College Level and Integrity of Credit

1 College Level and Integrity of Credit 52.1(f) Each course offered for credit by an institution shall be part of a registered curriculum offered by that institution, as a general education course, a major requirement, or an elective. 52.2(c)(3) Credit toward an undergraduate degree shall be earned only for college level work. Credit toward a graduate degree shall be earned only through work designed expressly for graduate students. Enrollment of secondary school students in undergraduate courses, of undergraduates in graduate courses, and of graduate students in undergraduate courses shall be strictly controlled by the institution. 52.2(c)(5) The institution shall assure that credit is granted only to students who have achieved the stated objectives of each credit-bearing learning activity. 50.1(o) Semester hour means a credit, point, or other unit granted for the satisfactory completion of a course which requires at least 15 hours (of 50 minutes each) of instruction and at least 30 hours of supplementary assignments, except as otherwise provided pursuant to section 52.2(c)(4) of this Subchapter. 1. Data concerning present status All courses at The Academy for Jewish Religion count either toward a required course or an elective. All courses at The Academy for Jewish Religion are open to graduate students only. A requirement for acceptance at The Academy for Jewish Religion is the achievement of an undergraduate degree. The AJR website, under Entrance Requirements specifically states: Applicants must hold a B.A., B.S. or B.F.A. from an accredited college or university. Our courses assume that students have the basic cultural literacy and study skills of an undergraduate education. Our courses broaden students with the kind of critical thinking and synthesis of information of graduate level study. The Academy for Jewish Religion Faculty Guidelines advises faculty in its very first clause, The Academy for Jewish Religion (AJR) is committed to academic freedom and the maintenance of the academic standards and practices appropriate to a graduate institution. All courses at The Academy for Jewish Religion are on the AJR website, the requirements for each of our two current programs (rabbinical and cantorial ordination) are clearly laid out: One would click on Ordination Programs, and then Rabbinical School or Cantorial School, scroll to Course Requirements for a general description. These then are fully detailed if one clicks Program Requirements. Each semester, the specific course offerings for that particular half of the year are excerpted from the website s course listings and are displayed separately two ways under For Current Students, and then Registration Materials. They are listed as part of a chart outlining the courses by day of week and time, and they are listed with their course descriptions.

2 As part of our two ordination programs, all students are currently required to complete a Master s Degree in Jewish Studies through a partnership with Gratz College in Philadelphia (Gratz College is an accredited institution through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education). Most of our students take their Gratz College courses via Distance Learning, i.e., courses taught via the Internet. It is the goal of The Academy for Jewish Religion to offer our own Master s Degree in Jewish Studies should the New York State Department of Education award to us Authority to Grant Degrees. Regarding those courses which may not easily fit into the various categories of requirements, the website listing clarifies the issue. For example, the last sentence of the following course description, taken from the AJR website, specifically delineates which requirement this course fulfills. PRO 330 Bar/Bat Mitzvah This class will look at Bar/Bat Mitzvah as a rite of passage. It will examine the children themselves, issues affecting their families, and synagogue policies. We will look closely at the specific educational needs of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah child; and how a tutor can guide students successfully on their paths. We ll examine Bar/Bat Mitzvah as a path to Jewish identity development and study classical texts as they relate to Bar/Bat Mitzvah. We ll look at the Bar/Bat Mitzvah service and the role of the Rabbi and Cantor. The class will focus on difficult issues that inevitably arise during the planning of this rite of passage. Prerequisite: Knowledge of cantillation, and experience in Bat/Bar Mitzvah tutoring and/or leading a Bar/Bat Mitzvah service. This course can fulfill the Congregational Dynamics requirement. Similarly, the website s course descriptions make clear prerequisite requirements. For example, the conclusion of the description of the following course makes the prerequisite requirement clear: HAL 600 Advanced Codes This course examines the complex process of the understanding, deciding, expounding, organizing and creation of Jewish law. The codificatory literature is one legal genre that exemplifies this process and was produced by it. A number of halakhic topics will be studied as they are treated by various authorities. Such study will introduce the student to these areas of inquiry (among others): halakhic determinations, the background and underlying issues that may be reflected in these determinations, the system of intertextual references developed to facilitate navigation through this tradition, characteristics of specific classical halakhic works, such as among others RI F, Rambam s Yad, Tur, Shulhan `Arukh, and their commentators. Prerequisite: Intro to Codes. (2.0 course point). In reviewing our website s course descriptions, we notice that not all prerequisites have been clearly listed, especially in Hebrew language courses, and we will correct this.

3 Once AJR is given Authority to Grant Degrees by the New York State Department of Education, this same area of the website will clearly list the requirements for the M.A. program. No credit is granted for the following courses: -Seminar in Core Concepts. -Ritual Skills Workshops -Fieldwork Support Seminar The Seminar in Core Concepts provides a basic level of literacy for graduate study in Jewish Studies and also offers a model for a pluralistic approach to Jewish Studies. The Ritual Skills Workshops are Remedial courses. The Fieldwork Support Seminar is part of the professional internship requirement. See 2c, below, References/sources for descriptions of these courses taken from AJR website, which clearly designate them as non-credit. As mentioned earlier, AJR currently partners with Gratz College in awarding a Master s Degree. Through that agreement, a portion of the required courses for the M.A. are taken by students at Gratz College (mostly through distance learning mode), and a portion are taken at AJR. Therefore, a number of AJR courses are accepted by Gratz College, an accredited institution. For the list of those courses, see 2c., below, References/sources on sound practice used to inform response. Each course syllabus contains the goals of that course. Credit is granted only to students who have achieved these stated goals. Students in each course are given either letter grades or grades of pass/fail. Faculty also are expected to supplement and substantiate their letter grades with narrative comments. (See 1a. References/sources on sound practice used to inform response, #3 The Academy for Jewish Religion Faculty Guidelines Narrative Grading ). These grades are determined through class participation, performance on homework assignments, grades on examinations, the writing of papers, performance in oral presentations, and the fulfillment of other class projects. Students at The Academy for Jewish Religion do, occasionally, fail courses. Courses at The Academy for Jewish Religion meet for thirteen sessions per semester, with each session lasting one hundred minutes. This yields a total of thirteen hundred minutes. The Commissioner s Rules call for each class (of the equivalent of three credits) to meet for at least fifteen sessions of one hundred fifty minutes each. Therefore, AJR courses appear to be deficient by two sessions per semester and each session appears to be deficient by fifty minutes. That is a total deficiency of approximately 13.6 hours per course per semester. A broad discussion surrounding this issue is needed. The discussion should include the quality and quantity of academic study in AJR s requirement of supplemental academic study in the annual Retreat and Intensive Programs.

4 The Academy for Jewish Religion requires student attendance at an academic conference that it convenes specifically for its students each semester. In the fall, the conference is called the Retreat, and in the spring it is called the Intensive. The fall Retreat, is held from Sunday afternoon through Wednesday morning off-campus, at a hotel and conference center, and the spring Intensive is held from Monday through Wednesday oncampus. The purpose of these conferences is to focus on one theme or topic in great depth, with speakers and presenters from outside the institution as well as from within it. Since these programs are considered part and parcel of the academic programs of the institution, student attendance is, as mentioned, required. The attendance requirement, as well as an overview of both of these programs, are listed in the online Student Handbook, pages 9-10. The Retreat requires about 21 hours of academic study and the Intensive requires about 15 hours of academic study. 2. Analysis a. Strengths All coursework, except for remedial classes, are on a graduate level. All courses are clearly listed on the AJR website. Their pre-requisites are clearly delineated. The ways that each course fulfills program requirements are listed on the website. Each course syllabus contains the goals of that course. Credit it granted only to students who have achieved these stated goals. Since AJR currently participates with Gratz College in awarding the M.A. degree, courses offered at AJR are accepted at another institution of higher learning which is accredited for graduate level credit. A significant number of our instructors have taught in other graduate level programs in accredited institutions of higher learning and ensure that the courses they teach at The Academy for Jewish Religion are at the standard of graduate level Jewish Studies courses. Finally, to ensure that graduate level proficiency has been achieved in major areas of Jewish Studies, our students must pass a series of Comprehensive Examinations in order to graduate. These are detailed in the online Student Handbook, and are excerpted here under c. References/sources on sound practice used to inform response, #4 Comprehensive Examinations Excerpts from the AJR Student Handbook. b. Weaknesses

5 Our advising system is not yet fully automated through the implementation of the Degree Audit module of Campus Anyware. One of the forms we use in hard copy is called The Old Long Form (See under c. References/sources on sound practice used to inform response, #5 The Old Long Form). It is in the process of revision. In reviewing our website s course descriptions, we notice that not all prerequisites have been clearly listed, especially in Hebrew language courses. A broad discussion is needed surrounding the deficiency of approximately 13.6 hours per semester of course work AJR considers the 15-21 additional required academic hours of study at The Retreat and The Intensive as part of the discussion. c. References/sources on sound practice used to inform response. 1- Descriptions of Three AJR Non-Credit Courses Clearly Designated as Non- Credit (Text From AJR Website): PRO 001 through PRO 006 Seminar in Core Concepts This is a multi-year sequence of seminars. They include Core Concepts Seminar I, II, III, and IV. The seminars cover some of the fundamental values, concepts and vocabulary of Jewish tradition. The student is expected first to gain a basic acquaintance with these terms and then to delve more deeply into them so as to appreciate their range of significance. The goal of the seminars is not simply to gather information, but to develop an integrated way of thinking about and expressing these value-concepts, so that the student may grow from an appreciation of the tradition to active and creative participation in the discourse of Torah. Every student is required to take three of the four seminars given in the sequence. After fulfilling this non-credit requirement, a student may elect to take the fourth seminar for credit. Each seminar will meet for 45 minutes weekly. (0.0 course point) PRO 140, 141, 143 Ritual Skills Workshop I, II, and III In this workshop students will have the opportunity to learn and practice ritual skills to prepare for fulfillment of the yearly ritual skills requirement. (0.0 course point) PRO 700/701 Fieldwork Support Seminar This seminar group focuses upon issues that arise in the course of rabbinical and cantorial work. Participation is required of all students whose work is counting as a required internship experience. Tuition is charged but no academic course point is given for this seminar. (0.0 course point) 2- List of AJR courses accepted by Gratz College for Graduate School Credit: Intermediate Talmud (students normally take 2 semesters) Advanced Talmud (students normally take 2 semesters)

6 Mysticism Personal Theology Introduction to Bible Introduction to Mishna Introduction to Liturgy Shabbat Liturgy Festival Liturgy Yamim Noraim Liturgy 3- The Academy for Jewish Religion Faculty Guidelines On Narrative Grading II. 6. Narrative Grading A critical part of AJR academic programs is the narrative comment from instructors. These comments, which offer the chance to weigh carefully the progress made, and the successes and challenges, are the most important piece of feedback received by our students. Instructors are urged to be thoughtful, honest and supportive in preparing these comments. 4- Comprehensive Examinations Excerpts from the AJR Student Handbook From Page 2 of the Rabbinic Supplement of the AJR Student Handbook III. Comprehensive Examinations: In order for students to be ordained they must take the following exams: 1. Hebrew Part A: Modern Hebrew exam including grammar, reading comprehension and composition without the use of a dictionary. Part B: A translation of liturgical texts. A dictionary is allowed. 2. Bible Part A: Certain texts will be given to the student 72 hours prior to the test to prepare at home. The actual exam will occur at AJR. This exam will include translations and questions with a Hebrew Tanakh and Miqraot Gedolot (Rashi font). Part B: Using unseen texts, students will be asked to translate and answer questions. A Hebrew Tanakh and a dictionary are allowed. 3. Talmud Part A: Oral examination which will involve the student s reading and explication of selections from original sources. The student must choose to be tested on one of the three selections of sugyot found in the Comprehensive Examination Study Packet and must inform AJR which selection has been chosen at the time the testing appointment is made. The test will utilize the Vilna edition, only. The student is responsible to prepare the sugya with Rashi and, if indicated, also with selected Tosafot.

7 Part B: Written examination including questions requiring both short and long answers based on the secondary readings and a selection from the terms to be defined and explained found in the Comprehensive Examination Study Packet. The material in the packet may not be consulted during the exam, nor may any other study aid or informational materials be utilized. In addition, material from secondary readings or original sources may be included in the written exam as material from which questions will be asked. Therelevant citations will be made available as part of the exam. 4. Codes Part A: Oral examination for which the student must be prepared to read and explicate any selection from Rambam included in the Comprehensive Examination Study Packet. The printed edition of the text(s) of Rambam from which the student will be examined will be from the traditional, non-vocalized edition (surrounded by commentaries). The student is not responsible for the commentaries. Part B: Written examination including questions requiring both short and long answers based on the secondary readings and a selection from the terms to be defined and explained found in the Comprehensive Examination Study Packet. The material in the packet may not be consulted during the exam, nor may any other study aid or informational materials be utilized. In addition, material from secondary readings or original sources may be included in the written exam as material from which questions will be asked. The relevant citations will be made available as part of the exam. Comprehensive Examination Study Packets are available for purchase in the AJR Administrative Office. The Talmud packet includes a list of basic terms, secondary readings from the Encyclopedia Judaica, 2nd Edition, as well as Talmudic sugyot. The Codes packet includes selections from Rambam s Mishneh Torah as well as secondary readings from various works in English that discuss halakhic topics. The examinations must be taken at AJR. In cases where it is logistically necessary, we can arrange for students to take their exams off-site with a proctor. Permission should be obtained from the Academic Dean. Each of these exams, including parts of the same subject matter, may be taken separately. From Page 6 of the Cantorial Supplement of The AJR Student Handbook- VI. Cantorial Final Comprehensive Examinations: All Cantorial students must pass these examinations by the end of the summer prior to their senior year in order to graduate. 1. Hebrew Part A: Modern Hebrew exam including grammar, reading comprehension and composition without the use of a dictionary. Part B: A translation of liturgical texts. A dictionary is allowed.

8 2. Nusah HaTefillah: Students are expected to daven portions of the liturgy selections directly from the Sim Shalom Siddur and/or Mahzor without the use of notated music. You may be asked to chant any of the following worship services: Shaharit, Minha, and Arvit for Weekday, Sabbath, Festivals or High Holidays services. (See appendix for additional detail.) 3. Scriptural Cantillation: Students will be asked to prepare 25 p sukim directly from the Torah. The Comprehensive Examiner will assign those verses 2 days in advance. In addition, you will be asked to chant, on sight, 10 verses from: the Book of the Prophets, Lamentations, Ruth-Ecclesiastes-Song of Songs, Esther, and High Holiday Torah readings. 4. Contemporary Repertoire: Drawing from the Sabbath, Festival, and High Holiday liturgy, students will be asked to perform at least three 20th century compositions of their own choosing. Students will be evaluated on their mastery of phrasing and interpretation as well as their ability to incorporate the composer s musical style. In addition, students will be expected to briefly discuss each composer, musical style and influences, as well as the composition s form and harmonic analysis. Using the Gates of Prayer, students will be required to submit sample service outlines for Shabbat, Festival, and High Holiday services. (See appendix for additional detail.) 5. Life Cycle: Students will be asked to chant musical selections from any and all of the following life cycle events: Brit Milah, Simhat Bat, Funeral, Healing service, Wedding, Birkat Hamazon, and Shabbat Home Celebration. 5. The Old Long Form THE ACADEMY FOR JEWISH RELIGION STUDENT PROGRESS SUMMARY RABBINICAL STUDENT ADVISOR BIBLE (9.0 3.0 over 500) Torah [ ] 1.0 BIB 101 Intro Bible. [ ] 1.0 BIB 140 Intro Parshanut. Nevi im Rishonim (1.0) Nevi im Aharonim (1.0) PROFESSIONAL SKILLS (13.0) [ ] 1.0 PRO 215 Pastoral Counseling I. [ ] 0.5 PRO 312 Homiletic/Comm. [ ] 1.0 PRO 320 Education I. [ ] 1.0 PRO 321 Education II. [ ] 0.5 PRO 335 Jew. Music/Cantorate. [ ] 1.0 PRO 341 Life Cycle I. [ ] 1.0 PRO 342 Life Cycle II. [ ] 1.0 PRO 350 Conversion. [ ] 1.0 PRO 371 Contemp. Denoms.. [ ] 0.5 PRO 373 Critical Issues.

9 Ketuvim (1.0) Elective (2.0) Parashat Hashavua (2.0) [ ] 0.5 BIB 120 Par. Hashav,. [ ] 0.5 BIB 120 Par. Hashav,. [ ] 0.5 BIB 120 Par. Hashav,. [ ] 0.5 BIB 120 Par. Hashav, (Sr Yr). HEBREW (8.0) [ ] 2.0 HEB 250. [ ] 2.0 HEB 251. [ ] 1.0 HEB 301. [ ] 0.5 HEB... [ ] 0.5 HEB... [ ] 1.0 HEB 414. [ ] 1.0 HEB 414. HISTORY (4.5) [ ] 0.5 HIS 305 Biblical. [ ] 1.0 HIS 310 Antiquity. [ ] 1.0 HIS 315 Medieval. [ ] 1.0 HIS 317 Modern. [ ] 1.0 HIS 318 Contemporary. LITURGY (6.0) [ ] 1.0 LIT 101 Intro. Liturgy. [ ] 1.0 LIT 305 Shabbat. [ ] 1.0 LIT 307 Festivals. [ ] 1.0 LIT 620 Yamim Noraim. [ ] 0.5 LIT 271 Tefillah & Seminar. [ ] 0.5 LIT 271 Tefillah & Seminar. [ ] 0.5 LIT 271 Tefillah & Seminar. [ ] 0.5 LIT 271 Tefillah & Seminar (Sr Yr).. PHILOSOPHY (6.0) [ ] 1.0 PHI 310 Medieval. [ ] 1.0 PHI 313 Modern. [ ] 1.0 PHI 475 Pers. Theol.. Pluralism [ ] 0.5 PHI... Mysticism (1.0) [ ] 1.0 PHI... Ethics (1.5) [ ] 0.5 PHI 340 Bioethics. [ ] 0.5 PHI... Field Work Support Seminar (0.0) [ ] 0.0 PRO 700 FWSS. [ ] 0.0 PRO 700 FWSS. [ ] 0.0 PRO 700 FWSS. [ ] 0.0 PRO 700 FWSS (Sr Yr). [ ] 0.5 PRO 373 Critical Issues. [ ] 0.5 PRO 470 Chaplaincy. [ ] 0.5 PRO 523 Congreg. Dynamics. [ ] 1.0 PRO 560 Pastoral Counseling II. Pluralism [ ] 0.5 PRO.. Choir [ ] 0.0 CAN.. [ ] 0.0 CAN.. [ ] 0.0 CAN.. Prof. Skills Electives (1.5) [ ] PRO.. [ ] PRO.. RABBINICS/HALAKHA (15.0 3.0 above 500) Mishnah/Talmud (7.0) [ ] 1.0 RAB 100 Intro Mishnah. [ ] 1.0 RAB 230 Intro Talmud I. [ ] 1.0 RAB 231 Intro Talmud II. [ ] 1.0 RAB 330 Inter Talmud I. [ ] 1.0 RAB 331 Inter Talmud II. [ ] 1.0 RAB 530 Adv. Talmud. [ ] 1.0 RAB 530 Adv. Talmud. Midrash (2.0) (1.0 over 300) [ ] 1.0 RAB 110 Intro Midrash. [ ] RAB. [ ] RAB. Codes/Responsa (4.0) (above 400) [ ] 1.0 HAL 401 Intro Codes. [ ] 1.0 HAL 480 Intro Responsa. [ ] 0.5 HAL 373 Critical Issues. [ ] 0.5 HAL 373 Critical Issues. Codes Elective (1.0) Rabbinics Elective (1.5) SPIRITUALITY (1.0) [ ] SPI. [ ] SPI. ELECTIVES (8.0 4.0 above 500)

10 d. Plans for improvement Our Degree and Program templates will have to be to be updated. The Registrar s ability to audit program progress will be computer based. On the AJR website s listing of courses descriptions, we will supply all prerequisite requirements in courses which now lack them, especially in the area of Hebrew language. We are currently automating the advising system through the implementation of the Degree Audit module of Campus Anyware. The program will compare the student s courses taken to the requirements for Ordination and highlight the areas fulfilled and those requirements not yet met. At the student s convenience, he or she will be able to request a printout of a report showing his or her progress toward ordination and the requirements that are not yet met.