Concentrations

Students who entered The Rabbinical School in fall 2008 or earlier must choose a field of concentration no later than the beginning of the spring semester of the fourth year. Each concentration is composed of thirteen courses, including both those required and electives.

Students may also propose other interdisciplinary fields of concentration, which will be subject to approval.

Concentrations include:

Students concentrating in Bible must complete two text-based (study of a biblical book rather than a theme) courses, one course in advanced parashahnut, one seminar, and two other courses in the field of Bible. Elective courses must include two courses in rabbinics, one in history, one in literature, one in philosophy, and two free.

Students concentrating in rabbinics must complete six courses in the Department of Talmud and Rabbinics, numbered 7000 or higher. At least four of these courses must be designated in the course listings as Talmud (rather than Midrash or codes). Elective courses must include two courses in Bible, one in history, one in literature, one in philosophy, and two free.

Students concentrating in Midrash must complete two courses in methodologies in the study of Midrash, one text course in Midrash numbered 7000 or higher, one course designated as Talmud numbered 7000 or higher, and two courses numbered 7000 or higher designated as either Talmud, Midrash, or codes. Elective courses must include two courses in Bible, one in history, one in literature, one in philosophy, and two free.

Students concentrating in history must complete six courses in the department numbered 5000 or higher. Elective courses must include two courses in Bible, two in rabbinics, one in philosophy, and two free.

Students concentrating in literature or liturgy must complete six courses in the discipline, one of which must be a seminar (in the absence of a liturgy seminar, liturgy concentrators should take a literature seminar). Elective courses must include two courses in Bible, two in rabbinics, one in philosophy, and two free.

Students concentrating in education must complete EDU 5127: Foundations and Current Issues in Jewish Education; EDU 5115 or 5116: Developmental Issues in Jewish Education; EDU 5031: Skills for Teaching; EDU 7401: Practicum for Rabbinic Education Interns; and two additional courses in education. Elective courses must include two courses in Bible, two in rabbinics, one in philosophy, and two free.

Students concentrating in philosophy must complete six courses in philosophy numbered 5000 or higher, one of which must be a seminar or course in the philosophy of religion. Elective courses must include two courses in Bible, two in rabbinics, and three free.

Students concentrating in Jewish women's studies must complete the program seminar and five additional courses approved for the Jewish women's studies concentration by the program adviser. Elective courses must include one course in each of the following departments: Bible, history, literature, philosophy and rabbinics, and two free.

Students concentrating in pastoral care must complete PAS 7403 and PAS 7404: Pastoral Internship I and II: The Paul A. Kaplan Internship Program and four additional courses in pastoral care numbered 7000 or higher. Students who have completed PAS 7403 and 7404 as their required rabbinical-school internship will take appropriate substitute courses. Elective courses must include two courses in Bible, two in rabbinics, and three free.

Rabbinical students are required to perform rabbinic field education in addition to their academic work.

Students participate in rotations in various rabbinic settings in the field for several weeks at a time in order to observe, learn about, and participate in different aspects of rabbinic work, including:

  • congregations
  • hospitals
  • communal service agencies
  • schools
  • Hillel Foundations
  • Camp Ramah