Stanford
The Concentration in Education and Jewish Studies

About EdJS

EdJS at the Stanford Graduate School of Education is a vibrant scholarly home for students and scholars interested in better understanding how the two fields of Education and Jewish Studies study overlap, interact, and mutually inform one another.

The study of Education focuses on the diversity of ways in which people learn, from the cognitive to the cultural, and from classrooms and curricula to popular culture and social networks.

Jewish Studies investigates the varieties of Jewish experiences historically, transnationally, and in conversation with social formations like race, class, gender, sexuality, and religion. This unique interdisciplinary initiative is to the creation and enhancement of research that spans the social sciences, humanities, and education.

We welcome interest from students and academic partners who:

  • Link theory and practice
  • Are methodologically and conceptually creative
  • Are interested in contributing to the growing body of scholarship at the intersection of Education and Jewish Studies.

Generously supported by a gift from the Jim Joseph Foundation, EdJS promotes rigorous research and creative scholarly exploration. We welcome inquiries from anyone interested in our work, curious about the PhD Concentration, exploring the possibilities of collaborating on projects, or finding out more about EDJS or the Stanford School of Education to explore our website, see our Frequently Asked Questions, see our latest Blog postings, or send us an email.

Concentration in Education and Jewish Studies

The Concentration is a unique entity in the Stanford University School of Education. Neither a program nor a center, the Concentration provides a framework for students and scholarship that focuses on the intersection of Education and Jewish Studies. We do this through two primary initiatives

  • Training and developing researchers.
    • EdJS is the home of a number of students pursuing their PhDs at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. The Concentration gives PhD students an opportunity to collaborate with and learn from leading scholars in their fields of interests to build a research agenda that will deepen our understanding of the relationship between Jews and education, broadly considered. They do this through their doctoral coursework, and through working on research projects with their advisors. Click here to find out more about the application process, or here to find out about our current students.
  • Conducting innovative research.
    • EdJS also houses a research center that is dedicated to exploring the vital issues connected to education and Jewish Studies. Our research hopes to add methodological and theoretical rigor to our field, and become a leading source for new approaches to understanding the relationship between Jews and education, while also producing usable knowledge for practitioners. Under the direction of Professor Ari Y Kelman, and in partnership with leading scholars from around the world, EdJS facilitates a number of different research projects, which intend to contribute broadly to our understanding of the interactions between religion and education.·       

Students in the Concentration

Prospective students will apply to one of three existing areas in the GSE at the same time they take coursework that allows them to “concentrate” in Education and Jewish Studies. These existing three areas in Stanford’s School of Education are: Curriculum and Teacher Education (CTE), Developmental and Psychological Sciences (DAPS);Social Sciences, Humanities, and Interdisciplinary Policy Studies (SHIPS) in education. Applicants can also select a cross-area specialization in learning sciences and technology design. All students admitted to EdJS will be supported by an endowed fellowship that covers five years of tuition and provides a generous monthly stipend.