Hebrew Masters Degree Overview

Synopsis: The Program offers two Master's tracks: with thesis and without.

Admission Requirements

Bachelor's degrees with a minimal grade average of 85%. The Program will consider accepting a limited number of applicants whose average grade is less than the required minimum, if, inter alia, the personal characteristics of the applicants enhance the diversity of the student body and contribute to an intellectually stimulating program. Some of the applicants may be invited for a Skype interview. Applicants are requested to submit two letters of recommendation as well as examples of their academic work in the past (such as seminar papers).

Additionally, the following undergraduate courses are pre-requisites:

• Introduction to Government and Politics (summer course given before the first year of study)
• Fundamentals of Law

Students who have not studied these two courses as part of their undergraduate studies will be required to study them as supplementary courses for the Master's degree during their first year of study toward their Master's degree. A minimum grade of 80 is required in supplementary courses as a condition for matriculation into the regular Master's program.

Study Program

The Ttudy Program is based on required courses and elective courses in various fields and disciplines:

• Political science, diplomacy and international relations.
• Law.
• Sociology, psychology, social work, education and labor relations.
• History, rhetoric, philosophy and Jewish studies.

Mediation training workshop

The Program offers a concentrated workshop in negotiation and mediation techniques in various environmental contexts, including labor relations, family, community, diplomacy, etc. Upon completion of the course (4 credit hours), the students will receive a mediation certificate based on the requirements of the Ministry of Justice. The workshop is an elective course. The number of participants in this course is limited in order to ensure the full benefit of this workshop experience.

Two Master's Degree Study Tracks

Track 1 – with thesis

A total of 36 credit hours.

Duration

Two years.

Required theoretical courses – 15  credit hours.

These courses focus on political approaches and diplomacy, psychological-social approaches, legal approaches and historical approaches that comprise the intellectual foundation of conflict studies, and conflict management and resolution. The course in social-psychological approaches to conflict resolution is a seminar.

Required interdisciplinary seminar – 3 credit hours.

The interdisciplinary seminar ("the integrative seminar") is a bi-weekly colloquium in which faculty members and guests lecture about their research and new publications, and also present activities in the field. Attendance at the seminar is a requirement in the first and second years of study.

Required courses in methodology – 4 credit hours.

A workshop in writing research and qualitative research methods serves the students in the preparation of their research and in writing their thesis.

Elective courses – 14 credit hours

Elective courses deal with the various aspects of conflict management and resolution, according to the four areas mentioned above. The elective course requirement includes courses specially formulated for Conflict Program students, as well as courses that are given in various university departments.

Foreign languages - In addition to English, knowledge of an additional foreign language may be required by the student's supervisor and the head of the Program, if they feel it is necessary for the student's research work.

Track 2 – without thesis

A total of 40 credit hours.

Duration

One year.

Required theoretical courses – 15 credit hours

The courses focus on political approaches and diplomacy, psychological-social approaches, legal approaches and historical approaches that comprise the intellectual foundation in conflict studies and conflict management and resolution. The course in social psychological approaches to conflict resolution is a seminar.

Required interdisciplinary course – 3 credit hours

The interdisciplinary seminar ("the integrative seminar") is a bi-weekly colloquim in which faculty members and guests lecture about their research and new publications, and also present activities in the field. The seminar is a requirement in the first and second years of study.

Field project – 2 credit hour

This project is based on an internship of 40 hours in a department, organization or with a person practicing conflict management and resolution. Upon completion of the project, students are required to submit a paper summarizing and analyzing their work.

Elective courses – 20 credit hours

Elective courses deal with various aspects of conflict management and resolution, according to the four areas mentioned above. These courses are based on existing courses in the various departments, along with courses unique to the program.