Jewish Bible Association

College Program

Dear Student,

High school graduates who come to Israel can take our approved proficiency exams in Hebrew and Judaic Studies for up to 75 college credits (in any combination) toward an American regionally accredited (first) BA in Liberal Studies at Charter Oak State College www.charteroak.edu [see other options below]. The students self-study on their own (using our syllabus); when they're ready, they take our exams. Over the past 5 years, we have had over 350 students in our program. Over the past 5 years, we have had over 350 students in our program which has been lauded by senior faculty at Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education. Note that the degree is a real regionally accredited BA and not a 2nd rate BAL or a 4th rate BTL degree. All exams are at least 3 credits and thus transferable to over 1500 colleges. Students get a GPA (grade point average) since the transcript lists a letter grade rather than PASS or FAIL. [Competing programs send to colleges where the undergraduate degree is a BAL or BSL and all grades are listed as PASS or FAIL].

JEWISH CANTORIAL MUSIC: 18 credits (12 upper level)
MODERN AND BIBLICAL HEBREW: 15 credits (3 upper level)
BIBLE: 15 credits
TALMUD: 9 credits (6 upper level)
JEWISH LAW: 18 credits (9 upper level)

All the exams receive college credit recommendations from the State of Connecticut Board of Regents Connecticut Credit Assessment Program run by www.charteroak.edu

Our students have gone on toward graduate and professional degrees (law school, MBA's, medical school, education, psychology, computer science, etc.) [names available on request].

Students can proceed on toward second BA's at hundreds of US colleges (30 credits in a new major, 45 credits in accounting and engineering), go on toward graduate work at the University of Maryland www.umuc.edu ; do a 2 year second BA at Columbia University in NYC with the second year being 1st year graduate or medical school/law school courses at Columbia; enter a MS in engineering program at Boston University for humanities graduates http://www.bu.edu/bulletins/eng/item12.html in the areas of: biomedical engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, and mechanical engineering; do a 12-15 month post-baccalaureate program in pre-med or pre-dentistry to get into medical or dental school; do a 12 month international MBA at Bar Ilan University in Israel www.biu.ac.il/imba ; a 6 month post-baccalaureate teacher certification program for the public school system; follow this teacher's certification with a 30 credit master's degree in special education for state licensure; do a one year post-baccalaureate in speech therapy that allows humanities graduates to enter a master's degree program in speech pathology; enter a 16 month post-baccalaureate for a BSN (nursing) degree; enter a 2.5 year Doctor of Physical Therapy program followed by a paid one year clinical internship to become a licensed physical therapist; enter a special MSW program at Yeshiva University's Wurzweiler School of Social Work (2 summers plus 2 semesters); go to a master's degree program in education (elementary Jewish education) at a prestigious New England university with free tuition, a $10,000 stipend and getting state licensure to teach in the public school system; or go to the London School of Jewish Studies and study for an MA in Jewish Studies in conjunction with King's College, University of London. We just had one of the students enter the graduate program in computer science at Johns Hopkins.

Incidentally, all graduates automatically earn a temporary Hebrew teacher's license from the www.nationalboardoflicense.org [permanent teaching license after 2 education courses and 3 month's supervised teaching experience]. One of the social science courses to fulfill the general education credits can be in Foundations of Education.

COSTS: the entire cost of the regionally accredited BA in Liberal Studies is $4750, of which our fee is $2750 and that charged by Charter Oak www.charteroak.edu is $2000 [$1700 for residents of CT]. If parent's income (joint return) is under $110,000, the parents (if Americans) can take a $2500 HOPE education IRS tax credit as well as getting a $2500 Pell Grant. Canadian students are also eligible for education tax credits. In addition, students can usually get anywhere from $500 to $1000 in travel grants from their local Jewish Federation for coming to Israel. Students from Western Massachusetts get a $2000 grant from the Federation.

Students need to take 31 general education credits [English composition with essay (6), college math (3-6), science (4-6), US government (3), an exam in a global area (e.g. History of the Vietnam War) (3), public speaking (3), and a 1 credit online exam in Information Literacy] to graduate but these credits can be taken either as Advanced Placement (AP) exams, or College Board CLEP exams or DANTES exams or British "A" Levels. Charter Oak general education requirements in humanities and ethical dimensions are covered by our music, Hebrew and Talmud exams. Students who have taken AP English, math, science, American government and European history essentially have all the general education requirements except for an exam in public speaking and a 1-credit online Charter Oak course in information literacy. DVD's (and websites) needed to prepare for and pass the general education exams are available.
Those applying to Charter Oak after July 1, 2009 have to take a 3 credit capstone project in Judaic Studies at Charter Oak but with faculty approval this can be in the form of a publishable article in the Jewish Bible Quarterly www.jewishbible.org or a serious essay on a Judaic topic.

Please don't hesitate to ask me if you have any questions.

KOL TUV

Dr. Josh Backon
Program Administrator

For further information email: info@jewishbible.org

REGISTRATION FORM FOR TAKING PROFICIENCY EXAMS IN ISRAEL

Please include the following with this application:

1. proof of high school transcript
2. 1 photograph (any size) [or photocopy of driver's license]
3. $2750 check (drawn on a US bank) made out to the Jewish Bible Association

Last Name__________________

First Name: _________________

Hebrew Name: ___________________

Address:____________________________________ City: _____________ State ___ Zip: ______

Home Phone (include area code): ______________________

Email: _____________________________________________

Date of Birth: __________________ Place of Birth: _________________

Citizenship: ________

Social Security Number: ________________

High School Attended________________________

Year Graduated: ______

Post-Yeshiva High School Education: ____________________________

Prior College Credits: ___

Taken at: ____________

In (areas): __________________________________

Total Number of Credits Wishing to Take with JBA Exams: __________ (check areas below)

AREAS: Music: [ ] Hebrew [ ] Talmud [ ] Bible [ ] Jewish Law [ ]

Career Goals: __________________________________________________________________

Applicant's Signature: ___________________

Parent's Signature: _________________________

================================================

PLEASE PRINT FORM, FILL OUT AND AIRMAIL TO:

JEWISH BIBLE ASSOCIATION

POB 29002

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL

Info@jewishbible.org Tel: +972-2-6216145