Jewish Studies Admissions
- Applying to MAJPS
- Applying to MSJS/MSJE
- Applying to Doctoral Programs
- Transfer Credit
- Being Excused From Course Requirements
MAJPS Application Process
How to Apply
Step 1: Complete application
Step 2: Admissions essay of 500 words, double-spaced and typed
Step 3: Official, original transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
(There is a nonrefundable application fee of $50)
Criteria for Admissions Essay
Part I: Include information about your educational background, work experience, and personal and professional goals, and who you are.
Part II: Identify one challenging issue in contemporary Jewish life and offer reflections on how you would address it.
The essay must be clear and concise, indicating writing ability at the graduate level.
Tuition
Tuition is $15,000 for the complete two-year MAJPS Program. Significant fellowships will be made available to admitted students.
Book Fees
There may be additional fees for course-related materials.
Student Loans
Students may qualify for loans through the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). To qualify, a student must submit a Free Application for federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form that is used to determine eligibility for Subsidized or Unsubsidized loans. Contact Bill Van Beene, Financial Aid Administrator, at 312.322.1708 or bbeene@spertus.edu, for more information.
Subsidized Stafford Loan
- No interest accrues on this loan.
- Repayment does not begin until six months after completing the program coursework.
- Eligibility is determined by need-based Estimated Family Contribution (EFC).
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
- Eligibility is not limited to need-based EFC
- Interest on the loan accrues from the day the loan is received. Student is responsible for the payment for the interest.
Deferments
MAJPS students may submit an in-school deferment form, thus placing their current loans into a grace period and deferring payments until completion of the program.
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MSJS / MSJE Application Process
Admissions Requirements
- An accredited undergraduate degree
- Submission of an admissions application, including transcripts of earlier collegiate studies, and application essay, and a $50 non-refundable application fee
- Recommendation for acceptance by the admissions committee
Sometimes a personal interview is also requested.
How to Apply
1. Complete and return the Application for Admission form to the Office of the Registrar. Completed Application form may be faxed to the attention of the Office of the Registrar at 312.922.6406.
2. Request all transcripts of grades from colleges attended to be sent to the Registrar. No student will be considered fully admitted until all official transcripts are received.
3. Attach to this form the application fee of $50.00 (non-refundable).
4. Submit on a separate sheet the Admissions Essay, which is a short (limit to 500 words), autobiographical essay. Include information about your educational background, work experience, and personal and professional goals. This sample will be reviewed by the admissions committee for the Masters Degree program.
Spertus College is interested in the writing and presentation skills of our applicants, therefore the essay must be clear, concise and typewritten. Spertus is also interested in the needs and goals of our applicants, so please discuss what you hope to learn in our program as well as your post-graduation plans.
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Doctoral Application Process
1. Complete and return Application for Admission form to the Office of the Registrar. Completed Application form may be faxed to the attention of the Office of the Registrar at 312.922.6406.
2. Request all transcripts of grades from colleges attended to be sent to the Registrar. No student will be considered fully admitted until all official transcripts are received.
3. Attach to this form the application fee of $75.00 (non-refundable).
4. Submit two letters of recommendation: from individuals qualified to evaluate your academic achievement and potential for successful completion of the DSJS or DJS program. Please indicate whether you wish to waive your right of access to the letters.
5. Submit on a separate sheet the Admissions Essay to assist our admissions committee in deciding whether your past experience and future goals are compatible with the purpose and the design of the DSJS or DJS program. The Admissions Essay should be thoughtfully composed. While no specific length is required, it should address the following:
- a) Tell us who you are — your background, education (formal and informal), your professional life, experience and accomplishments.
- b) Tell us about your goals — personal and professional.
- c) Tell us about why you want to pursue the DSJS or DJS degree, i.e., describe the relationship between your past, your goals, and your decision to pursue a Doctorate degree at Spertus College.
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Transfer Credit
Students may receive transfer credit for appropriate courses taken at an accredited institution of higher learning. However, regardless of the number of credit hours accepted by Spertus as transfer credit, all students must nonetheless fulfill the requirement of completing a minimum of one year of full-time study or its equivalent, i.e., 45 quarter hours, registered at Spertus (on campus or through distance learning).
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Being Excused From Course Requirements
Students in the MSJS/MSJE program may be excused from taking certain core courses and from fulfilling the Hebrew language requirements on the basis of previous study. The Dean/CAO determines whether specific course competencies have been satisfied. Students excused from specific courses usually do not receive transfer credit (unless such courses were previously taken at the graduate level). Students excused from taking specific courses are also nonetheless required to fulfill the requirement of completing a minimum of one year of full-time study or its equivalent, i.e., 45 quarter hours, registered at Spertus. This is usually done by substituting elective courses for those from which the student has been excused.
Contact
Phone 312.322.1794
A variety of classes and public programs take place in the evening and on Sunday. See our calendar of events for more details.
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