JTS and Columbia University Announce Launch of Dual Degree Graduate Program in Jewish Studies and Public Administration or Social Work

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Nina Jacobson
Office: (212) 678-8950
Email: nijacobson@jtsa.edu

December 5, 2007, New York, NY

The Graduate School of The Jewish Theological Seminary and the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) of Columbia University have announced the launch of a dual-degree program to prepare students for professional leadership careers in the Jewish community.

Scheduled to begin in fall 2008, the Jewish Professional Leadership Program (JPLP) is designed to provide future Jewish communal professional leaders a seamless graduate education in which they learn the essential knowledge, skills, and experience to meet the challenge of building Jewish community in an increasingly complex world. Under the rubric of JPLP, students may enroll in the new Jewish Studies and Public Administration program or the existing Jewish Studies and Social Work Program.

Each program requires admission to both The Graduate School and the respective school at Columbia University, and leads to the award of two master’s degrees, one of which is a Master of Arts in Jewish Studies and the other is either a Master of Science in Social Work or Master of Public Administration.

The Jewish Studies component of the MA/MS and MA/MPA programs includes American social history, contemporary issues confronting Jewish worldwide, and a trip to Israel. Those enrolled in the social work program examine human behavior in social settings, social welfare policy, and issues in professional practice. Those enrolled in SIPA study public management, non-profit management, public finance, economics, statistics, social and urban policy, and budgeting.

Merit fellowships and need-based financial aid is available. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, but individuals interested in fellowships or aid should call the admissions offices at soon as possible.

Further information is available by contacting Alayne Birnhak at JTS at (212) 678-8032/8022. Prospective students with questions about SIPA may contact Mat Clemons at (212) 854.6216.

Editors/Reporters: For further information on the Jewish Professional Leadership Program, contact Sherry S. Kirschenbaum in the JTS Department of Communications at (212) 678-8953 or Robert Garris in the SIPA Office of External Affairs at (212) 854-5939.

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