List College Guide for Deferring Students

Spending a year in Israel between high school and college is a wonderful opportunity to have an experience that is both educational and personally meaningful. If you plan ahead and stay in touch with us, you may also earn up to a semester’s worth of credit that will help you “hit the ground running” when you begin your studies at List College. The following general guidelines and important information will help you make plans and decisions for your upcoming year.

What Should You Do and When Should You Do It?

This Spring: First Step—Plan Ahead!

This Summer: When You Know Where You Are Going—Keep Planning Ahead!

This Coming Fall / Next Spring: While You Are Abroad

Next Summer: When You Are Ready to Come Back to Us

General Guidelines for Maximizing the Number of Transferable Credits From Abroad

1. In general: Students may receive credit for approved college-level courses when an official transcript and course description are submitted to the dean. No credit will be accepted for transfer in which a grade lower than C– was earned. Students considering Pass/D/Fail for a course taken outside List College should note that unless the course is graded Pass/D/Fail (as opposed to Pass/Fail), credit will not be awarded for a grade of P. Academic courses that do not fulfill core or major requirements may be used toward elective credits.
2. Students who study Hebrew at another university may be eligible to receive transfer credit. Transfer credit will be awarded as long as a grade of C– or better is achieved. The Student–Faculty Committee has determined that credit will be awarded for Ulpan courses offered at Israeli universities on the same basis as it is awarded for regular-semester Hebrew classes. Courses at the alef, bet, or gimel level will be awarded up to six credits per semester, and courses at the dalet, hay, or vav level will be awarded up to three credits per semester.
3. In order for a course to fulfill core-curriculum or major requirements in some departments (most notably Bible and Talmud), it must utilize texts studied in the original (Hebrew or Aramaic) language—e.g., the Bible must be read in Hebrew both in preparation and in the classroom.  However, the lecture and class discussion need not be conducted in Hebrew. Be aware that you may be required to secure a note from the professor confirming that you prepared texts in Hebrew unless that is a requirement of the course as stated in the course description.
4. Academic courses—even in non-Judaic subjects—which do not fulfill core or major requirements may be used toward JTS elective credit. Double-check with the director of Academic Life whether a particular course is considered “academic.”
5. Pay attention to how many credits a course grants. Many courses at other universities are either two or four credits, rather than three credits as List, Columbia, and Barnard courses tend to be. Extra credits from your four-credit courses may be used toward the total elective requirement of twenty-four credits.  Conversely, you may be required to take an additional elective credit if a two-credit course is approved to fulfill a core requirement.
6. Note on Yeshiva Study: In general, students receive transfer credit for course work taken for a letter grade only at accredited institutions of higher education. Occasionally, students may be eligible for academic credit for post-high-school yeshiva study. JTS has an agreement with the Conservative Yeshiva that allows students to receive up to nine credits for course work done there—upon completion of exams or papers and receipt of an official transcript (with grades) from the yeshiva. In rare cases, students may receive academic credit for work done at other yeshivas. Credit is granted or withheld on a case-by-case basis requiring satisfactory achievement when evaluated by the undergraduate departmental adviser. Students are expected to apply for such credit in the first semester at List following the study experience.
7. You can check the JTS Academic Bulletin online, for the most up-to-date information on policies on transfer credit, residency requirements, etc.

What Should You Do and When Should You Do It?

This Spring: First Step—Plan Ahead!

1. Let us know in writing by May 1 if you are planning to defer your List College admission. When you submit your enrollment form and deposit, please include a letter notifying us of your decision to defer. If you know what program you will be joining, please inform us of that as well.
2. Meet with, call, or email Rebecca Grabiner, Associate Dean, so we can talk with you about general guidelines and how to maximize the number of credits you may earn while abroad.

This Summer: When You Know Where You Are Going—Keep Planning Ahead!

1. Meet with, call, or email Dean Grabiner again to plan a tentative academic schedule prior to your departure. To maximize the usefulness of this meeting, prepare by looking at your program’s website or course bulletin for courses that interest you, and bring printouts of descriptions of any course that you are considering taking. Be sure to get all approvals of planned courses in writing—we will keep this documentation in your file for future reference.
2. Refer to the enclosed List College Core Curriculum Requirements sheet to compare your program’s course offerings with the List College requirements. 

This Coming Fall / Next Spring: While You Are Abroad

1. Course schedules may alter slightly once you arrive in Israel. It is extremely important that you stay in touch with our office via email or fax so that we can advise you on your course selection and help you maximize the fulfillment of requirements while you are away.
2. As soon as you have a clear idea of your final course selection, email or call Dean Grabiner, so that we can confirm which courses are eligible for transfer to your JTS degree. We will keep this documentation in your file.
3. Important: Save any course syllabi, reading lists, exams, or papers from your courses in case any questions arise regarding your course work after you return. This will help ensure your credits transfer.

 Next Summer: When You Are Ready to Come Back to Us

1. Upon completion of your course of study, be sure to arrange to have an official transcript with an official seal from the university sent directly to the List College Office. We will not be able to arrange the transfer of credit without an official transcript.

Click here to download a version of this guide.

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