What Can I Do With a Major In Jewish Studies?

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Explore this Major

Learn more about a major in Jewish studies. All liberal arts degrees help CLA students develop their Core Career Competencies, and Jewish studies majors develop specific skills that are applicable to lots of different careers. These skills include cross-cultural knowledge and understanding of minority perspectives, historical perspective on the continuing impact of religion upon culture, close reading and critical analysis of texts, and the ability to formulate clear and persuasive messages.

Students who take the SuperStrong Interest Inventory receive a three-letter interest code, which identifies their top three areas of interest, work activities, potential skills, and personal values. The interest code "IAS" is often associated with this major, however, the SuperStrong assessment can help you understand how your interests connect to a variety of majors and career options. You can learn more about common employer types and occupations associated with this major. You can also see CLA specific examples of alumni careers below. 

Internship & Job Search Websites

Professional Organizations

Graduate Programs in Jewish Studies & Related Fields

This is a small sample of programs alumni have gone onto, to find graduate programs in this field, search the Grad School Directory or Peterson's Guide.

  • MA, Rabbinic Studies, Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion
  • MAT, Museum Education, The George Washington University
  • MA and Ordination, Jewish Studies, Jewish Theological Seminary of America
  • Rabbinical Ordination, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies

Alumni Career Examples

Below is a small sampling of what alumni with this major have pursued, organized by the most common career fields they go into (although keep in mind that there are alumni in all eight of the career fields). You can also utilize the LinkedIn's Alumni Tool and the Maroon and Gold Network to further explore alumni career pathways and connect directly with professionals.

Click to expand each gray box below for opportunities pursued by alumni in this major! 

Nonprofit & Advocacy

Note: *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required

Internships

  • Intern, Jewish Child and Family Service
  • Intern, St. Paul Neighborhood Network
  • Parks Intern, Carver County Parks
  • Kadima Youth Director, B'nai Emet Synagogue
  • Outreach Program Director, Hillel - University of Minnesota

Entry-Level

  • Assistant Program Director, Temple Beth Emeth
  • Youth Group Advisor, Temple Beth Emeth
  • Program Associate, Hillel of Metro Detroit
  • Community Organizer, Jews United for Justice
  • Founder/Contributor, Real Life Athena: A Women's Collective
  • Service Corp Fellow - Mubai, The Joint Distribution Committee
  • Kadima Youth Director, B'nai Emet Synagogue

Experienced

  • Executive Director, Jewish Housing and Programming (J-HAP)
  • NFTY Northern Regional Youth Director, Union for Reform Judaism
  • Youth & Adult Engagement Director, Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center of Milwaukee
  • Assistant Director, Steve and Shari Sadek Family Camp Interlaken JCC
  • Director of Youth & Camping, Sabes Jewish Community Center
  • Interim Assistant Executive Director, Sabes Jewish Community Center
  • Program Director, Sabes JCC
  • Chief Program Officer, Sabes JCC
  • Birthright Israel Fellow, Birthright Israel Foundation, iCenter
  • Assistant Rabbi, Congregation Temple Beth-El*
  • Rabbi, United Jewish School of Grand Rapids*
  • Rabbi, Congregation Ahavas Israel*
  • Aquatics Director, Steve and Shari Sadek Family Camp Interlaken JCC
  • Religious School and Youth Department Administrator, Ahavath Achim Synagogue
  • Director of Congregational Learning, Congregation B'nai Tzedek
Healthcare & Science

Note: *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required

Internships

  • Personal Care Attendant, St. David's Center - Autism Day Treatment Program
  • Community Service Intern, Art Therapy Connection

Entry-Level

  • Infantry Combat Medic, Israel Defense Forces
  • Mental Health Professional, Fraser Child & Family Services

Experienced

  • Therapist/Impact Program Coordinator, Headway Emotional Health Services*

Graduate Programs

  • PsyD, Child and Adolescent Psychology, Adler School of Professional Psychology
Education

Note: *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required

Internships

  • Admissions Ambassador, University of Minnesota
  • Student Territory Manager, University of Minnesota
  • Hebrew Teaching Assistant, University of Minnesota
  • Rabbinic Fellow and Intern, Hillel - Miami University
  • Student Teacher, Minneapolis Public Schools
  • Hebrew School Teacher, Beth Shalom Synagogue
  • Research Assistant, Institute of Child Psychology, University of Minnesota
  • Religious School Educator, Temple Israel Synagogue

Entry-Level

  • Ezra Fellow, Jewish Educator, Minnesota Hillel
  • Camp Unit Head and After School Lead Teacher, Sabes JCC
  • After School Director and Assistant Camp Director, Sabes JCC
  • Sunday School Teacher, Kulanu: The Cincinnati Reform Jewish High School
  • Chalutzim Unit Head, URJ Henry S. Jacobs
  • Experiential Educator, Gann Academy

Experienced

  • Adjunct Instructor, Grand Valley State University*
  • Adjunct Instructor, Kuyper College*
  • Lead Faculty and Grade Level Coordinator, Yachad MN*
  • Director of Community Enrichment & Engagement, Robbinsdale Area Schools, Community Education Program*
  • Program Associate, Charter School Division, Audubon Center of the North Woods
  • Principal and Co-Owner, Museology Museum Services
  • Lecturer, Baruch College Zicklin School of Business, City University of New York
  • Associate Professor, Saint Mary's University

Graduate Programs

  • MEd, Art Education, University of Minnesota
Business

Note: *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required

Entry-Level

  • Project Coordinator, Alto Consulting
  • Project Manager, Quantobe Inc.
  • Computer Sales, Best Buy
  • Corporate Security Specialist, Medtronic
  • Global Security Operations Supervisor, Global Privacy & Security, Medtronic

Experienced

  • Founder, The Happy Hooligan
  • Transcon Procurement Agent, Expeditors
  • Manager/Partner Marketing and Financial Analyst, On-Net Surveillance Systems, Inc.
  • Project Manager/Senior Business Analyst Consultant, Credit Suisse*
  • Senior Associate, Financial Services Advisory, PwC
  • Finance and Compliance Advisor, Jerusalem Venture Partners
  • Senior Business Systems Analyst, Ameriprise Financial*
  • Vice President, Training Content and Infrastructure, Ameriprise Financial*
  • Franchise Consulting Program Manager, Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
  • Associate Franchise Consultant, Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
  • Global Security Senior Supervisor, Global Privacy & Security Office, Medtronic*

Graduate Programs

  • Graduate Certificate in Business Management, Eastern Michigan University
  • MBA, Global Supply Chain Management, Wayne State University
  • MBA, Finance, Rutgers Business School
Communications & Media

Note: *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required

Internships

  • Communications Intern, Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus

Entry-Level

  • Administrative Assistant, Union for Reform Judaism Press Department
  • Editor, The Reader
  • Theater Critic, City Pages
  • Designer, The Reader
  • Designer, Pulse of the Twin Cities
  • Freelance Theater Critic, The Onion

Experienced

  • Freelance Columnist, MLive.com
  • Arts Columnist, MinnPost.com

Graduate Programs

  • Graphic Design, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design

 

Arts

Note: *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required

Internships

  • Special Programs Greeter, Mill City Museum
  • Visitor Services Greeter, Minnesota Historical Society
  • Mill City Museum Education Intern, Minnesota Historical Society
  • Gallery Facilitator, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
  • Family Programs Intern, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
  • Live Production Intern, Gopher Digital Productions

Entry-Level

  • Education Coordinator, Carver County Historical Society
  • EdLab Education Innovator, Smithsonian Institution
  • Education Outreach Intern, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History
  • Production Assistant, Big Ten Network
  • Production Assistant, Gopher Digital Productions

Experienced

  • Freelance Playwright
  • Research Specialist, Douglas County Historical Society

 

The College of Liberal Arts Career Services and the University of Minnesota has no control or responsibility for the: (a) quality or safety of any experiential learning opportunity/position descriptions or (b) the application, hiring practices, or EEO/AA status of any of the organizations listed here. We encourage students to use precaution when applying to, interviewing at, or participating in volunteer, internship, job, or research programs outside of the University. These opportunities are not affiliated with the University of Minnesota and have not been fully vetted.