Master of Arts in Religious Education

The School of Education in New York offers a Master of Arts in Religious Education (M.A.R.E.) degree in several formats: a two-year and two-summer full-time degree; a longer part-time M.A.R.E. degree, for those students who need a more flexible setting (mid-career change students with less mobility); and a program for practitioners already in Jewish education who want to upgrade their credentials; or for general educators who wish to work in Jewish education. Each student will complete the same Judaic and Education Core courses and a supervised practica in his/her chosen specialized area. Students will be prepared to work in all areas of the Jewish community: synagogue, religious schools, day schools, camps, central agencies and communal organizations, while developing specific skills in one of two areas of specialization.

Hebrew and Judaica

To be accepted into the M.A.R.E. program, a candidate must demonstrate one-two years of college-level Hebrew proficiency. Several alternatives will be available to help students achieve the required Hebrew level, including: study at the Jerusalem learning site; a Mechina program at HUC-JIR's New York learning site; distance learning Hebrew courses; and intensive Hebrew immersion programs at other local institutions.

The program begins with all students attending an 8-week summer seminar in Israel, together with beginning rabbinical, cantorial and education students from the other state-side HUC-JIR campuses. Students will participate in HUC-JIR's summer ulpan, a specialized touring program and Jewish literacy classes.

All students are required to take intensive Hebrew classes throughout their program. In the first year, there is a 3-credit Hebrew course each semester, which focuses on the continued building of Hebrew language skills. During the summer, preceding the second year of the program, students will participate in a month-long Beit Midrash program at the NY campus. This program is designed to help students sharpen their skills in reading essential rabbinic texts (Mishnah and Parshanut), as they prepare for their second-year of text courses.

In the second year, there is a 3-credit course in the fall, which focuses on liturgy and a 3-credit Hebrew course in the spring, which focuses on Hebrew literature.

Course of Study

It is recommended that students spend their first year n Israel; however the M.A.R.E. degree can be completed in either a full-time or part-time format.

First Summer in Israel (8 weeks) -- HUC-JIR/Jerusalem
Modern Hebrew
Jewish Literacy and Israel

First Year -- HUC-JIR/NY
Fall Semester
Bible
History (proto-rabbinic)
Foundations of Jewish Education
Specialization Elective
Teaching & Learning (I)
Ivrit

Spring Semester
Bible
History (modern & Reform)
Jewish Education in America & Contemporary Issues
Specialization Foundations
Teaching & Learning (II)
Ivrit

Second Summer (4 weeks) -- HUC-JIR/NY
Beit Midrash -- text skills in essential rabbinic texts (Mishnah and Parshanut)

Second Year -- HUC-JIR/NY
Fall Semester
Survey of Rabbinic Texts (Codes & Talmudic)
Curriculum: Planning & Evaluation
Specialization Elective
Research Seminar
Educational Leadership & Supervision (I)
Introduction to Liturgy

Spring Semester
Philosophy/Theology (Intro. to Modern Jewish Thought)
Introducation to Midrash
Organizational Dynamics & Change Theory
Elective
Administration & Staff
Development (II)
Hebrew (Literature)

Summer in Israel

An eight-week Summer Seminar in Israel is required for all students at the start of their studies at the NYSOE. This seminar will include Intensive Hebrew study and specialized educational tours of Israel, using the Torah text as our road map. Students will receive both Hebrew and Judaic credits for the seminar, as detailed above.

Students may choose to spend their first year of study at the Jerusalem Campus. Upon return to the New York school, they would complete two additional years, making it a three-year program. However, they would be exempt from the first year of Hebrew classes and the Beit Midrash summer program

Beit Midrash Program

During the summer, preceding the second year of the program, students will participate in a month-long Beit Midrash program at the NY campus. This program is designed to help students sharpen their skills in reading essential rabbinic texts (Mishnah and Parshanut), as they prepare for their second-year of text courses.

Specializations

Family and Adult Education
This specialization is for those interested in working as directors of family education, adult education or program directors for family and parent study in synagogues, schools, or other communal agencies.

Informal Education
This specialization is for those interested in experiential education in areas such as youth programming, camping, Israel Trips, JCC's, Museum education, or other educational settings outside the formal classroom.

Day School Education

Thesis/Project/Practicum

All students (working with an individual faculty advisor) must write a thesis, and a project/lesson related to their area of specialization. Students are supported through the process of writing in a Research Seminar. They must present a portion of their project/lesson to the entire HUC-JIR NY school community at a Senior Education Practicum.

Rabbinical students can satisfy their thesis requirement in the Rabbinical school, with an additional project/lesson (working with an additional advisor from the School of Education) to be presented to the community in a Senior Education Practicum.

Part-time Study Opportunities

The M.A.R.E. degree is offered as a longer part-time degree program for students who need a more flexible setting: for second career students; for practitioners working in Jewish education who want to upgrade their credentials; or for general educators who wish to work in Jewish education.

Course Offerings

For more information, please see the Academic Catalog.

Field Work

Individually chosen clinical faculty members will supervise and mentor M.A.R.E. students in their internship placements. Clinical faculty will meet weekly with each individual student they supervise, and monthly with all the students they supervise, to create a community of students who learn from each other. The clinical faculty will also meet as a group for training and review of student progress. Student placements will correspond to the area of spceialization they have chosen (Adult and Family Education or Informal Education) and is designed to enable students to put theory into practice. By reflecting on their work in the field, in a supervised setting, students move towards greater professional growth.

Clinical Supervision

The NYSOE Clinical Faculty will include many senior practitioners from the NY metropolitan area. Students will be assigned clinical faculty within their area of specialization. Clinical faculty will observe and supervise students at their internships/jobs. The clinical faculty will meet weekly with each individual student they supervise, and monthly with all the students they supervise, to foster the creation of a community of learners among the students. The clinical faculty will also meet, as a group, to review the students' progress and for training on individualized methods of guidance.

Resources

Klau Library
HUC-JIR Museum

Faculty and Administration

Go directly to Faculty and Administration

Scholar-in-Residence

The School of education sponsors a Scholar-In-Residence Program, which invites experts in the field to teach the M.A.R.E. students, as well as the entire college community. The Education Scholar-In-Residence participates in the College-Institute Symposium Program, which brings rabbis, cantors and educators together for study on a regular basis.

Alumni-in-Residence

The School of Education sponsors an Alumni-In-Residence Program for M.A.R.E. students. Outstanding graduates of HUC-JIR are invited to meet with students in a seminar format. Graduates working as principals, family educators, adult educators, teen workers, etc., discuss the successes and problems they have encountered professionally.

Special Programs

New York School of Education Gateways for Learning Program: Continuing Education, Certification, and Professional Development
This program is scheduled to begin during the 2002 academic school year, in partnership with the College-Institute's Kollel program, with evening courses in Hebrew, Bible, and Education. AN Intensive Summer Institute program, with two three-week sessions, is scheduled to begin the summer of 2003. Certificates in Adult and Family Education, of 18 credits each , will be offered in the Continuing Education program and can be completed over three summers of during the school year, or in a combination of both settings.

Master of Arts in Day School Teacher Education

Schedule to begin the summer of 2004, in partnership with master's level programs in general education in the New York area, this program is designed to meet the need for qualified Jewish education teachers in the growing day school movement. Students will complete a Judaic and Hebrew core curriculum at HUC-JIR. The Jewish and general education courses will be offered both at HUC-JIR and at partner schools of education. The total requirements will be determined on an individual basis, depending upon the student's credentials and experience. This program is open to:

1. general education teachers who want to re-tool to become Jewish education teachers;
2. master's students who wish to complete a joint degree with HUC-JIR and partner School of Education, with the option of obtaining NYS Teachers' Certification;
3. avocational teachers who want to become professional Jewish educators.

Summer Institute Program

Special week-long Institutes, held during the summer, for educators working in the field, are being planned. The School will bring together specialists and practitioners from the field and professors from the college-institute to teach at the institute. Courses are planned in such areas as: Text Study, Supervision and Administration, Reform Judaism, Distance Learning, Family and Adult Education, Informal Education, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, etc.

Miller High School Honors Program

A special two-year high school honors program for students entering 11th and 12th grades from congregations in the greater New York metropolitan area. The program, funded by Ms. Claire Miller and the Fund for Jewish Education, provides committed Reform high school students the opportunity to study Jewish texts, liturgy and Reform Judaism, while meeting with lay and professional leaders from the Reform movement. The program is taught and supervised by qualified graduate students and faculty from the College-Institute.