William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education

In 1994, William Davidson of Detroit, Michigan (z"l), established a $15 million endowment at JTS to fund the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education, with the goal of adding more professionals to the field; providing development opportunities to educators already working in the many venues where Jewish education takes place; and increasing the field's knowledge base through academic and practitioner research.

The Davidson School offers both master's and doctoral degrees in its historic home on 3080 Broadway, where Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan became the dean of its predecessor, the Teachers Institute, in 1909. It also offers courses leading to a master of arts degree online.

In addition to offering courses, The Davidson School also works closely with the Melton Research Center for Jewish Education, the Rebecca and Israel Ivry Prozdor, the Day School Leadership Training Institute, and the Leadership Institute for Congregational School Educators (LICSE), all of which provide unique opportunities for student involvement.

Our Philosophy

The Davidson School is informed by a vision of the Jewish educator that unites five distinct strands:

  • The Educator as Learner: Those wishing to become Jewish educators can build a strong foundation in Judaica at Davidson. We hope that this experience will insure the habits of mind that foster life-long Jewish learning.

  • The Educator as Teacher: The Davidson School prides itself on preparing educators who are knowledgeable in the theory and practice of Jewish education. Our graduates can apply contemporary pedagogy and educational policy to classrooms, camps, adult settings, and community centers.

  • The Educator as Leader: Davidson School students see themselves as equipped to provide educational solutions to the problems besetting American Jewish society, other diasporas, and the state of Israel. Learning for leadership takes place in the classroom, in field placements, and in cocurricular arenas.

  • The Educator as Inquirer: Our students on the master's level have the opportunity to improve their research skills in their course work. Qualified candidates can engage in undertaking original research under supervision. Doctoral students must complete a minimum of nine credits in various research methodologies in preparation for writing a dissertation.

  • The Educator as Religious Literate: Our school is pluralistic, including Jews of all denominations, including those who identify as secular or cultural Jews. However, we expect that all of our graduates will be knowledgeable about Jewish culture and ritual practice. We offer opportunities for personal religious and spiritual growth through tutorials for interested students.

JTS is proud of its long tradition of commitment to Jewish texts in their original languages. Since Hebrew is at the core of Jewish culture, we expect a mastery of reading and understanding from all of our students. The degree of mastery differs in the MA program from that of the EdD program, and within the various tracks of the MA level. For example, students hoping to enter the field of Jewish day school education will require different Hebrew preparation than their peers entering early childhood education, synagogue school leadership, and early childhood education.

Degree Programs

The MA and EdD are conferred by JTS upon recommendation of the faculty and completion of all stated requirements. All students are entitled to generous fellowships awarded by The Davidson School.

Master of Arts

The MA is designed to prepare students from diverse backgrounds to become Jewish educators. Students design their course of study by choosing one of three tracks: day school education, synagogue school leadership education, or informal/communal education. The program accommodates both full- and part-time students. All matriculated students in the MA program enroll in a core curriculum that provides a solid grounding in Judaica and education. See more details and a course grid for the MA programs.

Doctor of Education

The William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education offers an EdD in Jewish Education. The three doctoral programs are designed to prepare academics and senior professionals for the growing educational needs of North American Jewish communities.

As a rule, students will not be considered for admission to the doctoral programs in Jewish education unless they have had a minimum of four years of full-time experience working in the field of Jewish education.

The programs offer two areas of concentration: (1) teaching and learning; and (2) leadership and administration. In so doing, it prepares students for the practical work in administration, supervision, curriculum development, and educational research, as well as for academic careers in the field of Jewish education.

The doctoral programs require 63 credits beyond the master's degree. Students accepted to the doctoral program must possess substantial graduate-level knowledge in both education and Judaica. This can be demonstrated through a master's degree(s) or other equivalent academic work. In some cases, students may be able to make up for deficiencies in these areas through additional course work taken while enrolled in the doctoral program. An interview with the Admissions Committee and dean is required.

More information and course grids: