No degree factories here. Encouraged by their students, the directors of Hebrew College's Master of Arts in Jewish Studies (MAJS) and Master of Jewish Education (MJEd) programs have redesigned the curricula to enable students to explore subject matter in greater depth. Through a new set of course requirements, they seek to boost scholarship standards and thus better prepare graduates for their careers.

The revamped MAJS program will take effect this fall. "Our new vision is based on students' desire to attain an enhanced level of proficiency in Hebrew language and in classical Jewish texts," says Dr. Barry Mesch, provost and lead advisor to Hebrew College's MA students. The revised program will introduce biblical and rabbinic Hebrew much earlier than before, enabling students to study and experience a wide variety of classical Hebrew texts before they graduate.

In the new MAJS curriculum, they'll apply that in-depth Hebrew language knowledge in a new set of "gateway" courses focused on the study of classical texts. Led by language and content specialists, the gateway courses will include a bet midrash study component and provide the background needed to take more advanced text courses. Students will also be required to take a Hebrew reading proficiency test and specialize in selected subject areas. As a result of these changes, credit-hour requirements will increase from 39 to 50.

Like the revised MAJS program, the new MJEd curriculum places heavier emphasis on Jewish literacy, says Dr. Harvey Shapiro, dean of the Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education. "Knowledge of Jewish tradition and experience has a direct impact on how we see ourselves today," says Shapiro, "and educators need a wide and deep repertoire of understanding from which to guide their students."

The revised MJEd program will place an increased emphasis on Hebrew language, text study and Jewish history and philosophy, and how these relate directly to Jewish educational practice. The curriculum, whose credit hours will jump from 43 to 71, will also require students to specialize in one of four crosscutting areas of Jewish scholarship.

In both programs, incoming students with substantial backgrounds may place out of selected courses through examination. Current students are exempt from the new requirements, but some have already asked to be held to them. "Despite the added coursework, MJEd students I've talked to say, 'Hineini, I'm ready to take this on,'" says Shapiro. "They want to believe in their own authenticity as Jewish educators, and part of that authenticity is a greater command of Jewish scholarship and Jewish knowledge."

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