Master of Rabbinic Studies
The Master of Rabbinic Studies (MRb) is a graduate degree granted by a Yeshiva or rabbinical school. It involves the academic study of Talmud, Jewish law, philosophy, ethics, and rabbinic literature; see Yeshiva § Curriculum. The Master of Talmudic Law is closely related. In many institutions, this degree is a standard component in the study for semicha (rabbinic ordination).
At accredited institutions this degree requires between 72 and 90 credit hours of study; 72 being the minimum determined by academic accrediting agencies and 90 being on the upper end of certain schools that wish to ensure a broader study of the related material.
Contemporary usage
[edit]The MRb is a significantly more extensive program than most master's degrees. The degree usually consists on average of 90 semester hours, as opposed to the usual 36 or 48. Ordination in a mainstream[clarification needed] yeshiva or rabbinical school requires seven or eight years of education past high school: the first four in undergraduate studies leading to a Bachelor of Talmudic Law and then three or four years of seminary or rabbinical school leading to the MRb.[1][2] See Rabbi § Orthodox and Modern Orthodox Judaism and Yeshiva § Jewish law.
Accreditation and recognition
[edit]In North America, four entities that accredit religious schools in particular are recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation:[3]
- Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE)
- Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools (AARTS)
- Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS)
- Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS)
Since these accreditors meet Council for Higher Education Accreditation[4] and United States Department of Education[5] recognition criteria, standards correspond to those of regional accreditors. Contrary to the principles laid out by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation in Transfer and the Public Interest: A Statement to the Community,[6] many regionally accredited institutions continue to base transfer credit decisions solely or primarily upon regional accreditation.
See also
[edit]- Bachelor of Talmudic Law
- List of rabbinical schools § Orthodox
- Talmudic law
- Yeshiva § College credit
References
[edit]- ^ "Mapping a journey to inner peace". Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
- ^ "Jewish Learning Institute offers course on Kabbala". Retrieved 9 October 2014.
- ^ "Accreditation in the United States: Specialized Accreditation Agencies". U.S. Department of Education. 21 October 2022.
- ^ "CHEA: Directory of Faith-Related Accrediting Organizations (2011-2012)". Archived from the original on 2012-04-28. Retrieved 2010-09-09. "Council for Higher Education Accreditation"
- ^ http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg10.html "United States Department of Education"
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-30. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) "Transfer and the Public Interest: A Statement to the Community"
External links
[edit]- http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg8.html
- https://web.archive.org/web/20100410192912/http://www.ajrca.org/programs/rabbinicalschool.shtml
- https://web.archive.org/web/20100207022635/http://admissions.ajula.edu/Content/ContentUnit.asp?CID=5&u=749&t=0
- https://web.archive.org/web/20091206165953/http://www.lecfl.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/243685/jewish/Yeshiva-Gedolah-Rabbinical-College.htm
- http://www.citytowninfo.com/school-profiles/ner-israel-rabbinical-college