Leadership in Jewish Education and Communal Service M.A.
Degree: Master of Arts
https://www.towson.edu/cla/departments/familystudies/grad/jewisheducation/
Program Director: Dr. Hana Bor
Phone: 410-704-5026
Email: hbor@towson.edu
The Master of Arts in Leadership in Jewish Education and Communal Service program prepares students for careers as professional leaders for the Jewish community with a combination of leadership training, communal service and practical field experience. Through a choice of two concentrations, Education and Communal Professional, the program offers an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines courses in leadership, education, non-profit management, communal service, Judaic studies and an internship experience tailored to each student.
This program emphasizes the development of students’ capacities for effective communication, critical analysis and flexible thought. Students train for careers as educators or communal professionals in local, national and global nonprofits, service or educational organizations within the Jewish community. Examples include: the Jewish Federation, Hillel, Jewish Community Centers, social service agencies, Jewish schools, synagogues and others. Core components include five graduate Jewish studies courses, six professional courses, a supervised internship and practicum seminar.
Through the Baltimore Hebrew Institute, students can earn scholarships, fellowships and program enrichment.
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.
Master of Social Work and Leadership in Jewish Education & Communal Service
The dual-degree program in Social Work and Leadership in Jewish Education and Communal Service (or Jewish Studies) prepares students for careers in the Jewish community in areas such as Federations (planning, campaign and resource development); community relations councils (Jewish advocacy and community organizations); Jewish community center work (group work, programming, youth work and administration); Jewish educational settings (religious/day schools, camps) and Jewish family services (clinical social work).
The dual degree underscores the need to be skilled in social work, be knowledgeable about Judaism and receive professional experience in the Jewish community. This program emphasizes the development of students’ capacities for effective communication, critical analysis and flexible thought. Students may complete the program in two years with summer classes or a minimester; however a three-year program is offered and recommended.
Dual-degree students concurrently obtain their degrees from Towson University (TU) and the University of Maryland (UMD). The UMD School of Social Work accepts 6 units to be transferred from TU, to apply to the Advanced Curriculum requirements. TU accepts 6 units to be transferred from UMD.
Applicants to this dual-degree program must apply separately to each program at TU and UMD. Admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other.
Admission Requirements
Application deadlines and a full listing of materials required for admission can be found on the website.
Degree Requirements
The M.A. in Leadership in Jewish Education and Communal Service requires successful completion of 38 units with an average GPA of 3.00 or higher. Core Courses: 15 units; Professional Courses: 18 units; Seminar: 2 units; Internship 3 units; Culminating Project; and Hebrew requirement.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Studies Courses | ||
| Select at least one course in each of the following areas: | 15 | |
| Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Civilization | ||
| BIBLICAL LITERATURE AND CIVILIZATION | ||
| Rabbinic Literature | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO RABBINIC LITERATURE AND HISTORY | ||
| JEWISH LAW AND ETHICS | ||
| History | ||
| MEDIEVAL JEWISH HISTORY | ||
| JEWS IN THE MODERN WORLD | ||
| Jewish Thought and Mysticism | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO JEWISH THOUGHT | ||
| Jewish Studies Elective | ||
Examples of courses that fulfill this requirement include the following: | ||
| DIASPORA JEWISH COMMUNITIES | ||
| AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN JUDAIC STUDIES | ||
| CONTEMPORARY JEWISH ETHICS: RESHAPING THE JEWISH IDENTITY IN OUR GENERATION | ||
| EXPLORATION OF HOLOCAUST EDUCATION | ||
| Leadership Core | ||
| Leadership Core | 3 | |
| LEADERSHIP IN JEWISH EDUCATION AND COMMUNITIES | ||
| Practicum Seminar | 2 | |
The following course is required every term for two years, one unit per year: | ||
| JEWISH COMMUNAL SERVICE PRACTICUM SEMINAR (year-long, 1 unit) | ||
| Supervised Jewish Communal Service Internship | 3 | |
| SUPERVISED JEWISH COMMUNAL SERVICE INTERNSHIP 1 | ||
| Elective - Students may select from courses in Jewish Studies, Jewish Education, Jewish Communal Service, Family Studies or related topic with approval from the advisor/program director | 3 | |
| Concentration | ||
| See below | 12 | |
| Total Units | 38 | |
- 1
Students complete a required field placement of a minimum of 400 hours.
Concentration I: Jewish Education
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Education | ||
| Select one of each of the following two groups: | 6 | |
| Group 1 | ||
| JEWISH FAMILIES UNDER NAZI RULE AND BEYOND | ||
| FOUNDATIONS JEWISH EDUCATION | ||
| Group 2 | ||
| PROJECT IN FAMILY FOCUSED PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | ||
| FROM VISION TO PRACTICE IN JEWISH EDUCATION | ||
| QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN JEWISH EDUCATION | ||
| Teaching Jewish Subject | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| MODELS AND METHODS OF TEACHING JEWISH HOLIDAYS | ||
| EXPLORATION OF HOLOCAUST EDUCATION | ||
| Elective | ||
| Select one of the following - courses are approved by the Graduate Program Director. Examples include: | 3 | |
| EXPLORATION OF HOLOCAUST EDUCATION | ||
| MORAL QUESTIONS IN THE CLASSROOM | ||
Special Topic Courses from JDST, FMST, JCS, EDUC, ELED, ECED or other related discipline, Independent Study | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
Concentration II: Communal Professional
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Core | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| PRINCIPLES OF JEWISH COMMUNAL SERVICE | ||
| MANAGMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES:LEADERSHIP AND SUPERVISION | ||
| STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS: MATERIAL RESOURCES | ||
| Professional Elective | ||
| Select two of the following - courses are approved by the Graduate Program Director. Examples include: | 6 | |
| MANAGMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES:LEADERSHIP AND SUPERVISION | ||
| EXPLORATION OF HOLOCAUST EDUCATION | ||
| FUNDAMENTALS OF LEADERSHIP IN THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR | ||
| FUNDRAISING, FRIENDRAISING AND VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT | ||
| JEWISH FAMILIES UNDER NAZI RULE AND BEYOND | ||
Special Topic Courses from JDST, FMST, JCS, or other related discipline, Independent Study | ||
| Total Units | 12 | |
Other Requirement for Graduation
All students are required to submit a master's project or professional portfolio 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). Beginning with their first term of matriculation, students must study Hebrew every term until this proficiency is attained. Students taking Hebrew course work must attain a grade of B or better each term in order to be considered proficient. Courses through Biblical Hebrew IV or Modern Hebrew IV do not count toward the 38 units required for the degree.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| HEBR 101 | ELEMENTS OF HEBREW I | 3 |
| HEBR 102 | ELEMENTS OF HEBREW II | 3 |
| HEBR 201 | HEBREW INTERMEDIATE I | 3 |
| HEBR 202 | HEBREW INTERMEDIATE II | 3 |
| JDST 544 | BIBLICAL HEBREW I | 3 |
| JDST 545 | BIBLICAL HEBREW II | 3 |
| JDST 546 | BIBLICAL HEBREW III | 3 |
| JDST 547 | BIBLICAL HEBREW IV | 3 |
- 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.