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The Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program
Last updated: November 25, 2009 at 4:56 p.m.
The Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program prepares leaders to understand and confront the challenges of a rapidly changing Jewish community, and to help shape its future. Intellectually robust, and experientially varied, the program offers three separate dual-degree tracks which students complete in approximately two years (five semesters):
- MA/MBA program with the Heller School of Social Policy and Management.
- MA/MPP program with the Heller School of Social Policy and Management.
- MA/MA program with the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies.
All programs combine top-quality scholarship, professional education, and carefully selected fieldwork experiences to equip leaders with the tools necessary to help craft twenty-first-century Jewish life.
Students in the Hornstein program have the opportunity to study with outstanding scholars and practitioners whose work shapes Jewish discourse, policy, and professional practice. The curriculum integrates courses in Jewish studies, nonprofit management, and Jewish communal leadership, and highlights the roles of research, evaluation, and reflective practice in achieving professional success.
The general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, as specified in an earlier section of this Bulletin, apply to candidates for admission to the Hornstein dual-degree programs. Applicants must submit a single application to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, demonstrating professional and academic capability, and the capacity for sustaining an intensive program of study.
In addition, applicants are expected to submit results of either the Graduate Management Admission Test (for the Hornstein-Heller MBA program) or the Graduate Record Examination (for the Hornstein-Heller MPP and Hornstein-NEJS MA programs). Applicants must also submit a statement that describes their Jewish interests and future professional plans, and a sample of written material. Applicants are required to arrange for a personal interview. Contact hornstein@brandeis.edu for further details.
Len Saxe, Director
Jewish identity. Socio-demography. Evaluation research.
Yehuda Kurtzer
Ancient Jewish history. Rabbinic literature. Jewish leadership.
David Mersky
Philanthropy and fundraising.
Joseph Reimer
Jewish educational leadership.
Amy Sales
Jewish institutions. Demography. Planning and evaluation.
Jonathan D. Sarna American Jewish history. Judaism in the Americas.
Ellen Smith
Visual and material culture of religion. American Jewish history.
Lawrence Sternberg
Jewish advocacy and community relations.
See the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies in this Bulletin, and the Heller School for Social Policy and Management Web site, www.heller.brandeis.edu, for related faculty.
The Hornstein BA/MA degree supplements undergraduate study in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Hebrew, or Yiddish with a master’s degree in Jewish Professional Leadership. Achieved in a fifth (graduate) year of study, the Hornstein MA provides the professional skills and deep knowledge of the American and world Jewish communities that will position graduates for work in a wide range of careers in the Jewish community.
Highly motivated and academically successful Brandeis undergraduates who are NEJS or Hebrew majors or minors, or Yiddish minors, are invited in the spring of their junior year to apply for admission to the five year BA/MA. Students must complete all requirements for the BA at the end of the fourth year, including successful completion of the major or minor in NEJS, Hebrew or Yiddish.
Program of Study
Fifty-six course credits are required:
A. Thirty-two total Hornstein credits (including HRNS 297a and HRNS 350f listed below), fourteen of which are taken during the undergraduate senior year and eighteen are taking during the graduate year.
B. Twenty-four additional credits at the 100-level or above, taken during the summer, fall, and spring semesters of the fifth year of study, including elective options for courses throughout the university.
C. One history of Israel course (can be an undergraduate NEJS course).
D. HRNS 297a (Hornstein Professional Field Experience)
Supervised professional field experience forms an important part of the Hornstein program. It is designed to immerse students in the best professional practices within the Jewish community, and to help students refine their practical skills, learn to turn theory into action, and become self-reflective and effective practitioners.
Field experience usually takes place in the summer and/or final year of the program and consists of approximately 125-250 hours of work managing a project jointly created by the student, the Hornstein faculty, and the supervisor in the field organization.
E. HRNS 350f (Foster Seminar in Israel on Contemporary Jewish Life)
Students travel to Israel as a required part of the curriculum to examine contemporary issues in Israeli society and its relationship with world Jewish communities.
F. Completion of a significant final project during the last semester of their fifth year. A final project might include a research paper; a media production; creation of a curriculum or exhibition; or another project a student proposes. All final projects must be approved by the department and the student’s advisor.
Language Requirement
All candidates are required to demonstrate proficiency in modern Hebrew at a level comparable to two years of Brandeis training in order to graduate. Students not meeting this requirement upon entrance are required to enroll in courses in Hebrew language during their academic residency. Students may fulfill the Hebrew language requirement by passing (B- or above) a 40-level or higher Hebrew course.
Cocurricular Requirements
Hornstein Leadership Forum
Meeting regularly throughout the year, this required forum brings innovative Jewish leaders into an intimate setting with Hornstein students for conversations about what makes a Jewish leader. Students are involved in the planning and coordination of the seminar.
Starr Colloquium
Students spend three days in New York City visiting the national offices of major Jewish organizations to explore aspects of the communal agenda with agency executives.
Milender Seminar in Jewish Communal Leadership
Students participate in a three-day seminar about Jewish leadership with an outstanding leader of the Jewish communal world.
Residency Requirement
One year (summer, fall, spring) of full-time residence (the fifth year) is required after completing the BA.
Hornstein-Heller School for Social Policy and Management MA/MBA Program
Program of Study
This program prepares professional leaders with the full complement of business and nonprofit skills, as well as specialized knowledge of Judaic studies and contemporary Jewish life. The program blends the Heller School's management curriculum with the Hornstein program's integrated approach to Jewish leadership training. Graduates of the dual-degree program receive two master's degrees: a Master of Arts in Jewish professional leadership from the Hornstein program and an MBA from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management.
Degree Requirements
The dual degree requires eighty course credits comprised of specific Hornstein courses totaling approximately thirty-two credits, specific Heller courses totaling thirty-eight credits, and one four-credit Near Eastern and Judaic Studies course. The remaining credits are taken as electives. The program is usually completed in five semesters, including the summer between years one and two.
Supervised Professional Field Experience
Supervised professional field experience forms an important part of the Hornstein program. It is designed to immerse students in the best professional practices within the Jewish community, and to help students refine their practical skills, learn to turn theory into action, and become self-reflective and effective practitioners.
Field experience usually takes place in the summer and/or second year of the program and consists of approximately 125-250 hours of work managing a project jointly created by the student, the Hornstein faculty, and the supervisor in the field organization.
Foster Seminar in Israel on Contemporary Jewish Life
Students travel to Israel as a required part of the curriculum to examine contemporary issues in Israeli society and its relationship with diaspora communities.
Language Requirement
All students are expected to know the Hebrew alphabet prior to beginning their studies. Fluency in Hebrew at a level comparable to one year of Brandeis University training is required for graduation. Students not meeting this requirement upon entrance are required to enroll in courses in Hebrew language during their academic residency. Students may fulfill the Hebrew language requirement by passing (B- or above) a 20-level or higher Hebrew course.
Cocurricular Requirements
Hornstein Leadership Forum
Meeting regularly throughout the year, this required forum brings innovative Jewish leaders into an intimate setting with Hornstein students for conversations about what makes a Jewish leader. Students are involved in the planning and coordination of the seminar.
Starr Colloquium
Students spend three days during their first academic year in New York City visiting the national offices of major Jewish organizations to explore aspects of the communal agenda with agency executives.
Milender Seminar in Jewish Communal Leadership
Students participate in a three-day seminar about Jewish leadership with an outstanding leader of the Jewish communal world.
Residence Requirement
The residence requirement is five semesters of full-time study or the equivalent thereof in part-time study.
Hornstein-Heller School for Social Policy and Management MA/MPP Program
Program of Study
This program prepares professional leaders with the full complement of policy analysis and development skills, as well as specialized knowledge of Judaic studies and contemporary Jewish life. The program blends the Heller School's public policy curriculum with the Hornstein program's integrated approach to Jewish leadership training. Graduates of the dual-degree program receive two master’s degrees: a Master of Arts in Jewish professional leadership from the Hornstein program and a Master of Public Policy from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management.
Degree Requirements
The dual Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Leadership/Master of Public Policy in Social Policy is a rigorous, interdisciplinary degree program that provides students with the skills necessary for advanced careers in the government, nonprofit, and private sectors.
The dual-degree requires eighty-two course credits comprised of specific Hornstein courses totaling approximately thirty-four credits, specific Heller courses totaling thirty-two credits, and four Near Eastern and Judaic Studies credits. The remaining credits are taken as electives. The program is usually completed in five semesters including the summer between years one and two.
Dual-degree students must meet the MPP second-year thesis requirement and will generally focus their theses on Jewish community related policy. Thesis advisers will include the instructor of the thesis seminar and a designee from the Hornstein program.
Supervised Professional Field Experience
Supervised professional field experience forms an important part of the Hornstein program. It is designed to immerse students in the best professional practices within the Jewish community, and to help students refine their practical skills, learn to turn theory into action, and become self-reflective and effective practitioners.
Field experience usually takes place in the summer and/or second year of the program and consists of approximately 125-250 hours of work managing a project jointly created by the student, the Hornstein faculty, and the supervisor in the field organization.
Foster Seminar in Israel on Contemporary Jewish Life
Students travel to Israel as a required part of the curriculum to examine contemporary issues in Israeli society and its relationship with diaspora communities.
Language Requirement
All students are expected to know the Hebrew alphabet prior to beginning their studies. Fluency in Hebrew at a level comparable to one year of Brandeis University training is required for graduation. Students not meeting this requirement upon entrance are required to enroll in courses in Hebrew language during their academic residency. Students may fulfill the Hebrew language requirement by passing (B- or above) a 20-level ofr higher Hebrew course
Cocurricular Requirements
Hornstein Leadership Forum
Meeting regularly throughout the year, this required forum brings innovative Jewish leaders into an intimate setting with Hornstein students for conversations about what makes a Jewish leader. Students are involved in the planning and coordination of the seminar.
Starr Colloquium
Students spend three days during their first academic year in New York City visiting the national offices of major Jewish organizations to explore aspects of the communal agenda with agency executives.
Milender Seminar in Jewish Communal Leadership
Students participate in a three-day seminar about Jewish leadership with an outstanding leader of the Jewish communal world.
Residence Requirement
The residence requirement is five semesters of full-time study or the equivalent thereof in part-time study.
Hornstein-Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Dual MA Program
This program prepares future Jewish leaders to understand contemporary issues within the context of Jewish history, culture, and tradition. The program provides the knowledge, research skills, and practical tools necessary to envision and help shape twenty-first-century Jewish life. Graduates of this dual degree program receive a Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Leadership from the Hornstein Program, and a Master of Arts from the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies.
Degree Requirements
The dual degree requires eighty course credits, usually completed in five semesters, including the summer between years one and two. Approximately thirty-two credits are taken as Hornstein courses, thirty-six credits as NEJS courses, eight credits as electives, and the remaining four credits are earned for the final project.
In the NEJS department, students take nine graduate-level (100-level or higher) NEJS or HBRW courses (thirty-six credits), including at least one pre-modern course. In the Hornstein Program, students take approximately thirty-two Hornstein credits that focus on contemporary issues and professional perspectives. Completing the overall curriculum are four credits for a capstone project and eight elective credits from outside Hornstein/NEJS which students select with the input of their advisers. These electives may be taken in Heller, IBS, psychology, sociology, cultural production, or other departments or programs.
A series of required cocurricular learning experiences complements the coursework, including a seminar at national Jewish agencies in New York and seminars on and off campus with leaders of the Jewish community. Each student’s program is individualized and is created in conjunction with advisers from Hornstein and NEJS.
Supervised Professional Field Experience
Supervised professional field experience forms an important part of the Hornstein program. It is designed to immerse students in the best professional practices within the Jewish community, to help students refine their practical skills, learn to turn theory into action, and become self-reflective and effective practitioners.
Field experience usually takes place in the summer and/or second year of the program and consists of approximately 125-250 hours of work managing a project jointly created by the student, the Hornstein faculty, and the supervisor in the field organization.
Foster Seminar in Israel on Contemporary Jewish Life
Students travel to Israel as a required part of the curriculum to examine contemporary issues in Israeli society and its relationship with diaspora communities.
Language Requirement
All candidates are required to demonstrate language proficiency, normaly in biblical or modern Hebrew or Arabic. The language requirement for Hebrew or Arabic may be fulfilled in one of two ways:
1. By enrolling in and receiving a grade of B- or higher in a 40-level or higher Hebrew or Arabic course, or by passing a classical Hebrew text course, or modern Hebrew literature course taught in Hebrew;
2. By passing the language examination offered by the advisor or by the Hebrew faculty or Arabic faculty.
Capstone Project
Students must complete one of the three capstone options listed under the requirements for the NEJS MA, in a manner that reflects and integrates their study in this joint program.
Cocurricular Requirements
Hornstein Leadership Forum
Meeting regularly throughout the year, this required forum brings innovative Jewish leaders into an intimate setting with Hornstein students for conversations about what makes a Jewish leader. Students are involved in the planning and coordination of the seminar.
Starr Colloquium
Students spend three days in New York City visiting the national offices of major Jewish organizations to explore aspects of the communal agenda with agency executives.
Milender Seminar in Jewish Communal Leadership
Students participate in a three-day seminar about Jewish leadership with an outstanding leader of the Jewish communal world.
Residence Requirement
The residence requirement is five semesters of full-time study or the equivalent thereof in part-time study.
The Hornstein program is affiliated with several Brandeis institutes and programs that promote research and continuing professional education in the field of Jewish professional leadership and Jewish education. Students have access to research projects, training, courses, and professionals associated with the following.
Fisher-Bernstein Institute for Jewish Philanthropy and Leadership: Brings academic expertise to the study and practice of fundraising, philanthropy, and leadership in the American Jewish community. For more information, please see www.cmjs.org/fbi.
Genesis: A summer program for high school students empowering teens to relate their secular interests to Judaism by integrating their studies of the arts and humanities with social and political action. It provides a laboratory for work in informal Jewish education. For more information, please see www.brandeis.edu/genesis.
Institute for Informal Jewish Education: Dedicated to keeping Jewish youth involved with the North American Jewish community by strengthening the field of informal Jewish education through professional education, innovative programming, research, and advocacy. For more information, please see www.brandeis.edu/ije.
Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education: The Mandel Center is dedicated to the study and improvement of Jewish education. Through its initiatives in Jewish education, the Mandel Center contributes to a flourishing Jewish present and future. For more information, please see www.brandeis.edu/centers/mandel.
Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies: The Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (CCMJS) is a multidisciplinary research center dedicated to bringing the concepts, theories, and techniques of social science to bear on the study of modern Jewish life. For more information, please see www.cmjs.org.
Schusterman Center for Israel Studies: The Schusterman Center for Israel Studies is dedicated to promoting exemplary teaching and scholarship in Israeli history, politics, culture, and society at Brandeis and beyond. For more information, please see www.brandeis.edu/israelcenter.
Steinhardt Social Research Institute: Collects, analyzes, and disseminates unbiased data about the Jewish community and about religion and ethnicity in the United States. For more information, please see www.ssri.cmjs.org.
Courses of Instruction
(200 and above) Primarily for Graduate Students
HRNS
202b
Jewish Identity and Learning through the Life Cycle
Jews in North America develop their identities through every stage of the life cycle. For some, this involves Jewish learning at varied times in their lives. Focuses on the development of Jewish identity through the lens of the life cycle and examines how Jewish learning changes from stage to stage. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Reimer
HRNS
205f
Summer Camp: The American Jewish Experience
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
How did American summer camps evolve? How did Jews appropriate this form for their communal needs? How did leadership develop and what are the pressing issues of today? These questions will be examined from historical, educational, and managerial perspectives. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Reimer
HRNS
206b
Informal Education in Jewish Settings
Theory and skills of informal education as these would be applied in different types of programs and organizations in the Jewish community. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Reimer
HRNS
229a
Jewish Polity and Organizational Life
Core course required for all Hornstein students. Also open to undergraduate seniors and to graduate students from other departments with permission and signature of instructor.
Examines the structure and function of the organized Jewish community, with special attention to key issues such as leadership, decision making, organizational culture, and the relations among the many elements of the community. Primary focus is on the American Jewish community with some attention to Israel/overseas organizations and other diaspora communities. A significant component focuses on field observation and experience. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Sales
HRNS
237b
Organizational Behavior in Jewish Nonprofits
Core course required for all Hornstein students. Also open to undergraduates and to graduate students from other departments with permission and signature of instructor.
Presents contemporary management theories, case studies, skill-building exercises, and traditional Jewish teachings to provide a conceptual understanding of individual and group behavior in Jewish nonprofit organizations. Covers such topics as motivation, trust, ethics, group dynamics, decision-making, power, conflict, influence, negotiation, lay-professional relations, leadership, organizational culture, and organizational change. Offered every year.
Mr. Rosen
HRNS
239b
History and Philosophy of Jewish Philanthropy and Fundraising
Utilizing classical texts to illuminate the history and values of tzedakah, this course explores different presentation techniques employed in the contemporary Jewish communal setting. Students learn how to bring enduring Jewish values to bear upon the different tasks involved in the process of fundraising and development in Jewish organizational life. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Mersky
HRNS
240a
Jewish Advocacy: History, Issues, and Trends
Core course required of all Hornstein students.
Using case studies, this course examines the Jewish community relations organizations in North America, their early development, changing agendas, and styles of operation. The major focus is on the current issues facing the American Jewish community and the strategies to address them. Usually offered every second year.
Staff
HRNS
241a
Skills and Techniques in Jewish Philanthropy and Fundraising
Core course required of all Hornstein students.
Provides a conceptual framework and develops a community organizing approach, implementing fundraising campaigns for Jewish communal enterprises. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Mersky
HRNS
243b
Financial Resource Development for the Nonprofit Agency
Prerequisite: HRNS 241a.
Explores the strategic approach to funding the nonprofit agency in the Jewish community with an emphasis on major gifts management. Students learn the process of planning, developing, and soliciting leadership support through readings, lectures, guest speakers, simulations, and role plays. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Mersky
HRNS
246a
Statistics for Jewish Professional Leaders
Core course required of all Hornstein students. Meets for full semester but yields half-course credit.
Provides an introduction to statistical thinking and analytical methods. Focus is on understanding statistical reasoning and interpreting analyses. Topics include descriptive and inferential statistics applied to understanding survey research, evaluation, and policy studies relevant to Jewish organizational leadership. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Saxe
HRNS
247f
Program Evaluation for Jewish Professional Leaders
Prerequisite: HRNS 246a or equivalent course in statistical research methods. Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Provides participants with an understanding of the basic concepts of evaluation research and their application to Jewish communal policy. Emphasizes methodological issues and their application to social interventions and program delivery using exemplars from the Jewish communal sphere. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Saxe
HRNS
260a
Jewish Community and Identity
Core course required for all Hornstein students. Also open to undergraduate seniors and to graduate students from other departments with permission and signature of instructor.
This course approaches an understanding of Jewish identity from a social science perspective. It considers the role of Jewish identity in developing notions of peoplehood and community. Along with exploring socio-psychological theories of identity development, it considers the question of who is a Jew, the formation of Jewish identity at the individual and group level, the forces that promote or detract from strong Jewish identification, and the measurement of Jewish identity. The goal of the course is to develop a complex understanding of identity and its implications for Jewish communal work. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Sales
HRNS
297a
Hornstein Professional Field Experience
Open to Hornstein students who have completed at least one semester of course work in the program. Course yields half-course credit.
Students work 125-250 hours under the mentorship of a leader in a Jewish nonprofit organization. Placements are carefully designed to advance professional leadership skills and match students' interests and career goals. Each student is advised by a faculty member and by the manager of fieldwork and alumni relations. Usually offered every semester.
Staff
HRNS
300a
Readings in International Jewish Community
Staff
HRNS
301b
Readings in Jewish Education
Mr. Reimer
HRNS
302a
Readings in Philanthropy and the Contemporary Jewish Community
Ms. Sales
HRNS
307a
Readings on the Jews of Boston
Ms. Smith
HRNS
308a
Readings in Jewish Organizational Behavior
Mr. Rosen
HRNS
310a
Readings in Jewish Advocacy
Mr. Sternberg
HRNS
311a
Readings in Jewish Philanthropy and Fundraising
Mr. Mersky
HRNS
312f
Readings in Jewish Camping
Meets for one-half semester and yields half-course credit.
Mr. Reimer
HRNS
313a
Readings in Advanced Statistics and Research Methods
Mr. Saxe
HRNS
314a
Readings on Ethics in Jewish Philanthropy
Yields half-course credit.
Ms. Sales
HRNS
350f
Foster Seminar in Israel on Contemporary Jewish Life
Yields half-course credit.
An intensive examination of contemporary issues in Israeli society and its relationship with Diaspora communities.
Ms. Smith
HRNS
380a
Proseminar: Issues, Structure, and Perspectives of the American Jewish Community
Required course for all Hornstein students.
An introduction to key issues in the structure and perspectives of the American Jewish community. Students will develop a shared background, language, and experiences in their first semester to serve as a foundation throughout their career--both at Brandeis and in the field. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Reimer
HRNS
390a
Independent Study
Staff
Cross-Listed in the Hornstein Program
NEJS
145a
History of the State of Israel
[
hum
]
Examines the development of the State of Israel from its foundation to the present time. Israel's politics, society, and culture will be thematically analyzed. Usually offered every fourth year.
Mr. Troen
NEJS
168b
Jewish Leadership: Innovators and Visionaries
[
hum
]
An examination of the history of Jewish leadership through a series of case studies; both a history cause and a leadership course, it considers the characteristics of, and challenges facing extraordinary and transformative Jewish leaders. Special one-time offering, fall 2009.
Mr. Kurtzer