The number of credits listed in each segment is regarded as minimal. When not otherwise noted, courses are for three credits.
Hebrew
Hebrew must be taken until the student completes Hebrew V (up to 30 units). Where the student starts depends upon their placement exam at entry. In addition, the Rabbinics faculty may ask the student to do additional work in Hebrew to ensure sufficient textual competence.
Tanakh (18 units):
Rabbinics (30 units):
Liturgy (15 units)
Jewish History and Thought (15 units)
Mysticism and Spirituality (9 units)
Professional Skills (28 units)
Electives will be chosen in consultation with the Dean to make a minimum of 150 semester units. We strongly encourage additional Talmud study for rabbinical electives. However, a student with a special interest in another area, such as Tanakh, Jewish thought, or interreligious studies may develop a concentration in that area. Students who begin with Hebrew I will normally be required to take 156 credits in order to fulfill all requirements and to achieve appropriate mastery in an area.
All courses listed above with numbers 3200 and above, except for courses in the Professional Skills curricular area, officially constitute the curriculum of the degree of Master of Rabbinic Studies.
The following outline specifies the minimum course of study required for cantorial ordination. Other courses or outside studies besides those listed below may be required for individual students if prior background in an area is insufficient, or if additional work in an area is deemed necessary. The Dean of the Cantorial School supervises individual program design and approves electives and course substitutions.
Hebrew
Hebrew must be taken until the student completes Hebrew IV (up to 24 units). Where the student starts depends upon their placement exam at entry.
Hazzanut (Cantorial Studies), (60 units)
Choose from electives offered frequently (6)
Judaica 34 units
Tanakh
Liturgy Text Study
Rabbinics
Jewish History
Mysticism and Spirituality
Professional Skills 21 credits
General:
Electives as needed to total a minimum of 150 credits.
Cantorial students are strongly recommended to take either additional Tanach and Rabbinics courses, Jewish education electives, or interreligious studies (see below) to complete their requirements.
Required courses besides Hebrew normally constitute about 120 credits of the required total of 150. Students who begin with Hebrew I can expect to take 156 units in order to fulfill all requirements and/or achieve appropriate mastery in an area.
The curriculum that constitutes the course requirements for the degree of Master of Jewish Sacred Music includes all cantorial music courses and the Judaica courses numbered 200 and above.
Hebrew language must be taken until the student demonstrates fluency in reading in the siddur. Normally this includes finishing Hebrew II. Where the student starts depends upon their placement exam at entry.
Tanakh minimum 12 units
Rabbinics and Halakhah 9 units
Liturgy 3 units
History and Thought 6 units
Mysticism and Spirituality: choose 9 units
Professional Skills 18 credits
Electives to make a total of 72 semester units.
Chaplaincy students normally take 12 units of CPE seminar, accompanying 2 accredited CPE units as defined in professional chaplaincy organizations. If a Chaplaincy candidate is not enrolled in CPE in any given year, s/he must enroll in a Spiritual Development Seminar. If chaplaincy students wish to enroll in rabbinics courses for which they are qualified, they may count them as electives or may petition to substitute a course for one required in the chaplaincy program.
Courses in Tanakh, Rabbinics/Halakhah, Jewish History, Jewish Thought, and Mysticism and Spirituality, plus the Thesis, constitute the core Master of Hebraic Studies curriculum and, with Clinical Pastoral Education and other required professional courses, qualify the chaplain to receive the degree of Master of Hebraic Studies with a specialization in Jewish chaplaincy.
