The Educators' track of the Graduate Diploma in Jewish Studies is designed for teachers and administrators in Jewish schools who do not wish to earn a formal graduate degree. This partnered York University - Hebrew University track will provide an intellectual grounding for professional educational activities and place leadership and teaching in a broader context. Offered by York University’s Faculty of Graduate Studies through the Israel and Golda Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies, the Diploma is designed for educators looking to enhance their knowledge and skills.
Students may fulfill the requirements of the Diploma through part-time study. Diploma requirements must be completed within four years of enrollment.
Application Process
Applicants for the Graduate Diploma in Jewish Studies must submit two applications:
- An online application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
- When prompted (on the second page), select "I wish to study for a graduate diploma"
- Type "Jewish Studies Graduate Diploma" into the Diploma name box.
- The Graduate Diploma in Hebrew and Jewish Studies Application Form.
Admission Requirements
- Candidates for this Diploma program must be eligible for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. More information is available here.
- Candidates must have earned a B average in their last two years of academic work or have equivalent qualifications such as community or professional experience.
We encourage mature students with community or professional experience to apply as it is expected they will be able to draw on their expertise to make a unique contribution both to class discussion and to scholarship in the field.
Diploma Requirements
Graduate Seminar - Jewish Studies JUDS 6000 3.0: The Graduate Seminar in Jewish Studies (JUDS 6000 3.0) introduces students to graduate level Jewish studies. The seminar meets for a total of 36 hours over two terms. Students explore the complexity of the question, “What is Jewish studies?” focusing on the historical development and contemporary dimensions of the field through an interdisciplinary, integrating perspective. Students will have the opportunity to meet faculty members engaged in different areas of Jewish studies research and to work on their own research paper.
Course Work: Students will take a minimum of two graduate 3-credit courses in Jewish Studies, either in the form of reading courses or courses approved by the Diploma Coordinator. One graduate course from another university may be accepted in fulfillment of this requirement, if approved by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Diploma Coordinator. One of those may be a graduate course taken in the Faculty of Education.
Research: Beyond the requirements of individual courses, Graduate Diploma students will prepare a culminating research paper. This paper must be supervised by a member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies affiliated with the Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies, on a topic approved in advance by the Diploma Coordinator.
Language Proficiency: Students must demonstrate basic general competence in Hebrew or another Jewish language relevant to their research (Yiddish, Ladino, or Judaeo-Arabic, etc.). Competence will be certified either through course work or by examinations set by the Diploma Coordinator. Please note that it may be possible for participants to arrange to study Hebrew in one of the six levels offered in the Ulpan of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem during their time in Israel.
Optional - Israel Study: Students will spend a summer taking an intensive graduate course at the Melton Centre for Jewish Education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem designed for the partnered Graduate Diploma in Jewish Studies. Financial support may be available.
The Diploma requires and ensures that students have language competence appropriate to this program of study. York University has a full range of Hebrew language courses to which students in the Diploma will have access as special students. Please note: courses taken for language competence do not count towards the Diploma.
More information on Diploma components can be found on the main Graduate Students page.