Prerequisite Coursework – 1 credit

GR101        Introduction to Graduate Studies                                                                         1 credit

Biblical Hebrew – 6 credits

Incoming students may take a Hebrew competency exam to determine placement and competency. Depending on availability, biblical Hebrew may be offered as six 1-credit courses or two 3-credit courses. Hebrew is taught as a pass/fail course.

BH501a     First-Year Biblical Hebrew Part 1                                                                          1 credit

BH501b     First-Year Biblical Hebrew Part 2                                                                          1 credit

BH501c     First-Year Biblical Hebrew Part 3                                                                          1 credit

BH502a     Second-Year Biblical Hebrew Part 1                                                                     1 credit

BH502b     Second-Year Biblical Hebrew Part 2                                                                     1 credit

BH502c     Second-Year Biblical Hebrew Part 3                                                                     1 credit

Occasionally, these courses may be offered as two 3-credit courses.

BH501        First Trimester Biblical Hebrew (3 credits)

BH502        Second Trimester Biblical Hebrew (3 credits)

Biblical and Rabbinic Texts – 15 credits

S501            Tanakh: The Beginnings of Judaism and the Jewish People (3 credits)

S502            Apostolic Writings: The Early Messianic Jewish Community (3 credits)

S620            Biblical Hermeneutics (3 credits)

R501            Introduction to Rabbinic Literature (3 credits)

R502            Introduction to the Talmud (3 credits)

Jewish History – 9 credits

H502           History of Judaism & the Jewish People (3 credits)

H504           Contemporary Judaism (3 credits)

H510           History of Jewish-Christian Relations (3 credits)

Messianic Jewish Theology – 9 credits

T501            Messianic-Jewish Theology                                                                                    3 credits

T601            God & Messiah                                                                                                        3 credits

T605            Halakhic Process                                                                                                     3 credits

Messianic Jewish Practical Theology  –  8 credits

SL501         Messianic-Jewish Spirituality                                                                                 2 credits

SL502         Jewish Practices in a Messianic Context                                                              2 credits

RS601         Effective Public Speaking/Homiletics                                                                   2 credits

RS502         Key Events in the Jewish Life Cycle                                                                     2 credits

Rabbinic students enroll in RS101 Rabbinic Seminar each trimester while enrolled in the program. The seminar is a learning community in which students gain insight from each other’s experience as a cohort and are mentored through the program. The seminar covers nine professional competencies necessary for carrying out the roles of a Messianic Jewish Rabbi. It is taught as a pass/fail course. As students complete the requirement for each competency, it will appear as a completed course credit on their transcript.

RS101         Rabbinic Seminar (1 credit/trimester @ 9 trimesters)  –  9 credits

RS501         Personal Life of the Spiritual Leader

RS701         Congregational Growth & Development 

RS651         The Basics of Synagogue Worship

RS506         The Roles of the Messianic Jewish Rabbi   

RS652         Shabbat & Weekly Worship Services

RS653         Services for the High Holy Days and Moedim

RS505         The Rabbi’s Personal and Professional Relationships   

RS503         Pastoral Care 1: Serving Through the Stages of Life

RS504         Pastoral Care 2: Counseling and Prayer    

Students will choose one capstone project worth 3 credits taken as a pass/fail course. The capstone project allows students to integrate their coursework and ministry experience and apply it as a project. The capstone may be a written project (e.g., Master’s Thesis), a ministry project (e.g., a conference), a humanitarian service project, or a semester in Israel. The capstone project must be completed in their final year and may not be a project begun before enrollment. Students will submit a proposal during the term before their project term. The capstone project proposal form is on page ____.

GR201        Master’s Thesis                                                                                                            3 credits

GR202        Trimester in Israel                                                                                                        3 credits

GR203        Messianic Jewish Ministry Project                                                                             3 credits

GR204        Humanitarian Service Project (also RS508)                                                              3 credits

Qualifications for Admission

Jewish Status. The program is open to qualified Jewish men and women. Applicants may be asked to provide proof of their Jewish heritage by giving evidence they are Jewish by birth or by conversion. Jews by birth may be asked to provide evidence they have at least one Jewish parent. Jews by conversion must give evidence they completed a qualified Jewish conversion program from an approved Beit Din. MJTI also offers the Mekhina Certificate program, open to all men and women, and prepares candidates to serve as liturgical and ministerial leaders in Messianic Congregations.

Undergraduate Degree. Applicants must have earned an undergraduate degree from an accredited college, university, or seminary before the anticipated date of entrance into the rabbinic program or have completed the MJTI Mature Status Program (MSP).

Synagogue Service and Standing. Applicants should have a basic knowledge of Judaism, Messianic Jewish beliefs, and Jewish practices. They are encouraged to be members in good standing, participate in a Messianic-Jewish congregation or community and demonstrate leadership within the Messianic-Jewish community.

Transfer Credit. Students may request credit for equivalent courses taken at approved academic institutions by submitting a course transfer request to the dean. Up to one-half of the required program credits may be transferred from an approved institution after the academic dean reviews the course syllabus and their final grade. Students requesting transfer credit should submit a course transfer request form, a copy of their transcript, and a copy of the course syllabus. Courses taken in other MJTI programs will be considered toward fulfilling the degree requirement.

Life Experience Credit. Life experience credits may be applied toward one or more of the nine professional competencies required for ordination (see list below). Students may apply for life experience credit. (Students receiving life experience credit must still complete a one-year mentorship to meet the ordination requirements.)

Prerequisite Requirements

GR101. Introduction to Graduate Studies explores graduate-level research and writing skills, including bibliographic citation format, strategies for online research, critical thinking skills, use of academic software, and advanced technical skills with MS Word and presentation software. Moreover, GR101 introduces students to MJTI’s beliefs, vision, and academic approach to learning and scholarship.

Hebrew Proficiency. Incoming students will take a Hebrew placement exam to determine their proficiency in Biblical Hebrew. Based on their Hebrew proficiency, they may be required to take six credits of Hebrew. These courses may be offered as two 3-credit courses (BH501 and BH502) or six 1-credit courses (BH501a, BH501b, BH501c, BH502a, BH502b, and BH502c).

Biblical Reading Plan. Incoming students will submit to their academic advisor a 52-week (one-year) Biblical Reading Plan that includes selections from the Tanach (Old Testament) and Apostolic Writings (New Testament). Rabbinic students will submit updates on their reading plan progress to their advisor each trimester.

One-Year Mentorship. During the program, rabbinic students will complete a one-year mentorship with an approved Messianic-Jewish rabbi. Incoming students will submit a mentoring contract in conversation with their academic advisor. During their mentorship, students will complete nine professional competencies (see Professional Competencies below).

Academic Contract. Incoming students will meet with their academic advisor and complete an academic contract. This contract is an agreement between the rabbinic student and MJTI listing the required courses and tasks for required for graduation after all transfer credits, life experience credits have been determined, and Hebrew competencies have been evaluated.