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| Frequently Asked Questions |
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- How many spaces do you have for each program?
HUC-JIR is open to accepting all qualified students. There is no set class size each year, rather, each applicant is evaluated individually for admission.
- What are the basic requirements for all of your programs?
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
- A minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- An above-average score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). (The GMAT is required for the dual Jewish Nonprofit Management/MBA program.)
For the Cantorial program, students are also required to demonstrate musical competence. This is defined as a trained singing voice, undergraduate major in Music (preferred), competence in sight-reading, ear training, keyboard harmony, music theory, and some piano skills.
- Are factors other than GRE scores and GPA important in admissions decisions?
In addition to GPA and GRE/GMAT scores, letters of recommendation, one's autobiographical statement, and a personal interview are considered in making admissions decisions. For cantorial applicants, there is a musical audition and exam.
- Can one be admitted to the rabbinical program without an undergraduate degree in Judaic Studies or Religious Studies?
There is no preferred academic major, though a strong liberal arts background is encouraged. In the Cantorial program, significant study of music is strongly recommended; a major in Music, however, is not required. Many of our finest candidates are those who have achieved undergraduate academic success in whatever discipline they have studied.
- Are there particular subjects that you recommend I study in college?
We encourage you to take as many Hebrew and Jewish Studies courses as possible which will provide you with a good basis for your graduate studies. Many of our programs have Hebrew requirements as explained below.
- What is the length of study at HUC-JIR?
- The Rabbinical and Cantorial programs are each five years in length.
- Three years is the minimum length for the Ph.D. degree in our Graduate Studies program,though most students take longer to finish their degrees.
- Graduate Studies Master's degree programs are two years in length.
- Our Education programs are two or three years in length.
- The Jewish Nonprofit Management program is fourteen months in length for the single Masters program. The dual Masters programs with USC are twenty-four months in length.
- The DeLeT Fellowship is a thirteen month program.
- What is the Hebrew Requirement?
Entering students in most programs are required to demonstrate proficiency in the Hebrew language comparable to two years of college-level Modern Hebrew. We do not need to see documented coursework in Hebrew; however, applicants to the Rabbinical program, Cantorial program, Rhea Hirsch School of Education, and the New York School of Education must pass a Hebrew proficiency exam in order to matriculate. The exam is taken at the time of the admissions interview.
For the Jewish Nonprofit Management program, students must have Hebrew proficiency equivalent to one year of college-level Modern Hebrew demonstrated on a transcript or passing a proficiency exam in order to graduate from the program. One may enter the program without a solid Hebrew foundation but will need to take Hebrew to fulfill the one-year minimum requirement.
The Hebrew requirement for the Graduate Studies programs is two years of Biblical Hebrew and some Modern Hebrew.
- Is it required that I study in Israel?
Students in the Rabbinical School, Cantorial School, and Schools of Education are required to spend their first year of study at our Jerusalem campus in Israel. (For applicants to the New York School of Education, exceptions may be made for professionals currently working full-time in the field.)
We consider the Year-in-Israel program an integral part of students' educational experience both for the sense of community it builds and for the understanding of the State of Israel that it fosters. However, students with advanced Hebrew language ability who have already spent an extended period of time living in Israel may be exempted from the Year-in-Israel requirement by examination.
The School of Jewish Nonprofit Management has a three-week Israel seminar. There are various opportunities for students in our Graduate Studies programs to study or participate in Archaeological digs in Israel.
- What are your application procedures?
We ask that all prospective students contact the program of your interest via email for a preliminary interview, to be conducted on the phone or in person. Please send emails to:
Rabbinical School applicants: Rabbinical@huc.edu
Cantorial School of Sacred Music applicants: Cantorial@huc.edu
Rhea Hirsch School of Education applicants: RHSOE@huc.edu
New York School of Education applicants: NYSOE@huc.edu
School of Jewish Nonprofit Management (formerly School of Jewish Communal Service) applicants: SJNM@huc.edu
Graduate Studies applicants: GradSchool@huc.edu
Undergraduate Studies applicants: Louchheim@huc.edu
DeLeT Fellowship applicants: DeLeT@huc.edu
Rabbinical School applications: The latest deadline for applications is in January with interviews in February.
The School of Sacred Music (SSM) applications are due in January with interviews in February.
Rhea Hirsch School of Education (Masters program) and New York School of Education and School of Jewish Nonprofit Management applications are due by February with interviews in March.
The DeLeT Fellowship applications are due in March with interviews in April.
The Graduate Schools applications are due in January.
- If I get accepted may I defer my admissions?
In some rare cases, the College-Institute will grant deferments with the permission of the National Office of Recruitment and Admissions.
- How much does it cost to attend HUC-JIR?
For the 2011-2012 academic year, HUC-JIR tuition is $19,000. A student's expected total cost of attendance varies by campus, due to differences in the cost of living in the cities in which they are situated. Tuition for the School of Jewish Nonprofit Management varies depending on the student's choice of school at USC for the dual degree.
- Do you award financial aid?
Generous financial aid is awarded annually, in the form of scholarship assistance, in cases of demonstrated need. Students may also be eligible for Federal Stafford Loans. More detailed information about financial aid is available on the HUC-JIR web site, at: www.huc.edu/admissions/aid.shtml. Prospective students are also encouraged to contact the National Financial Aid Director at financialaid@huc.edu.
The School of Graduate Studies grants two kinds of financial aid: scholarships, which defray the cost of tuition; and fellowships, which include tuition plus an additional cash stipend. Awards are based on merit and/or need. It is generally expected that students who receive financial support will continue to do so throughout their period of eligibility (normally four to five years). In addition to scholarships and fellowship support, the College-Institute offers many opportunities for student employment, including teaching assistantships, library and clerical work, and research assistantships. Students may also be eligible for Federal Stafford Loans.
- Do you have an intermarriage policy?
Because we believe in the importance of Jewish family modeling, applicants who are married to or in committed relationships with non-Jews will not be considered for acceptance to the Rabbinical, Cantorial or Education programs.
- What are the job prospects for a Jewish professional?
Graduates of our Rabbinical Program work in a variety of settings. Upwards of 80% of our graduates serve in Reform congregations, some serve in Hillels, as chaplains in various settings, as leaders in Jewish communal organizations, while others continue their studies working toward a PhD. Positions are readily available, and HUC-JIR assists students through a formal placement process for congregational jobs in the approximately 900 congregations of the North American Reform movement. Graduates of our Cantorial Programs, likewise, have a formal placement process.
All graduates of our Schools of Education are assisted in placement by the school in conjunction with the National Association of Temple Educators (NATE). Our graduates earn competitive salaries with substantial benefits packages.
In their job searches, graduates of the Jewish Nonprofit Management program usually go through the national organization of the agency for which they wish to work. While there is no formal placement process, the directors of HUC-JIR's program are well connected and able to help graduates find positions. We are proud to have a high job placement rate. Our graduates work in federations, Jewish community centers, Jewish family services, residential and day camps, bureaus of Jewish education, congregations, and many other organizations in over 60 cities throughout the world.
- Whom should I contact for more information? How can I begin the application process?
We are delighted to know you are considering a future as a Jewish professional. You can begin the application process by having an informal "preliminary interview" with the Director of the program of your interest. We hope you will be in touch. We look forward to getting to know you. For general inquiries, please contact us at: admissions@huc.edu.
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