Contact
Phone 312.322.1794
A variety of classes and public programs take place in the evening and on Sunday. See our calendar of events for more details.
"Spertus is a wonderful resource for the Jewish community."
Anita Silvert, Spertus Student
Director, Theatre Judaica
Northbrook, IL
Admission
Admissions requirements for the MAJPS Program are:
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale)
- An admissions interview may be requested
Jewish Studies Degree Programs
Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies
Overview
The MAJPS is committed to producing Jewish leaders grounded in Jewish literacy and values and competent in the professional skills required to successfully direct communal organizations.
The program is designed specifically for professionals working in Jewish organization such as federations, synagogues, social action and social service agencies, education (youth, adult, informal), and Jewish community centers. It is intended for professionals who utilize a broad range of skills, including administration, community outreach, program development, and fundraising. It addresses knowledge and skill sets that are applicable to all Jewish professionals, while allowing room for customization and individual development.
The program values the opportunity for professionals from a broad range of Jewish agencies studying and learning from each other, as well as from great classical and contemporary texts and talented educators.
The knowledge gained in this program will serve Jewish professionals in their current positions and will be of ongoing relevance to them throughout their careers in Jewish organizational life.
This program will:
- Be faithful to serious Jewish learning that enables students to function comfortably in Jewish areas in their daily work with their constituencies
- Facilitate the study of specific issues and topics that students face in their daily work
- Help students take existing fields in new directions, integrating several fields and enhancing opportunities for responding to changing condition in their lives and at work
Over the last several years, Spertus has researched new initiatives to further advance and transform the Jewish community through scholarship and service. Based on the findings of that research, this fall Spertus launches an innovative new degree program, the Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies (MAJPS), created specifically to meet the needs of those working in the diverse organizations that serve and inform the Jewish community.
The program addresses today’s communal issues by providing important grounding in classical and contemporary Jewish knowledge, combined with much-needed professional training based in the best practices in nonprofit management. The program has already received important support from The Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, and the Community Foundation for Jewish Education.
As we prepare to move into a new state-of-the-art Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies facility in November 2007, Spertus College is building on its decades of experience with equally state-of-the-art educational opportunities to serve and advance the Jewish community in the twenty-first century.
return to top
The Students
The program is designed specifically for professionals working in Jewish organizations such as federations, synagogues, social action and social service agencies, education (youth, adult, informal), and Jewish community centers. It is intended for professionals who utilize a broad range of skills, including administration, community outreach, program development, and fundraising. It addresses knowledge and skill sets that are applicable to all Jewish professionals, while allowing room for customization and individual development.
return to top
Program Design
The MAJPS Program combines a diversity of learning frameworks to meet the needs of working professionals:
- Courses are held one evening per week from 6:30-9pm
- The accelerated schedule means most participants can complete their degree in 24-30 months
- Week long summer in-residence seminars provide concentrated learning in a warm group atmosphere
- Independent study and regular mentorship meetings also help students to tailor and apply their learning to their own needs
return to top
Program Components
The MAJPS Program enables personal growth in the areas of Jewish literacy, Jewish professional proficiencies, and general professional skill-sets.
The program has three components:
(click to view course list and descriptions)
1. Jewish Studies (50% of program requirements)
2. Jewish Professional Proficiencies (30% of program requirements)
3. Individuation (20% of program requirements)
The program consists of 48 quarter-hour credits. Most courses are three credit hours each.
return to top
