Special Joint Programs for Rabbinical Students

Joint Program: MA in Jewish Education and Rabbinic Ordination

The joint program of the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education and The Rabbinical School of The Jewish Theological Seminary is designed to prepare students for a rabbinic career with special expertise in Jewish education. While application may be made simultaneously to both schools, students can only begin in one program for the first year. It is quite common for matriculated students in either one of the schools to apply for admission to the other. The Davidson School and The Rabbinical School maintain their own admissions procedures. The twelve Judaic credits required for the MA will be transferred to the Davidson transcript, and the education credits will satisfy the student's rabbinical school requirement for a field of concentration. The Jewish education practicum required of MA students in Jewish education fulfills The Rabbinical School internship requirement. Students who complete the Jewish education practicum may take any two electives in place of the Resnick Professional Internship Course (PRO 7401 and 7402). Please note that state regulations prevent JTS from awarding a student more than one MA degree. Therefore, students in the joint program receive an MA from The Davidson School rather than The Rabbinical School. If a student has already received an MA from JTS, he/she will not be eligible to receive an additional MA in Jewish Education. Other details of the program should be discussed with the dean and/or the chairman of the Department of Jewish Education.

Joint Ordination/Doctoral Program

Rabbinical students who wish to study for a PhD may apply in their fourth year to The Graduate School for admission in their fifth year to the joint ordination/doctoral program. Each school will follow its own admissions procedures. With the approval of the student's doctoral adviser, some of the course requirements for the PhD can be met by courses in the student's field of concentration in The Rabbinical School. All other requirements for the doctoral degree (course work, foreign languages, examinations, and dissertation) remain in effect.

Tuition will be paid at The Graduate School PhD rate. To be considered for The Graduate School fellowships, students must take a minimum of fifteen doctoral-program credits for the year.

Union Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College

In accordance with agreements between JTS and Union Theological Seminary, and between JTS and Hebrew Union College, rabbinical students may take courses at UTS or HUC, subject to the approval of The Rabbinical School dean and the instructors. Tuition will be covered by the tuition paid at JTS. Rabbinical students interested in specific courses at UTC or HUC should consult with a dean prior to registration. Generally speaking, only elective courses will be approved.