Jewish Education (M.A.)

Why Jewish Education?

The Master of Arts in Jewish education provides students with the most current and essential tools to become highly qualified and effective Jewish educators. By integrating pedagogy and the best educational practices with classical and contemporary Jewish Studies, the MAJE program will prepare its graduates to embark on professional careers as teachers or administrators in a formal or informal Jewish educational setting. Students select either the teaching or administrative track, and may elect to attend full-time or part-time. The five core components of both tracks are: Jewish studies, educational theory, methodology, a practicum seminar, and a supervised internship tailored to each student’s individual needs and interests.

Alumni often apply their skills in an all day or supplemental Jewish school setting, in front of a classroom or as an educational administrator. Others may apply this degree at a Hillel, Jewish Community Center, curriculum agency, synagogue or camp, becoming Youth Directors, Family Educators, Camp Directors, etc. Some local examples of where our current alumni work include The ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, Hillel, Beth El Congregation, Krieger Schechter Day School, Yeshivat Rambam, The Shoshana S. Cardin School and Beth T’filoh Dahan Community School.

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 scholarship and fellowship opportunities.

Faculty

The shining strength of the Master of Arts in Jewish studies is its eminent faculty. The roster of professors includes prominent educators with credentials in a dozen key areas of Jewish scholarship, as well as authors of notable works about the politics of Israel and the Middle East; Jewish literature; Jewish philosophy; Jewish mysticism; the American Jewish community; American Jewish history; biblical and rabbinic texts; and the archaeology of Israel. Faculty members coordinate archaeological excavations in Israel, lecture worldwide, and are invited to conferences and public discussions of the major challenges facing Israel, American Jewry, and Jews throughout the world.