The M.A. program in Jewish education aims to develop the concept of "educator" in its broadest sense. The goal is the training of a Jewish education generalist, prepared to serve in a variety of Jewish educational settings. The M.A. program in Jewish education offers multiple training options for careers in Jewish life.

Master of Arts in Jewish Education (M.A.J.E.) for rabbinical students

Rabbinical students from any campus of HUC-JIR may apply for matriculation in the M.A.J.E. program as participants in a special 14-month program. All requirements for the degree must be completed within this period of time, on the Los Angeles campus.

Joint Masters in Jewish Education and Jewish Non Profit Management

For students who wish to combine the study of Jewish education with an emphasis on Jewish communal service, the Joint Master's program allows students to earn two separate degrees. In addition to the three years of the M.A.J.E. program, Joint Master's students spend the summer after the Year-in-Israel program and the summer between the Los Angeles academic years studying at HUC-JIR's School of Jewish Non Profit Management. The clinical placement during the second year of study involves work in a communal agency, and during the third year involves work in an educational setting.

Program Overview

The three-year course of study leading to a master's degree in Jewish education (M.A.J.E.) is the core program of the Rhea Hirsch School of Education. The first year, spent at HUC-JIR's Jerusalem School, is engaged in the intensive study of Hebrew language and texts.

During the second and third years, M.A.J.E. students are in residence at HUC-JIR's Los Angeles School in a core program of academic course work and clinical education. The focus of the academic courses in education is on the theory and skills common to a wide variety of educational institutions. The Judaica course work places a strong emphasis on Hebrew and proficiency in both classical and modern texts, liturgy, history and philosophy.

The clinical education component of the program requires students to spend 10-12 hours per week in a supervised internship in a local institution, under the close supervision of a professional in the field and an HUC-JIR faculty member. In addition, every student is assigned a faculty supervisor each year who serves as mentor in terms of the student's academic program, professional training and preparation for the field of Jewish education.

• EDU 601A Teaching 1 (1.5)

• BIB 600 Bible (Torah) (3)
• HEB 600 Hebrew Language 1 (3)
• RAB 600 Mishnah 1 (3)
• EDU 601B Teaching 2 (3)
• EDU 605 Human Development (3)
• EDU 610 Sociology of Jewish Education (3)
• EDU 625A Supervised Teaching 1 (2)

• BIB 601 Bible (Nevi’im) (3)
• HIS 601 Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages (3)
• RAB 601 Midrash Exegetical (3)
• RAB 603 Commentaries A (1.5)
• EDU 601C Teaching 3 (1.5) (first half of semester)
• EDU 615 Liturgy Practicum (1.5) (2nd half of semester)
• EDU 620 Professional Learning 1 (3)
• EDU 625B Supervised Teaching 2 (2)

• HEB 602 Introduction to Aramaic (1.5)

• BIB 602 Bible 3 (Ketuvim) (3)
• HIS 602 Modern Jewish History 3 (3)
• RAB 605 Talmud A (3)
• EDU 630A Curriculum 1 (3)
• EDU 635A Organizational Systems 1 (3)
• EDU 640A Leadership and Management 1 (3)
• EDU 650A Supervised Administration 1 (2)

• PHI 602 Jewish Thought: Modern/Contemporary (1.5)
• EDU 630B Curriculum 2 (3)
• EDU 645 Ideologies of Jewish Education 1 (3)
• EDU 650B Supervised Administration 2 (2)
• EDU 655 Family Systems (2)
• EDU 699 Guided Research on Curriculum (2)

• EDU 601A Teaching 1 (1.5)

• EDU 601B Teaching 2 (3)
• EDU 605 Human Development (3)
• EDU 610 Sociology of Jewish Education (3)
• EDU 630A Curriculum 1 (3)
• EDU 635A Organizational Systems 1 (3)
• EDU 640A Leadership and Management 1 (3)
• EDU 650A Supervised Administration 1 (2)

• EDU 601C Teaching 3 (1.5) (first half of semester)
• EDU 620 Professional Learning 1 (3)
• EDU 630B Curriculum 2 (3)
• EDU 645 Ideologies of Jewish Education 1 (3)
• EDU 650B Supervised Administration 2 (2)
• EDU 699A Guided Research on Curriculum (2)

Doctor of Philosophy in Jewish Education

The Ph.D. program in Jewish Education is designed for students who hold a master's degree and have a strong Hebraic and Judaic background. Students in this program are required to be in residence for two years. Following two years of course work, students take comprehensive examinations in the field of Jewish education, and in their Judaic and educational areas of specialization. Upon successful completion of their examinations, students begin work on their dissertations. Not currently accepting applications.

Day School Leadership through Teaching (DeLeT) Certificate Program

DeLeT is a thirteen month fellowship program to prepare teachers for liberal and community day schools. The program includes two summers in residence at the HUC-JIR Los Angeles campus and placement in a day school classroom with a mentor teacher during the intervening academic year. In addition to learning from the classroom experience, DeLeT fellows participate in ongoing professional development one day a week at the HUC-JIR Los Angeles campus. Generous fellowships are available. Alumni of the DeLeT program pursue careers in day school education through teaching, state credential programs, or MA degrees in Jewish education.

For further information, please click here or send a message to Eve Fein efein@huc.edu.


Course Offerings

For a complete list of course offerings and course descriptions, please see the Academic Catalog.


Field Work/Clinical Education

Clinical Education is an integral part of the M.A.J.E. and the Joint Masters (JM) programs, and the internship is its focus. The M.A.J.E. student is assigned to a responsible position at a clinical education site outside the academic setting of HUC-JIR. The internship is either in a congregational education setting or another kind of educational agency. Students have an opportunity to be placed in two different educational sites during their two-year tenure in Los Angeles. JM students have the opporunity to have internships in both communal agencies and in educational agencies. During their first Los Angeles year, JM students are placed in a wide variety of Jewish community agencies and in their second Los Angeles year in one of the educational sites. The mode of clinical learning emphasizes the acquisition of knowledge and specific skills through practice, direct observation and analysis of professional activity. It works in tandem with the student's academic course work to strengthen the potential for professional growth and development.


Resources

Frances-Henry Library
HUC-Skirball Museum
Tartak Learning Center
The Experiment in Congregational Education
Jewish Day Schools for the 21st Century
Creating Teaching Excellence in Congregational Education
Day school Leadership through Teaching (DeLeT)


Faculty and Administration

Go directly to Faculty and Administration


Supervision and Mentors

Students are supervised by full-time academic faculty of the Rhea Hirsch School of Education and clinical faculty members, who serve as the students' supervisors at their internship sites. Bi-weekly meetings with these supervisors provide the framework for reflection on student growth and experiences.


Alumni-in-Residence

The Alumni Association of the Rhea Hirsch School of Education nominates alumni of the school to serve as alumni-in-residence on a biennial basis. The person selected spends one week at the Los Angeles Campus teaching in a variety of classes, offering special seminars, participating in worship and meeting with the Los Angeles faculty. This program is supported by a special fund created by the Alumni Association upon the occasion of Professor Sara Lee receiving the Samuel Rothberg Prize in Jewish Education from the Hebrew University in June 1997.