Jewish Communal Service (M.A.)

Why Jewish Communal Service?

The Master of Arts in Jewish communal service is a program that prepares students for careers as professional leaders for the Jewish community. Graduates enter careers in a variety of settings in non-profit organizations. The program utilizes a multi-dimensional curriculum that combines courses in leadership and communal service with Judaic studies and practical field experience. Core components include six graduate Jewish studies courses, six professional courses, supervised internship, and practicum seminar. All students are required to complete internships in the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area.

Graduates of the program typically work in a service based agency within the Jewish community. Many alumni hold positions locally and nationally with Jewish Federations, Hillel, Jewish Community Centers, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, Jewish hospitals, Jewish Volunteer Connections, various Jewish camps, social service agencies and synagogues.

Why Towson University?

There is simply no better place to pursue a graduate degree in Judaic Studies. Towson University is ideally located just minutes from Baltimore City, Pikesville, Owings Mills, and Reisterstown. Students seeking internship and employment opportunities benefit from a vast local network of Jewish communal organizations, non-profit agencies, synagogues, community centers and day schools. Students can also look forward to becoming part of a well-organized community, enriched by the agencies of the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.

Towson University’s Baltimore Hebrew Institute represents our commitment to providing support for the education and training of Jewish educators, scholars and communal professionals who exemplify excellence in their chosen fields. Through Towson’s BHI, students enrolled in Judaic Studies graduate programs have access to a variety of special programs and social activities, as well as fellowship and scholarship opportunities (PDF).

Faculty

Our faculty include prominent scholars and educators with credentials in a key areas of Jewish Studies, Jewish Communal Service and Jewish Education. Faculty research and publications cover the areas of Jewish Thought and Mysticism, the archaeology of Ancient Israel, Second Temple Period literature and history, Rabbinic Thought and Literature, biblical and ancient Near Eastern Civilization, American Jewish History, European Jewish History, Informal and Formal Jewish Education.