Program Background:

The Jewish Professional Leadership (JPL) Program is the umbrella for the two dual-degree programs through The Graduate School of JTS and Columbia University. Students in the JPL Program participate in an integration seminar which allows them to explore the intersection of their two masters as well as other relevant issues in the Jewish community. Some examples of previous topics covered in the seminar are the Role of the Professional in the Jewish Community, Issues of Diversity in the Jewish Community and Community Building.

The dual-degree program of The Graduate School of JTS and the Columbia University School of Social Work (CUSSW) prepares students for professional leadership careers in the Jewish community. JPL students are simultaneously admitted to both schools and attend them concurrently. Upon completion of the program, students receive both an MA in Jewish Studies from JTS and an MS in Social Work from Columbia.

Visionary faculty and Jewish communal professionals created the program nearly twenty years ago with a goal still important today: to provide future Jewish communal professional leaders with the essential knowledge, skills, and experience to meet the challenge of building Jewish community in an increasingly complex world.

At The Graduate School, students take 24 credits toward a master of arts degree in Jewish Studies. In order to fulfill prerequisite requirements, a student may need to take additional Jewish studies and Hebrew courses prior to graduation. An additional 6 credits toward the degree are transferred from CUSSW.

The curriculum at The Graduate School emphasizes an academic approach to Jewish studies. Students study Jewish history, tradition, and culture with JTS's esteemed faculty. Through elective courses, students can take advantage of the full spectrum of study available at JTS.

At Columbia University School of Social Work, students take a minimum of 45 credits, depending on concentration. Up to an additional 15 credits may be transferred from JTS. Students are required to complete two years of supervised fieldwork, an integral part of the educational experience at CUSSW. It is in these exciting, hands-on settings that the knowledge gained in class truly comes to life.

CUSSW offers concentrations in Social Enterprise Administration, Advanced Generalist Practice and Programming, Policy Practice, and Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice.

Israel Seminar:

During the course of their studies JPL students also participate in an Israel Seminar, which takes place in Israel during winter break. This seminar allows students to explore major issues firsthand in Israel, to delve deeper into areas of professional interest and to meet with various leaders in Israel.

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