Jewish Studies Program

Career Options for students majoring and minoring in Jewish Studies:

Through Jewish Studies, students can develop and refine a range of interdisciplinary skills and personal qualities, many of which will have a direct or indirect impact on career development.  These skills include the capacity to engage in critical thought, to advocate and to debate, to organize and to critique ideas, to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, and to investigate the complex thoughts, institutions, and traditions that have and will continue to influence people throughout history.  Rather than preparation for a specific type of career, Jewish Studies, like many fields within the Liberal Arts, provides preparation for life and the independent thought, inquiry, and expression that will be required to be successful in a variety of life roles and occupational areas. 

The potential career directions of graduates with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Jewish Studies are truly broad, and the development of career options requires students to reflect upon their individual skills, interests, and work related values.  Within any single graduating cohort, emerging graduates may apply their education toward careers in areas including Religious Service, Teaching, Social / Human Service, Research, Governmental Affairs, Legal Services, Museum / Cultural Institutions, Writing, Advocacy, Health Care, Business Consulting, Financial Services, Sales, Marketing, Management, Non-Profit, Fundraising, Customer Service / Customer Relations, and Journalism, among others. 

Students with an academic focus upon Jewish Studies are strongly encouraged to develop experiences in a broad array of areas, through student organization involvement, employment, class projects, research projects, volunteer activities, and internships.  The development of a broad array of interests and skills will assist students in clarifying and determining career goals.  Through Career Services, students can engage in individual career counseling and can also enroll in career development courses (for example, CN ED 100 (3cr) – Making Effective Career Decisions; LA 401 (1cr) – Job Search Skills and Strategies for Liberal Arts Majors), with the goal of identifying self characteristics, exploring career options and opportunities, and developing a plan to transition from college to the workplace.  Further information about Career Services, Career Counseling, and the ways students can benefit from working with Career Services can be obtained through the Career Services website (http://www.sa.psu.edu/career) or by visiting Career Services’ Drop In Counselor, available each business day from 8:30am – 5pm.

One example of an opportunity students may learn about by visiting Career Services is the MASA Israel program.  Information about this program and opportunities for career development associated with it are available at:  www.masaisrael.org.

Annually the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), conducts a survey of employers’ perceptions of the most highly sought after skills of emerging graduates.  Results of the most recent NACE Survey (2009) are included below.  You will see that through Jewish Studies, a number of these skills and qualities are developed and strengthened.

The Top 10 personal qualities/skills employers seek, according to NACE’s Job Outlook 2009 survey, are:

Communication Skills (Oral and Written)
Strong work Ethic
Teamwork skills                                                                                 
Initiative
Analytical Skills
Computer Skills
Flexibility / Adaptability
Inerpersonal Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Leadership