/Institutions/Hebrew-Union-College-Jewish-Institute-of-Religion/json/current/Academic-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Hebrew-Union-College-Jewish-Institute-of-Religion/json/current/Academic-Catalog.json

Prior Learning Credits

Exemptions

• Exemption from the Year-In-Israel program may, upon application, be granted anyone admitted to the HUC-JIR Rabbinical, or Cantorial programs . The exempted coursework and credit hours will be noted on the student’s transcript.
• A student may be exempt from certain required courses due to prior preparation. To receive exemption credits, the student should submit a petition to their Program Director no later than 60 days prior to the beginning of the term in which the course in question would normally be taken. The Director will consult with faculty members in the academic field in question to determine the method of evaluating the student's prior preparation. An exemption may result in with credit or no credit. If no credit is given, the exempted course must be replaced by higher-level electives.
• An evaluation may include an examination of the student's transcript(s), prior course syllabi, and written work. A written or oral examination may be required as well. The Program Director will then approve or deny the petition and notify the student and the Office of the Registrar accordingly.
• For learning achieved in non-accredited institutions or in settings outside of higher education, exemption may be granted. The exemption shall be determined by the Program Director in consultation with the appropriate faculty member in whose area the exemption is sought. Students may be evaluated based on examinations, performance in a specific course or group of courses, or other methods approved by the Program Director.
• No more than 25% of course requirements for a degree, certificate, or ordination can be fulfilled by coursework from outside HUC-JIR.

Multiple HUC-JIR Degree Programs

• When a student enrolls in a second program at HUC-JIR (whether after completing or while enrolled in the first program), they do not need to repeat any course common to both programs.
• Any course common to both programs may be fulfill the requirements for each.
• Students whose prior work at HUC-JIR includes courses that are similar in content and scope although not identical to required courses in another program may petition to apply the courses from the prior program toward requirements in the second program with the approval of the second Program Director in consultation with the instructor(s).
• In some cases, students may be required to take similarly titled courses in multiple programs if those courses are deemed to be program specific.
• The total exemptions, equivalencies, and substitutions may not total more than 33% of the student’s second academic program.
• Students who complete the Clergy Education program or the Zelikow School program concurrent with their seminary studies may apply a total of six credits from these programs toward seminary degree electives. The Rabbinical or Cantorial Program Director may determine which courses in other programs fulfill distribution requirements in their program.
• MEDL through the Clergy Education year, or the certificate or Master of Arts in Jewish Nonprofit Management may apply coursework from the rabbinic or cantorial program to fulfill all the Judaica requirements for these degrees.
• Fieldwork requirements for one program may not be fulfilled with fieldwork done in another program unless the programs have a memo of understanding regarding joint fieldwork.

Transfer of Credits

• Students who have successfully completed graduate courses or a graduate degree from an accredited academic institution prior to their admission to HUC-JIR may request that transfer credits be applied toward their program of study at HUC-JIR. The amount of credit given shall be determined by the Program Director in consultation with the appropriate faculty member in whose area credit is sought.
• This may not exceed 25% of the credit hours required for the degree or certificate.
• Any application for transfer or exemption must be accompanied by an official transcript from the student’s prior institution.
• All transfer credit decisions must be documented and sent to the Registrar by the Program Directors so that appropriate credit may be recorded on the student transcript and in the Student Information System.