Best Place to study Syrian and Ethiopian Christianity

[alem]

Hello all,

I am in my beginning stages of applying to graduate schools and I am planning to go into the fields of Syrian and Ethiopian Christianity. I am also intrested in oral traditions, hymns and relationships between early Jews and Christians in the Near East, especially in Syria and Ethiopia, as of right now I have a working knowledge of Ethiopic and other ancient languages. So I am wondering where do you all suggest I apply to? I appreciate all of your wise advice.

[Bukharan]

Amazing academic interests you have!

Do you have Theology background then? Are you looking into Near Eastern doctoral programmes only? Do some Theology Ph.D. programmes offer such an Early Christianity focus?

I suggest you check out Princeton and U Chicago. Their Near Eastern Studies departments are probably the world's best in the field. Oxford is exceptionally good as well.

[Febronia]

Hello all,

I am in my beginning stages of applying to graduate schools and I am planning to go into the fields of Syrian and Ethiopian Christianity. I am also intrested in oral traditions, hymns and relationships between early Jews and Christians in the Near East, especially in Syria and Ethiopia, as of right now I have a working knowledge of Ethiopic and other ancient languages. So I am wondering where do you all suggest I apply to? I appreciate all of your wise advice.

I can think of a number of places that are strong for either Syriac -or- Ethiopic, but if you're wanting both of them, it's going to be a shorter list. The place that stands out the most in my mind is Duke. Lucas Van Rompay would be a wonderful person to study both languages with. The department of Semitics at CUA is also strong in both areas, although their funding is not the best. The list expands if you consider places with cross-registration/exchange agreements--for example, Brown for Syriac and Harvard for Ethiopic.

[alem]

Thanks for your suggestions, and yes I do have a theological background, with an emphasis on New Testament and early Christianity. I have considered Duke I was just unsure that the overall program would be a good fit for me, but my main interests lies in Ethiopic Christianity, Syriac is my minor field. I will check into Oxford and the other programs. Thanks agian.