Information and Guidelines for Basic Jewish Studies Requirements – Teaching Certificate

The School for Basic Jewish Studies calls on you to embark on a fascinating journey of self-discovery and cultural familiarization with the breadth of the Jewish experience through the ages. You will experience an innovative model of learning that combines traditional and contemporary perspectives. You will be able to explore Jewish society and culture and your own place within them, to hold an open dialogue with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and to experience innovative methods of learning such as hybrid courses, on-line courses and interactive workshops. Join us to deepen your knowledge, expand your horizons and take part in a meaningful discourse independent of your ethnic, religious or sectorial identification. Discover how Jewish studies could enrich your learning experience at Bar-Ilan University and open you up to a new world of insights and inspirations.

Student requirements:

Students who hold a bachelor’s degree from Bar-Ilan are exempt from Basic Jewish Studies in their certificate studies.
Students who do not hold a bachelor’s degree from Bar-Ilan must complete 8 credits* of Basic Jewish Studies in their teaching certificate studies.
OnlIne courses [via LAMDA platform]: Up to 4 credits in the first year and up to 8 credits in the second year may be taken in online format.
Students who do not hold a bachelor’s degree from Bar-Ilan and are pursuing a master’s degree at Bar-Ilan in parallel with a teaching certificate must complete 8 credits* for their master’s degree and an additional 4 credits* for the teaching certificate, for a total of 12 credits* for the master’s degree and the teaching certificate.
Students who begin with teaching certificate studies at Bar-Ilan followed by master’s degree studies must complete 8 credits* of Basic Jewish Studies for the teaching certificate followed by 4 credits* for the master’s degree, for a total of 12 credits* for the master’s degree and the teaching certificate together.
Students who do not hold a bachelor’s degree from Bar-Ilan but hold a master’s degree and PhD from Bar-Ilan and have completed 12 credits* of Basic Jewish Studies as part of their graduate studies are exempt from Basic Jewish Studies for their teaching certificate.
Students who hold neither a bachelor’s nor a master’s degree from Bar-Ilan but are pursuing PhD work at Bar-Ilan must take 8 credits* of Basic Jewish Studies as part of their PhD, and 4 credits* of Basic Jewish Studies for their teaching certificate, for a total of 12 credits* of Basic Jewish Studies.
Students who do not hold a bachelor’s degree from Bar-Ilan but completed certificate studies under the auspices of the master’s degree Committee or completed a master’s degree at Bar-Ilan within which they fulfilled Basic Jewish Studies requirements of 8 credits*, must supplement their Basic Jewish Studies with an additional 4 credits* for their teaching certificate.
Grades in Basic Jewish Studies courses: Students must fulfill all the requirements of Basic Jewish Studies courses (as stipulated in each course syllabus) and achieve a numerical passing grade (60 or higher).
Non-Jewish students are exempt from Basic Jewish Studies but are instead required to take an equivalent number of credits of General Studies courses. A contact form must be submitted to the Status Office including all relevant documents requesting conversion of the Jewish cluster to the General Studies cluster.

Alternative options: Students could opt for fulfilling their Jewish Studies requirements through the Institute for Advanced Torah Studies (men) or at the Midrasha (women). Each course at the Institute for Advanced Torah Studies or the Midrasha is equivalent to half a Basic Jewish Studies course. Students must verify that the fulfil the requirements.

*For details on the change in credit specification terminology click here.