Master of Arts in Jewish Cultural Arts

Unique Program Combines Jewish Culture with Business Expertise

Application Deadline March 15

The George Washington University now offers an exciting new MA program to meet the needs of the American Jewish community’s steadily growing interest in Jewish culture. As opportunities in the cultural sector continue to multiply, this two-year master’s program prepares students for careers in the management of museums, theaters, YMHAs, Jewish community centers, foundations, and Jewish film, dance, literary, and music festivals. The MA is also designed to enhance the skills of professionals already in the field.

Students will have the opportunity to pursue one of three tracks:

Arts administration
Experiential education
Museum management

Program Highlights

The 36-credit MA program combines the practical with the academic, providing students with the hands-on skills and intellectual capital to respond innovatively to new opportunities in the field of Jewish culture. Among the highlights:

– Internships and cultural collaborations with such prestigious and innovative institutions as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, the DC-JCC, Theatre J and Pro Musica Hebraica
– Training in fundraising, brand marketing, fiscal management, and audience development
– Immersion in the history, ethnography and sociology of Jewish culture
– Week-long summer institutes in cohort building, leadership training, and mentoring

Fellowship Funding Available

The MA in Jewish Cultural Arts has a number of special funding packages available that provide a $10,000 fellowship as well as 9 credits (one semester) of free tuition per year for qualified students. For more information about these funding packages, please contact Program Director Jenna Weissman Joselit.

Core Courses

Judaic Studies 6201: Jewish Life in Contemporary America

Judaic Studies 6211: Displaying Jewish Culture: Landmark Exhibitions on Judaism and the Jewish Experience

Judaic Studies 6298: Behind the Scenes: Learning from the Artist (Capstone Seminar)

Museum Studies 6102: Fiscal Management of Nonprofit Organizations

Public Policy and Administration 6032: Managing Fund Raising and Philanthropy

Marketing 6255: Strategic Brand Management

Six credit hours of internships and a final project culminating in the planning and execution of an arts event for the GW community are also required.

Electives

Elective courses draw from law, business, museum studies, history, Judaic Studies, media affairs, theatre and dance, and the fine arts.

For more information and to apply visit here.