Some graduate students at the University of Dallas have been working toward a master’s degree with a concentration in Jewish classical education.
Last fall, the university launched the unique area of study for those seeking a master’s in humanities, giving aspiring scholars the opportunity to gain a “comprehensive understanding of the history, culture, and ideas of Western Civilization informed by a Jewish worldview,” according to the program’s website.
“The new concentration in Jewish classical education is the only program of its kind, equipping teachers with a thorough knowledge of Western culture with an eye toward Judaism’s civilizational influence,” said Rabbi Mitchell Rocklin, who is heading up the young program, according to a press release.
As part of the concentration, graduate students will also be given the opportunity to study Hebrew to fulfill their degree’s foreign language requirement.
The program is housed within the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts, which is “committed to the renewal of the Western heritage of liberal arts and the Christian intellectual tradition.” The graduate school offers master’s programs in American studies, classical education, philosophy, psychology, and theology, among other fields.
The concentration in Jewish classical education was launched in partnership with the Tikvah Fund, a non-profit organization “committed to supporting the intellectual, religious, and political leaders of the Jewish people and the Jewish state.”
“Tikvah, for its part, has long been a leader and innovator in designing educational programs inspired by the classical liberal arts tradition for students at every level. This is a natural partnership, and I’m excited to see it develop in the years to come,” said John Peterson, assistant dean of Braniff Graduate School, per the press release.
