Jewish Studies, Education, and Communal Leadership M.A.
Degree: Master of Arts
Jewish Studies, Education & Communal Leadership (M.A.) | Towson University
Program Director: Dr. Benjamin Fisher
Phone: 410-704-2910
Email: bfisher@towson.edu
The Master of Arts in Jewish Studies, Education, and Communal Leadership offers students one degree, and two tracks. Students can specialize in Jewish Studies and delve into the world of the Bible and ancient Near Eastern Civilizations, Jewish history from medieval to modern times, Jewish thought and philosophy, or modern Judaism and mysticism. Students can earn their M.A. degree to enhance their qualifications and advance in their career, prepare for graduate school and further studies, or continue their education from a passion to learn. Specialize in the Leadership in Jewish Education and Communal Services track to develop expertise in the management of Jewish communal service organizations and educational institutions. Whichever track a student may choose, the JSECL program offers individualized support and an intellectually exciting journey.
Accelerated Bachelor’s-Master’s Program
Students may also earn the M.A. in Leadership in Jewish Education and Communal Service through the accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program. This program is designed to allow students to complete both the undergraduate and graduate degrees in five years, including 9 units taken during the summer terms. Students are required to complete the Hebrew Language requirement necessary for both the B.A. and acceptance into the M.A. program.
Admission Requirements
Application deadlines and a full listing of materials required for admission can be found on the website.
Degree Requirements
The MA in Jewish Studies, Education, and Communal Leadership requires successful completion of 32 units with an average GPA of 3.00 or higher. All students complete a curriculum of core Jewish Studies courses (14 units) and then select a track (9 units): Leadership in Jewish Education and Communal Services (LJEC) or Jewish Studies (JDST). After completing the track requirements, LJEC students complete their degree with additional LJEC electives (9 units) and JDST students complete their degree with additional JDST electives (9 units). All students have a co-requisite of intermediate level language requirement.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Studies Core Courses | ||
| Select at least one course in each of the following areas: | ||
| Biblical Civilizations | 3 | |
| BIBLICAL LITERATURE AND CIVILIZATION | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN JUDAIC STUDIES | ||
| Rabbinic Literature | 3 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO RABBINIC LITERATURE AND HISTORY | ||
| JEWISH LAW AND ETHICS | ||
| Jewish History | 3 | |
| MEDIEVAL JEWISH HISTORY | ||
| JEWS IN THE MODERN WORLD | ||
| Jewish Thought | 3 | |
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN JUDAIC STUDIES | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO JEWISH THOUGHT | ||
| Track Required Coursework (see below for list of courses) | 11 | |
| Electives (see below for list of courses) | 9 | |
| Total Units | 32 | |
Leadership in Jewish Education and Communal Services Track
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Track Courses | ||
| LJEC 600 | LEADERSHIP IN JEWISH EDUCATION AND COMMUNITIES | 3 |
| LJEC 612 | STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS: MATERIAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| LJEC 614 | JEWISH COMMUNAL SERVICE PRACTICUM SEMINAR | 2 |
| LJEC 618 | SUPERVISED JEWISH COMMUNAL SERVICE INTERNSHIP | 3 |
| Total Units | 11 | |
Jewish Studies Track
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Track Courses | ||
| JDST 719 | JEWISH STUDIES SEMINAR | 2 |
| Select three from the following (Students must work with their program director to choose coursework to encompass different geographic areas, methodology, and chronological period): | 9 | |
| BIBLICAL LITERATURE AND CIVILIZATION | ||
| DIASPORA JEWISH COMMUNITIES | ||
| AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY | ||
| GLOBAL JEWISH LITERATURE | ||
| RACE, GENDER, SEXUALITY, AND JUDAISM | ||
| MEDIEVAL JEWISH HISTORY | ||
| JEWS IN THE MODERN WORLD | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN JUDAIC STUDIES | ||
| CONTEMPORARY JEWISH ETHICS: RESHAPING THE JEWISH IDENTITY IN OUR GENERATION | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO JEWISH THOUGHT | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO RABBINIC LITERATURE AND HISTORY | ||
| JEWISH LAW AND ETHICS | ||
| HISTORY OF JEWISH BIBLICAL EXEGESIS I: FROM THE BIBLE TO THE CLOSE OF THE TALMUD | ||
| HISTORY OF JEWISH BIBLICAL EXEGESIS II: FROM THE CLOSE OF THE TALMUD TO THE MODERN PERIOD | ||
| Total Units | 11 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 9 units of coursework with approval by the program director | ||
| Jewish Education courses | ||
| MORAL QUESTIONS IN THE CLASSROOM | ||
| PROJECT IN FAMILY FOCUSED PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | ||
| FOUNDATIONS JEWISH EDUCATION | ||
| CURRICULUM PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING FOR THE JEWISH SCHOOL | ||
| QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN JEWISH EDUCATION | ||
| Teaching Jewish Subject courses | ||
| HEBREW LANGUAGE INSTRUCTIONS FOR EDUCATORS | ||
| TEACHING CLASSICAL JEWISH TEXTS | ||
| JEWISH FAMILIES UNDER NAZI RULE AND BEYOND | ||
| EXPLORATION OF HOLOCAUST EDUCATION | ||
| MODELS AND METHODS OF TEACHING JEWISH HOLIDAYS | ||
| Professional courses | ||
| JEWISH FAMILIES UNDER NAZI RULE AND BEYOND | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF JEWISH COMMUNAL SERVICE | ||
| MANAGMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES:LEADERSHIP AND SUPERVISION | ||
| Nonprofit courses | ||
| FUNDAMENTALS OF LEADERSHIP IN THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR | ||
| FUNDRAISING, FRIENDRAISING AND VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT | ||
| EXPLORATION OF HOLOCAUST EDUCATION | ||
| Thesis coursework | ||
| JDST THESIS | ||
or JDST 898 | JDST THESIS | |
| Comprehensive Exam courses | ||
| DIRECTED INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH | ||
| DIRECTED READING IN JEWISH STUDIES | ||
| Other possible electives: JDST, FMST, LJEC, EDUC, ELED, ECED or other related discipline, or Independent Study with approval from program director. | ||
Other Requirement for Graduation
All students are required to submit a master's project, professional portfolio, research thesis or comprehensive exams in order to graduate.
Hebrew Requirement
Knowledge of Hebrew is the foundation of Judaic learning. All entering students must take the Hebrew placement examination. In order to receive the degree, students must demonstrate proficiency in Hebrew equivalent to the level of two years of college Hebrew (through Biblical or Modern Hebrew IV).
- Students will demonstrate content knowledge in Jewish studies.
- Students will display Hebrew language and cultural literacy and proficiency in Hebrew reading, writing and speaking.
- Students will be able to apply best practices in leadership of organizational management, community development or education.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of research techniques relevant to organizational management, community development or education.