Gershon Kekst Graduate School Master’s Degree

The master’s degree at the Gershon Kekst Graduate School is geared toward students wanting to deepen their knowledge of Jewish studies. Our MA programs can serve as preparation for a PhD program or for a career in Jewish professional leadership, Jewish education, or other fields. Some students pursue our joint MA program with Columbia University, while others seek a personal exploration of Judaism through an academic course of study.

MA Areas of Study

• Ancient Jewish Studies
• Bible
• Jewish Ethics
• Jewish Gender and Women’s Studies
• Jewish History
• Jewish Literature
• Jewish Professional Leadership
  • Jewish Studies and Social Work
  • Jewish Ethics and Public Health
• Jewish Studies
• Jewish Thought
• Medieval and Early Modern Jewish Studies
• Midrash
• Modern Jewish Studies
  • Semester-in-Israel Program at Ben-Gurion University
• Talmud and Rabbinics

To learn more about specific MA requirements, please visit the Academic Bulletin.

Accelerated Master’s Degree

For students with prior Hebrew-language background, the Kekst Graduate School provides a 12-month accelerated MA program. It is ideal for those interested in Jewish education, preparation for doctoral study, or simply the chance to pursue advanced Jewish study. The degree also serves as an excellent foundation for a career in Jewish communal leadership as well as library and archival careers.

MA Degrees with Columbia University

• MA/MSW with the Columbia University School of Social Work
• MA/MPH with the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

Certificate in Pastoral Care and Counseling

The Gershon Kekst Graduate School and the Center for Pastoral Education offer students the opportunity to obtain a Certificate in Pastoral Care and Counseling in conjunction with a master’s degree. This certificate can be earned by graduate students enrolled in any MA program at JTS.

Learn about the Certificate in Pastoral Care and Counseling

Special MA Programs for Other JTS Students

• Joint Gershon Kekst Graduate School MA / Ordination Program
• Joint Gershon Kekst Graduate School MA / The William Davidson School MA Program
• Joint Gershon Kekst Graduate School MA / Cantorial Investiture Program
• BA/MA Option