Certificates in Jewish Studies and Hebrew Language
Gratz College offers flexible certificate pathways for students seeking to deepen their knowledge of Jewish history, religion, culture and the Hebrew language, without initially committing to a full degree program. Students may pursue a customizable introduction to Jewish Studies, develop practical proficiency in modern Hebrew or undertake advanced Hebrew study for personal, academic, and/or professional purposes.
Graduate Certificate in Jewish Studies
The 12-credit Graduate Certificate in Jewish Studies allows students to explore subjects across the breadth of the Jewish experience according to their own interests and goals. Students select four graduate Jewish Studies courses, creating either a broad introduction to the field or a focused program of study in subjects including Jewish history, religion, thought, literature, and contemporary culture.
The certificate is well suited to educators, clergy, Jewish communal professionals, lifelong learners, students considering further graduate study, and those committed to Torah l’Shma (study for personal fulfillment). Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
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Demonstrate knowledge of subjects, sources, and approaches in Jewish Studies
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Interpret Jewish history, texts, traditions, and culture in their historical and intellectual contexts
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Engage critically with academic scholarship in one or more areas of Jewish Studies
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Communicate complex issues in Jewish Studies clearly and effectively
All 12 credits earned through the Graduate Certificate in Jewish Studies can be applied toward the Gratz College Master of Arts in Jewish Studies upon admission to the degree program.
Curriculum
Students complete any four graduate Jewish Studies courses for a total of 12 credits.
Graduate Certificate in Professional Hebrew
The 12-credit Graduate Certificate in Professional Hebrew develops basic proficiency in modern Hebrew for professional, academic, communal, and/or personal use. Through a structured four-course sequence, students build foundational skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
The certificate is designed for Jewish professionals, clergy, educators, graduate students, and others who want to communicate more effectively in Hebrew and engage directly with Hebrew sources and Hebrew speakers. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
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Communicate in modern Hebrew in a range of everyday and professional situations
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Comprehend intermediate spoken and written Hebrew
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Express ideas clearly in Hebrew through speech and writing
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Apply Hebrew-language skills in professional, academic, and/or communal contexts
Curriculum
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Hebrew I — 3 credits
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Hebrew II — 3 credits
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Hebrew III — 3 credits
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Hebrew IV — 3 credits
Advanced Graduate Certificate in Hebrew Language
The 18-credit Advanced Graduate Certificate in Hebrew Language prepares students for advanced communication, reading, and writing in Hebrew. Moving from beginning to advanced language study, the program culminates in focused preparation for engaging with academic Hebrew texts and Israeli cinema, as well as using Hebrew in graduate study, professional, and communal contexts.
The certificate is appropriate for students seeking to master the Hebrew language, including scholars, educators, clergy, and Jewish communal professionals. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
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Communicate effectively in Hebrew across a broad range of personal, professional, and academic settings
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Read and interpret advanced Hebrew texts
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Express complex ideas clearly and accurately in spoken and written Hebrew
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Engage with Hebrew-language academic sources and scholarship
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Apply advanced language skills to graduate study, research, and professional work
Curriculum
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Hebrew I — 3 credits
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Hebrew II — 3 credits
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Hebrew III — 3 credits
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Hebrew IV — 3 credits
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Hebrew V — 3 credits
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Hebrew VI: Academic Hebrew — 3 credits
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and/or Hebrew VII: Israeli Cinema in Hebrew — 3 credits
Undergraduate students may also be eligible to pursue the Hebrew language certificates. Prospective students should contact Gratz College for additional information.
Meet the Program Director
BRENDAN GOLDMAN, PH.D.
At Gratz College, we believe Jewish Studies should cultivate more than esoteric academic expertise; it should train thoughtful leaders capable of bringing analytical rigor, historical depth, critical reasoning, and intellectual sophistication to contemporary Jewish communal life. The strongest educators, nonprofit professionals, chaplains, writers, and public intellectuals are those whose work is grounded in disciplined research and clear, persuasive communication. At Gratz, Jewish Studies equips students not only to interpret the Jewish past, but to help shape the Jewish future.
Meet the Assistant Director
LINDSAY KATZIR, PH.D.
My work in Jewish Studies allows me to combine two commitments I care about deeply: helping students encounter Jewish texts and traditions with seriousness, and helping them express their own ideas with clarity and confidence. Whether students come from academic, professional, or personal motivations, I enjoy helping them develop as careful readers, thinkers, and writers.
I have had the opportunity to engage in totally new topics in my course work, from “Judaism and Technology” to the history of Jews under Muslim empire and beyond. I have relished the chance to do truly pluralistic study with fellow students that represent the broadest cross-section of Jewish life today.
— Rabbi Alex Malanych
Have Questions About the Program?
An advisor can answer your questions about admissions, the curriculum, the Hebrew requirement, or how prior coursework applies to the degree. For more information, contact Lindsay Katzir.