Academic Programs and Experiences

Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Innovation (MSOLI)

Degree students will generally complete 34-44 credits depending on the specific course of study. This is an accelerated degree and may be taken as a low residency program, completed on the following semester sequence: Summer One/Fall One/Spring One/Summer Two.

Master of Arts in Jewish Nonprofit Management (MAJNM)

Degree students will generally complete 38-52 credits depending on whether it is taken as a single or dual degree and the specific course of study. This degree may be taken as a low residency program and is completed on the following semester sequence: Summer One/Fall One/Spring One/Summer Two/Fall Two/Spring Two and includes the Israel Seminar.

Dual Degrees with MAJNM

Dual Degrees may be completed independently with most universities with prior departmental approval.

USC Dual Degrees with MAJNM

Master of Social Work (USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work) and MAJNM
Master of Public Administration (USC Price School of Public Policy) and MAJNM
Master of Communication Management (USC Annenberg School of Communication) and MAJNM
Master of Business Administration (USC Marshall School of Business) and MAJNM

HUC Concurrent Degrees

Cantorial Studies and MAJNM
Education Studies and MAJNM
Rabbinic Studies and MAJNM

Certificate in Jewish Organizational Leadership (CJOL)

Certificate students must complete a minimum of ten credits during the summer semester.

While all these programs have some common courses, each has its own particular set of courses, schedule of classes, fieldwork, and capstone requirements. Students should carefully review the program descriptions for the requirements of their degree track. Please consult with the Director of the Zelikow School regarding courses, credits, schedules, requirements, or any other matter relating to the academic program. Dual Degree students should also ensure that they meet with the academic advisor for the degree program that they are pursuing outside of HUC in order to ensure the necessary requirements are met for completion of that institution’s degree.

HUC Concurrent Degree Program with Master of Arts in Jewish Nonprofit Management

Students pursuing a degree at HUC who are seeking to better position themselves in the job market or develop specialized skill sets may want to consider completing a Master of Arts in Jewish Nonprofit Management concurrently. The Zelikow School partners with the Cantorial School and Rabbinical School. Students accepted into these HUC programs seeking to strengthen their skill sets in nonprofit management and cultivating their leadership potential in synagogues and educational institutions may concurrently earn a Master of Arts in Jewish Nonprofit Management. The HUC Concurrent Degree program is open to students at HUC stateside campuses (Cincinnati, Los Angeles, and New York).

Beyond the Classroom:

Leadership Conference

The in-person Leadership Conference launches a year of learning for the entire cohort enrolled in our Zschool degree and certificate programs. Spanning five dynamic days, our conference serves as a catalyst for transformative growth and connection, bringing together students from all three Zelikow School degree tracks. Immediately after the Conference, students begin six weeks of intensive online courses during which the themes of leadership and creative problem-solving are revisited from various perspectives. These same themes continue to be interwoven into their internship and work experiences during the remainder of the year as part of their mentoring.

Fieldwork Experience

Fieldwork provides supervised and structured professional experiences in a variety of Jewish communal organizations. Guided by carefully constructed educational objectives, fieldwork provides invaluable practitioner and leadership training, engaging students in experiential learning which integrates the theory developed in the classroom with the practice experienced in the workplace. Through individually tailored placements and carefully monitored supervision, fieldwork provides a structured professional experience to further develop leadership capabilities. If you have questions about the fieldwork experience, please consult with the Associate Director.

Global Nonprofit Innovation Seminar

The Windmueller Israel Seminar is designed to explore challenges in Israel that take place at the fault lines of social justice and how nonprofits have developed creative and innovative ways to meet those challenges. Past trips have explored the intersection of Israel’s high-tech community and innovative NGOs, meeting with leaders like Jonathan Medved, founder, and CEO of OurCrowd, and Dyonna Ginsburg, Executive Director of OLAM, to understand how creative problem solving and business principles in the for profit and social enterprise sectors can be put to use in nonprofits. Students in the MAJNM degree track receive a scholarship and are required to attend the Seminar for credit. All students are required to cover the cost of their own airfare, on-ground travel, and incidentals that are not directly provided within the Seminar. MSOLI students may attend the Seminar at their own expense. Occasionally, scholarships are available for MSOLI students to support their participation in the Seminar.

Capstone Project

The Capstone is offered as a two-semester experience in a Business Model Accelerator for the Jewish Nonprofit. In the first semester, students develop research on a challenge confronting the Jewish communal ecosystem. In the second semester, students participate in the Nonprofit Launchpad, which replicates the experience of a high-tech business accelerator in order to develop leaders who can innovate within existing organizations or launch their own startups. Capstone projects involve original research (such as surveys, interviews, observations, or analysis of existing data), provide hands-on experience in business model generation, and explore innovation practices used to launch a startup organization.

Cohort Learning

The Zschool is a microcosm of the larger Jewish community, incorporating multiple perspectives, roles, talents, and visions. Community is an essential component of our program, reflected in the institutional culture, the involvement of faculty and lay-leadership, and the empowerment of students. The extracurricular programs provide an informal educational experience for students to get to know each other and shape their community of learning. Other opportunities for cohort learning are offered throughout the schooling experience.

Bernstein Scholar-in-Residence

Our scholars-in-residence provide a unique opportunity for students to learn from some of the most respected and influential Jewish communal leaders who over the course of their careers have shaped the field of Jewish communal service. Rabbi Louis Bernstein Scholars-in-Residence have previously included some of America’s contemporary luminaries including Alan Gill, Executive Vice President Emeritus of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, as well as Chip Edelsberg, Executive Director Emeritus of Jim Joseph Foundation, and Rachel Levin, Executive Director of Righteous Persons Foundation, Allan Finkelstein of JCCA, Stosh Cotler of Bend the Arc, Abe Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League, John Ruskay of the UJA-Federation New York, and Ruth Messinger of American Jewish World Service.

Summer Culmination and Graduation Ceremonies

The Zelikow School Summer Culmination and Graduation is a celebration of our summer learning experience and an opportunity to recognize those students who earned their Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Innovation or completed the Certificate in Jewish Organizational Leadership. Each year the Rabbi Louis Bernstein Scholar-in-Residence provides the keynote address.