Master of Arts in Jewish Studies

Designed for Professionals. Grounded in Scholarship.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Jewish Studies at Gratz College prepares educators, communal professionals, and future scholars to lead with genuine command of the Jewish tradition. The online 36-credit degree gives working professionals both a graduate credential and the depth of knowledge that leadership roles in Jewish life require.

At Gratz College, Jewish Studies is scholarship in the service of leadership and community. Students learn to read primary sources closely, weigh how scholars have interpreted them, and communicate what they find with clarity. That skill is what turns knowledge of the Jewish past into the ability to guide communities in the present.

Because the program is fully online and mostly asynchronous, students earn the Master's in Jewish Studies without stepping away from their careers or communities. Most study part time and finish in about two years.

Graduates go on to lead in Jewish education, nonprofits, museums and libraries, and communal organizations. For those continuing to a doctorate, the degree builds a strong foundation in doing original research and publishing refined academic work.

What you'll study

Every student in the Master of Arts in Jewish Studies begins with a required core: Introduction to Classical Judaism, Judaism's Encounter with Modernity, and Jewish Studies Methods. Together, these courses ground students in the classical sources and the modern questions that frame the field.

From there, students choose electives across the classical and modern periods. Classical offerings have included Women in the Rabbinic Tradition, Pirkei Avot: Ethics and Theology, Kabbalistic Masters, and Survey of Medieval Jewish History. On the modern side, students have studied Modern Jewish Thought, The History of Modern Israel, Perspectives on American Judaism, and Jewish Memory and Historiography.

The degree concludes with a final capstone project or a master's thesis, the student's own contribution to a chosen subject. Candidates also demonstrate Hebrew proficiency at the level of Hebrew II, which they can complete at Gratz College.

Program Highlights

The Master of Arts in Jewish Studies program is rigorous but its logistics are simple, so a student's effort goes into scholarship rather than scheduling.

• Credits: 36 credits total; 30–33 credits of coursework and 3–6 credits for the thesis or final capstone project

• Courses: 10–11 courses, not including thesis or final project credits

• Required coursework: Required courses and elective options in classical Judaism and modern Judaism/modern Jewish culture, plus up to 4 free electives that can be taken in Gratz’s other departments (Antisemitism Studies, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Nonprofit Management and/or Education)

• Final Project: Capstone (3 credits) or Thesis (6 credits) 

• Typical completion time: Two years part-time, depending on course load 

• Schedule: Six 8-week terms per year 

• Course delivery: Mostly asynchronous 

• Format: Online 

• Hebrew requirement: Intermediate Hebrew proficiency, equivalent to Hebrew II; Hebrew coursework may be completed at Gratz 

Students who wish to take a smaller first step can begin with the 12-credit Graduate Certificate in Jewish Studies, whose four courses apply in full toward the Master of Arts.

Master’s students currently working in the American Jewish community may apply for the Midcareer Fellowship. Qualified Midcareer Fellows will receive a 25% scholarship and may also be eligible for an additional 20% Gratz College scholarship.