Master’s Degree

The MA is designed to prepare students from diverse backgrounds to become Jewish educators. The program accommodates full- and part-time students and online learners. All students admitted to the MA program enroll in a core curriculum that provides a solid grounding in Judaica and education. Once core classes are completed students choose an area of focus: Education Leadership or Pedagogy and Teaching.

Admissions Procedures

The William Davidson School accepts and reviews applications for admission and merit fellowships on a rolling basis. The priority application and fellowship deadline is March 1 of each year. It is in the applicant’s best interest to apply as early as possible because space in the class fills up and need- and merit-based funding is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Full-time matriculated students are only accepted in the fall. 

APPLICANTS

An applicant for admission as a degree candidate must submit the following:

  • A completed online application form together with the $65 fee
  • An official transcript of academic records from all colleges and universities previously attended
  • Official scores of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
  • Three letters of recommendation, two of which should be academic

JTS alumni should email the registrar@jtsa.edu and copy edschool@jtsa.edu to authorize access to their JTS academic files. Please include your degree and date of graduation.

NONMATRICULATED STUDENTS

The Davidson School accepts and reviews nonmatriculation applications on a rolling basis until the beginning of each semester. It is in the applicant’s best interest to apply as early as possible so that there is space remaining in courses.

Matriculated students have a priority in course registration over nonmatriculated students.

An applicant must submit the following:

  • A completed nonmatriculation application form
  • Official college transcript(s) indicating receipt of a bachelor’s degree
  • An application fee of $35 payable to JTS

JTS alumni should email the registrar@jtsa.edu and copy edschool@jtsa.edu to authorize access to their JTS academic files. Please include your degree and date of graduation.

Funding

Students who wish to earn a master’s degree in Jewish Education at The Davidson School (in-residence or online learning) are considered for need/merit scholarships. 

Applicants for merit-based and need-informed fellowships must fill out the FAFSA (JTS Code 002740) so that the fellowship committee can ascertain your financial need. If you want to be considered for US federal loans, you may work with the JTS Financial Aid Office upon your enrollment.

Upon completion of his/her studies at JTS, the student is expected to work in a Jewish educational setting for one year for each year awarded a fellowship, for a maximum of three years.

  • All information about any other funding received for the period of the fellowship should be reported to the Dean’s Office. The Davidson School reserves the right to adjust the amount of the award based upon other grants you may receive.
  • A yearly extension of the fellowship will be granted for a maximum of two years beyond the first year for full-time students and for three years for part-time students, provided funds are available and students are in good academic standing for each semester they are enrolled at The Davidson School.

MA Degree Requirements (45 Credits)

The MA curriculum is designed to provide all students with a strong foundation in Judaica and education, in addition to fostering religious development and personal growth. Unless indicated, all courses are assigned three academic credits. 

In order to meet graduation requirements, a student must earn a minimum of 45 credits above any course work needed to complete the Hebrew requirement. Hebrew requirements and Judaic course requirements differ depending on the student’s area of focus.

In the first year, each MA Davidson School student is assigned a program advisor with whom the student will make decisions regarding course work, internships, and practicum placements appropriate to his or her future career goals. The different areas of the curriculum are listed below.

Full-time students at The William Davidson School take 12 credits or more per semester. Part-time students take 6 credits per semester.

FOUNDATION COURSES IN JUDAIC STUDIES

  • BIB 5011: Introduction to Bible
  • TAL 5025: Introduction to Rabbinic Literature or equivalent course
  • MDS 5102: Classics of the Jewish Tradition II

If a student has previously taken a comparable course, the student can request to be exempted from any or all of these courses by consulting with the associate dean of The Davidson School. Students exempted from foundation courses are required to take higher-level courses in the same areas. 

HEBREW REQUIREMENTS

Before registering for courses, all entering students are required to take the Hebrew placement examination administered by the Hebrew Language faculty.

In order to receive their degree, students who choose the Pedagogy and Teaching area of focus must demonstrate proficiency in Hebrew (speaking, reading, and writing) equivalent to the level of HEB 5301: Advanced Hebrew I. In addition, they need to take HEB 5117: Hebrew Fluency or a comparable course.

In order to receive their degree, students who choose the Educational Leadership area of focus must demonstrate proficiency in Hebrew (speaking, reading, and writing) equivalent to the level of HEB 2201: Intermediate Hebrew I.

JUDAICA/EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (21 CREDITS)

Students in the Pedagogy and Teaching area of focus are required to take an additional 5000 level Talmud course.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (12 CREDITS)

All students are required to enroll in the following courses:

  • EDU 5031: Pedagogic Skills
  • SEM 5005: First Year Seminar: Becoming a Jewish Educational Professional
  • EDU 5116: Developmental Issues in Jewish Education
  • EDU 5158: Curriculum and instruction

Taking doctoral level courses [8000 level] requires permission of the Dean’s Office.

PRACTICUM

All students are required to complete a two-semester practicum consisting of an academic class and 16 hours per week of placement for the Pedagogy and Teaching area of focus and the Educational Leadership area of focus. The practicum takes place within the student’s area of focus. Practicum placements are arranged only by the faculty practicum coordinators.

Students are required to successfully complete the following courses before enrolling in the practicum of their choice.

  • EDU 5031: Pedagogic Skills
  • EDU 5158: Curriculum and Instruction

ONLINE PRACTICUM

Students who hold a full-time position and are unable to be placed in a yearlong practicum site take the course, Practicum in Reflection, Action, and Practice online.

Areas of Focus

Students are required to choose one of the following two areas of focus:

Pedagogy and Teaching (12 credits)

This area of focus prepares students for early childhood and day school teaching positions. In addition to the practicum classes, students are required to take two other Jewish Studies courses.

During the final year of the program, students participate in a yearlong student-teaching placement and weekly seminar (EDU 5312 and EDU 5313). This practicum, designed in collaboration with participating day schools in the metropolitan area, consists of 16 hours of fieldwork per week throughout the academic year. In conjunction with the student-teaching placement, a student is assigned a mentor and a supervisor.

Educational Leadership (12 credits)

This area of focus prepares Davidson School students to become outstanding educational leaders who will serve a changing American Jewish community in the 21st century. Students in the Educational Leadership area of focus make the transition from expert learners to novice professionals in a collegial setting that supports the development of relationships, exposes them to practice in the field through internships, and provides mentoring with outstanding practitioners. This area of focus builds a vibrant community of practice that supports individual and collective growth, and creates an emerging cadre of reflective Jewish educational leaders.

In addition to the education courses listed above, students on the Educational Leadership area of focus are required to enroll in:

  • EDU 5609: Leading and Managing Jewish Nonprofit Organizations: Theory and Practice
  • EDU 5559: Staff Development and Supervision in Jewish Educational Settings

During the second or third year of the program, students participate in a yearlong field placement and weekly seminar. This practicum, designed with participating organizations in the metropolitan area, consists of 15 hours of fieldwork per week throughout the academic year.

The following courses must be completed prior to the practicum:

  • EDU 5031: Pedagogic Skills
  • EDU 5158: Curriculum and Instruction

Building a Community of Educators

Experiential learning as an approach to Jewish education has the ability both to strengthen one’s Jewish literacy (“literacy” broadly defined as “knowledge and understanding of Jewish content”) and to create strong, positive emotional bonds with Jewish life. Further, this approach can take place anywhere, both inside and outside the classroom. Gaining an understanding and mastery of experiential Jewish education (EJE) requires considerable training and study. Drawing upon cutting-edge thinking in experiential Jewish education, all students at The William Davidson School learn key ideas and best practices in teaching, experiential education methodologies, and leadership skills for a variety of settings: day schools, summer camps, Jewish community centers, congregational schools, and nonprofit organizations with a focus on Jewish education. 

All Davidson School students:

  • Participate in informational interviews with professionals in the field, supervised by their academic advisors and the program coordinator of the Experiential Learning Initiative
  • Engage in EJE in action through learning led by field professionals and field trips such as visits to the museums
  • Work on a portfolio of growth
  • Attend conferences and workshops external to The William Davidson School, bringing back their learning and reflections and connecting them to their learning at JTS
  • Receive ongoing support, guidance, and career development related to EJE from the program coordinator of the Experiential Learning Initiative and faculty members  

MINYAN 

Prayer is one of the primary activities of Jewish engagement and emerging Jewish educators need to know how to pray and transmit the traditional liturgy. In addition, we need to know the history, relevance, and meaning of prayers. We encourage all students to participate in the daily minyan.

COMMUNITY TIME

All students in the school attend monthly meetings. The sessions are dedicated to conversations about professional goals and aspirations of emerging professionals.

CAREER WORKSHOP

All graduating Davidson students are eligible for support from the JTS Alumni office. The alumni office assists students with networking, social media, resumes, cover letters, thank you notes, references, personal branding, interviewing, negotiating, and much more. To assist you in your job search, The William Davidson School office sends a weekly job offering each Thursday.

Dual MA Degree Opportunities

MA IN JEWISH EDUCATION AND MA IN AN AREA OF JEWISH STUDIES

Davidson School students may apply to the Gershon Kekst Graduate School of JTS for an MA in any field of Jewish studies.

A student may apply 9 credits of Judaica from a Davidson School transcript toward the Kekst Graduate School’s credit requirements, subject to the approval of the Kekst Graduate School academic advisor. Likewise, students enrolled in the Kekst Graduate School (upon completion of all Kekst Graduate School prerequisites and Hebrew requirements) may apply for the MA in Jewish Education through The Davidson School, and count 9 credits of subject-area Judaica from the Kekst Graduate School transcript toward the Davidson School MA.

MA IN JEWISH EDUCATION AND RABBINIC ORDINATION

the same core MA program but can transfer 7 Jewish Studies courses from The Rabbinical School:

  • EDU 5031: Pedagogic Skills
  • EDU 5127: Foundations of Jewish Education
  • EDU 5116: Developmental Issues or equivalent
  • EDU 5158: Curriculum and Instruction
  • EDU 5609: Leading and Managing Jewish Nonprofit Organizations: Theory and Practice
  • EDU 5559: Staff Development and Supervision in Jewish Educational Settings
  • Two semesters of practicum

MA IN JEWISH EDUCATION AND CANTORIAL Ordination

In order to receive the MA in Jewish Education, cantorial students take the same MA core courses and transfer five Jewish Studies courses.

  • EDU 5031: Pedagogic Skills
  • EDU 5127: Foundations of Jewish Education
  • EDU 5116: Developmental Issues or equivalent
  • EDU 5158: Curriculum and Instruction
  • Two education electives at the 5000 level
  • EDU: Pedagogy Based Course
  • Two practicum courses

Students in the Educational Leadership area of focus take:

  • EDU 5609: Leading and Managing Jewish Nonprofit Organizations: Theory and Practice
  • EDU 5559: Staff Development and Supervision in Jewish Educational Settings

Students in the Pedagogy and Teaching area of focus two additional Jewish studies courses.

Practicum: Students are required to complete a two-semester practicum consisting of either 15 hours of fieldwork experience per week. The practicum takes place within each student’s area of area of focus. Practicum placements are arranged only by the faculty practicum coordinators.

Additional MA Program Opportunities

GRADUATES OF LIST COLLEGE ENTERING THE DAVIDSON SCHOOL MA PROGRAM

Graduates of List College are permitted to apply 12 credits of graduate-level education course work from the BA transcript toward the MA in Jewish Education.

PARDES DAVIDSON EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATORS PROGRAM

Students who are accepted to the experiential education program at Pardes and to the MA program at The William Davidson School are allowed to transfer up to five Judaica courses (15 credits) towards their MA in Jewish education at The William Davidson School.

Pardes/Davidson students need to take the same core ten courses (30 credits) at The William Davidson School and complete their Hebrew requirements. 

List college graduates enrolling at the Pardes Experiential Educator program are allowed to transfer up to seven courses (21 credits) from both List College and Pardes towards the MA in Jewish education.

Program Components of Pardes Experiential Educators Program

  • Jewish Studies: Courses in Bible, rabbinics, and Jewish thought, prayer, and history, to be taken as a full-time student at Pardes in Jerusalem.
  • Hebrew Language: Students need to complete the required Hebrew level according to their track. They will fulfill this requirement by taking Hebrew at ulpan in Jerusalem, and continue their Hebrew studies at JTS.
  • Education Coursework: 10 courses to be completed at JTS, in-residence or online during fall, spring, and summer semesters.
  • Education Practicum: Part-time placement to be completed with supervision from Davidson School faculty in the United States.
  • Year-round field trips and seminars at Pardes.
  • Professional Enrichment: Participation in a professional cohort of the Pardes Experiential Educators Program and in a collegial network of The William Davidson School (i.e., biannual day trips, and four annual “lunch and learns”).

PART-TIME MA STUDENTS

Part-time students cover the same 45 credits of comprehensive curriculum as their full-time colleagues. Designation as a part-time student is granted upon admission, and students must take 6 credits (two courses) each semester. Students may change status from full-time to part-time and vice versa with the permission of the Dean’s Office.

  • All part-time students are encouraged to take at least two courses per semester. In rare instances, part-time students may take more or fewer than two courses with the permission of the Dean’s Office.

Online Master’s Degree

Participants in the online program cover the same 45 credits of comprehensive curriculum as their colleagues who study at our New York City campus, but take the majority of their courses online.

Students are accepted into the school with an Online MA designation and are also designated as part-time students. In-house students may change their status to become Online MA students with the permission of the Dean’s Office. In addition to online work, students are encouraged to take advantage of summer offerings at our New York City campus.

ONLINE PRACTICUM

Students in the online program fulfill the practicum on their jobs setting.

Students are required to successfully complete the following courses before enrolling in the practicum of their choice.

  • EDU 5031: Pedagogic Skills
  • EDU 5127: Foundation of Jewish Education
  • EDU 5116: Developmental Issues or equivalent
  • EDU 5158: Curriculum and Instruction

Through the online practicum, students choose an aspect of practice around which to develop an in-depth investigation, using an action research framework. Action research is a reflective research process used as a tool to promote action taking in the service of educational improvement. It calls upon practitioners as insider experts to investigate research questions developed from their own concerns and to focus these efforts around planning, implementing, and evaluating a change effort, thus enhancing leadership skills.  Students plan and facilitate a change effort in their home institutions.

In the first semester of the course, students concentrate on developing a research question, writing a literature review, and completing a research design. In the second semester, students implement the project, collect data, and evaluate the action. Throughout the course, students are engaged in online conversation with their classmates program-wide and in small groups to examine examples of action research. They act as a community of practice to share their progress and to offer feedback throughout the different stages of the process.

HEBREW FOR ONLINE STUDENTS

JTS offers limited online Hebrew courses so students need to make their own arrangements in their local area (and/or to take the intensive Hebrew course offered on campus in the summer). However, students are required to take JTS Hebrew exams to demonstrate proficiency at each level.

Please note that the textbook for Foundations of Hebrew and Hebrew up to and including HEB5203 is Hebrew from Scratch, volumes 1 and 2.   

Students should consult with their advisors on how and when to fulfill the requirements in Hebrew.

FUNDING FOR ONLINE LEARNING STUDENTS

Online Learning students receive the same generous fellowships as onsite students.

  • Upon graduation, students are expected to work in a Jewish setting for one year for each year that they received a fellowship, up to three years.
  • Fellowship money will automatically be renewed annually for two additional years beyond the first year, provided the student is in good academic standing and there are funds available.

If an Online MA student is unable to take courses in a given semester because he or she has taken all the classes offered, he or she should register for continuous registration instead of registering for a leave of absence.

Studying at Other Institutions

CONSORTIUM AGREEMENT

All Davidson School students are eligible to take courses at Teachers College (TC) with the approval of their advisors.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTERING AT TEACHERS COLLEGE

Register to all Teachers College courses by filling out the consortium form through the JTS Office of the Registrar.

SUMMER STUDY

Courses offered during JTS Summer Sessions may be used to fulfill program requirements. Summer school is also open to graduate students in Jewish studies and related fields from other academic institutions. For information and application forms, contact the Summer Sessions Office at (212) 678-8886. The Davidson School’s MA fellowships do not cover summer school.