Bachelor of Judaic Studies Program

The Bachelor of Judaic Studies is granted to students who successfully complete a total of 120 credits, including a minimum of 60 credits in Judaic and Hebrew studies and a minimum of 45 non-residential credits in general studies. Bachelor students may select majors in Bible, Hebrew Language and Literature, and Jewish Thought, Religion and Civilization.

Degree Requirements

-  Approved by Faculty Senate 10/09

The Bachelor of Judaic Studies will be granted to students who have successfully completed a total of 120 credits, including:

• Minimum of 60 credits in Judaic and Hebrew studies
• Minimum of 45 non-residential credits in general studies

All Bachelor degree students are required to achieve Hebrew proficiency.

Judaic and Hebrew Studies Requirements

Minimum 60 credits in Judaic and Hebrew Studies may include the following:

• 34 core credits
  • 16 credits in Hebrew Language
  • 6 credits in Jewish Thought and Civilization
  • 6 credits in Religion including a 3-credit course designated as an introduction to Judaism course
  • 6 credits in Bible
• 12 credits in a major field – (This includes 9 credits from the core)
• 11 credits in electives to be declared in consultation with an advisor*
• 3 credits for senior project

*A minor in Jewish Education can be earned through 18 credits in electives in Jewish education. Graduates with a Bachelor of Judaic Studies degree who complete this minor are automatically eligible for the highest level teaching certificate offered by the National Board of License.

Majors

Bible

• 18 credits in biblical texts
• 6 credits in electives to be chosen in consultation with an advisor

Hebrew Language and Literature

• 18 credits in Hebrew Language or Hebrew Texts at the 300 level or higher
• 6 credits in electives to be chosen in consultation with an advisor

Jewish Thought, Religion and Civilization

• 12 credits in Jewish Thought, Religion and Civilization with one course in each of the four periods: Biblical, Rabbinic, Medieval and Modern
• 12 credits in electives to be chosen in consultation with an advisor

Siegal College General Studies Requirements

The General Studies requirements are the courses that provide the skills and knowledge considered essential for all bachelor degree students at Siegal College.  Siegal College bachelor students are encouraged to register concurrently at Cuyahoga Community College or another accredited undergraduate institution and complete the 45 non-residential credits in General Studies requirements before they have earned more than 39 core credits in Judaic Studies at Siegal. This guide has been designed to assist the student in choosing courses, which will meet the general studies requirement. 
Siegal College welcomes inquiries from students at Cuyahoga Community College who wish to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Judaic Studies.  Students accepted at Siegal College will receive official transcript evaluations as part of the admissions process.

45 non-residential credits in general studies to be distributed among the Arts and the Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Science, Mathematics and Electives.  Basic English competency must be established and six credits in English composition and a basic mathematics course are required.

A suggested distribution is:

• Humanities – 12 credits
  • 6 credits of English composition is required
• Social and Behavioral Sciences – 15 credits
• Science – 3 credits
• Mathematics – 3 credits
• Electives – 12 credits

Courses in Arts and the Humanities include courses in English, Literature, Fine Arts, Music and languages other than Hebrew.  Courses in Social and Behavioral Sciences include courses in Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology.  Courses in Physical Science include Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.  Computer courses fall within the Mathematics requirement.

Note: Siegal College will accept a maximum of 6 credits of physical education or dance classes (with the exception of Dance Appreciation) for transfer credit.

Degree Student Advisement

Each degree student is assigned an academic advisor.  The advisor examines the student’s academic program and approves course selection each semester.  Each student must meet with his/her advisor prior to each semester.  Advisors approve course selection prior to registration.

All regular members of the academic faculty and teaching staff of the College advise credit and degree students. Cleveland students may request a particular advisor at the time of admission into the program. If they do not, the Provost assigns a faculty advisor.

The Responsibilities of the Advisor are to

•    Initiate and maintain contact with the student through the life of the program, meeting at least once each semester

•    Advise student on course selection

•    Advise student on the selection of a Bachelor senior project, Master’s essay or Master’s thesis topic

•    Review student’s progress towards completion of the program at least once each semester

•    Maintain and provide written reports to the Provost related to advisement as needed

The Responsibilities of the Student are to

•    Meet with the advisor before the start of each semester to review progress toward completion of the requirements for the program and degree

•    Meet with the advisor before the start of each semester to gain written approval for the course of study for the coming semester

•    Keep the advisor informed about significant issues related to the student’s program

Upon matriculation, the student makes an appointment with his/her advisor. At this initial meeting, the advisor becomes familiar with the student's background, discusses the student's long term and short term goals, decides with the student how these goals will be reached and over what anticipated period of time, begins developing the student's plan of studies using the "Study Plan" form, and conveys his/her availability to the student for any discussion relating to the student's career at the College.
Following the initial advisement session, the advisor has regular contact with his or her advisees according to the following annual timetable: during the month prior to each semester to initiate contact in order to discuss his/her Study Plan; to determine course selection for the coming semester; to review other issues relevant to the student.

At the conclusion of the academic year, the advisor meets with the student to review his/her accomplishments during that year and assesses the student's overall progress. During these meetings the advisor also considers more general issues with the student, including those that arise within a given course and which the student may not wish to discuss with the instructor. In this way the advisor can be a sounding board and a facilitator. The advisor may find it important to discuss a matter with one or another of the student's instructors.

For Master of Arts in Judaic Studies candidates, the advisor helps the student begin to consider elements of the Master’s essay or thesis after the student has completed approximately two-thirds of the requirements toward the degree. Together, they consider the process of writing the paper, explore the student's particular interests and discuss the selection of a paper or thesis advisor (who may or may not be the student's academic advisor).

Graduation

Degree students who are eligible for graduation complete the Application for Graduation form available at the Office of Student Services. Graduating students are responsible for payment of the graduation fee even if they are unable to attend the College commencement. Distance students are encouraged to participate in Siegal College commencement in person.  Videoconference may be arranged for students unable to travel to Cleveland.

Graduation Timeline

March 2 Application for graduation must be submitted and all related fees must be paid
March 17 The final draft version of a Master’s essay, thesis or senior project submitted to the student’s advisor
By May 3 Work for courses in which students are currently enrolled completed.  It is the student’s responsibility to arrange this with professors
Final version of Master’s essay, thesis or senior project must be approved by advisor
Note: The names of students who do not meet the May 3rd deadline will not appear on the graduation announcement
May 17 Two copies of the approved Master’s essay, thesis or senior project deposited with the Office of Student Services. An approved abstract should be part of the thesis

If all outstanding work is complete and approved but not in final form by the May 17th deadline, at the discretion of the student’s advisor, the student may be permitted to appear at graduation.  However, neither degrees nor documents will be provided until all papers have been submitted and approved, and all student balances are paid.

Bachelor Senior Project

Siegal College requires its bachelor students to complete a senior project.  This is an opportunity for a student to synthesize the various courses completed toward the degree and demonstrate ability to be an independent learner. The student may deepen learning in the chosen major through expansion of a topic studied or research an area of interest based upon the major.

Criteria for the Senior Project

• Synthesizes prior undergraduate learning
• Demonstrates the ability to select and research a subject and relate it to theories in the student’s major
• Uses bibliographic sources effectively to support the argument
• Exemplifies the ability to think critically
• Demonstrates ability to be an independent learner
• Range of acceptable length: 15 – 30 pages

Prior to the fall semester of the year of anticipated graduation, the student makes an appointment with the advisor to identify the area of interest for the senior project and the project advisor.

The senior project is undertaken in the last semester of study for the BJS.  The student, in conjunction with the academic advisor, decides the topic and senior project advisor.  The senior project advisor may be any member of the full-time Siegal College faculty with whom the student has taken a course.
The student schedules a meeting with the project advisor and confirms the faculty member’s willingness to supervise the project.

At the beginning of the last semester, the student registers for 3 credits of senior project.
The student will discuss documentation with their advisor and obtain prior approval for the style.  The College recommends using Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Sixth Edition), University of Chicago Press, 1996 or MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers  (Fifth Edition), edited by Joseph Gibaldi, New York: Modern Language Association of America, 1999.  Footnotes and bibliographies must be consistent no matter which documentation style is approved by the advisor.

Suggested Timetable for the Year a Student Plans to Graduate

By September 1 The student meets with academic advisor to identify general area of interest and senior project advisor and confirms senior project advisor and topic with academic advisor

December 15 The student registers for 3 credits of Senior Project

January 1 The student submits project outline and bibliographical information to the advisor

February 1 The student completes any background research needed for the project

February 22 The student submits complete first draft to the advisor

March 17 The student submits full project for final review to the advisor

The student obtains title page format and printing/binding instructions from the Office of Student Services

Two weeks before graduation Prepare two prepares two bound approved copies and submits to Office of Student Services