Spertus' Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies (MAJPS) is a new model of learning and training for Jewish professionals. It offers core courses in the areas of classical and contemporary Jewish knowledge that are most relevant to Jewish communal life today, combined with essential professional training in nonprofit management and individualized study to advance students’ personal and professional interests. The program is run on a cohort basis, offering the opportunity for students from a wide range of institutional and professional backgrounds to network, learn from one another, and create a vibrant community of practice.

The Spertus MAJPS program has a strong mentoring component that fosters professional development and the integration of coursework and professional work. The program is offered through a combination of courses offered on-campus, in intensive seminars, and through distance learning. Admissions requirements include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education. Several years of Jewish communal professional experience is preferred.

Learning Outcomes

Students in the MAJPS program learn to:

• Understand the key themes in Jewish communal life today
• Possess a grounding in classical Jewish thinking and texts in these areas
• Understand the best practices in non-profit management that most affect Jewish communal work
• Develop skills for critical self-reflection and career planning
• Integrate theory and practice in the professional environment
• Learn to work constructively with diverse groups of constituents and colleagues

Course Requirements (45 quarter-hour credits)

At Spertus, course credit is granted in quarter hours (as opposed to semester hours).

• Jewish Studies course  (7 courses, 3 credits each)
• Professional Skills and Program Capstone (5 courses, 3 credits each)
• Individualization, including Mentoring, Outside Course Work, and Final Project (9 credits)

Course Titles

• This American Jewish Life
• Jewish Studies for the Communal Professional
• Dialogues, Confrontations, and Interactions: Jews in Majority Cultures
• The Place of Israel in Jewish Life throughout the Ages
• Major Jewish Value Concepts
• The Aesthetics of Jewish Civilization
• Modern and Post-Modern Jewry
• Working with People
• On Becoming a Leader
• Philanthropy, Grantwriting, and Jewish Organizational Structure
• Theories of Formal and Informal Education
• On Adult Learning
• Program Capstone
• Individualization (Mentoring, Outside Course Work, and Final Project)