermeneutics and Cultural Studies Program, allowing them to dedicate more time to research.
