Academics and Faculty
Year Course provides a unique opportunity to deepen one’s identification with Judaism and Israel through experience and education, both formal and informal. Year Course participants study in university-level courses that include Hebrew language and a full array of Jewish and Israeli studies. Some classes on Year Course are required such as Hebrew and History of Zionism. Other classes are offered as electives which give chanichim the opportunity to pick from a list of courses and choose those which are most interesting to them. Chanichim choose to either take classes for credit (provided they register and meet the academic eligibility requirements established by AJU) or to audit their classes. Year Course faculty members are experienced and successful teachers in their fields who are selected for their teaching excellence. Year Course classes strike a unique balance between the warm, personal approach of a small program and the stringent standards of university-level courses. Teachers are easily approachable and are eager to make learning meaningful for all students. Full attendance, participation, homework, essays and exams are requirements. Upon completion of the Program, all students who have been accepted to American Jewish University’s College in Israel and who officially register to take their courses for credit are eligible to receive an official transcript from American Jewish University reflecting up to a year’s worth of college credit. Students who participate in Olami or Kuma may earn credits above the 27 credits that are available during the regular semester structure.
Academic Standards and Credits
Year Course provides participants with a challenging combination of Judaic and Israeli studies. Courses are offered in partnership with American Jewish University (AJU), which is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). In order to receive credits for classes taken during Year Course, participants must:
- Submit their complete Year Course application and official high school transcript(s) prior to leaving for Israel
- Have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.0 or above
- Register for classes offered during Year Course in accordance with the provided registration deadlines
Many colleges and universities will transfer credit above a given grade level. Please check with your intended college or university for their policy.
Most Year Course participants submit college applications prior to leaving for Israel. If applicable, Year Course participants must inform their college of choice that they will either defer enrollment or reapply. Every university has its own policies regarding acceptance or transfer of credits. It is up to the participant, before leaving for Year Course, to investigate the policy of the college he/she plans to attend after Year Course.
Year Course participants who choose to apply and are accepted to American Jewish University are eligible for AJU’s generous merit- and leadership-based scholarships. These scholarships can be secured prior to leaving for Year Course and all of them are awarded upon matriculation to AJU.
Those who wish to matriculate to AJU must complete a separate AJU application in addition to the Year Course application. Acceptance into the Year Course program does not guarantee acceptance into AJU; similarly, acceptance into AJU does not guarantee acceptance into the Year Course program.
Partial list of schools that Year Course participants from the past several years have
attended after the program.
American Jewish University
American Jewish University is the outcome of the 2007 union of the Brandeis-Bardin Institute (BBI) and the University of Judaism (UJ).
In 1941, the University of Judaism was founded in Los Angeles by Dr. Mordecai Kaplan who advocated for the creation of an educational institution incorporating diverse elements of Jewish civilization and culture under one roof.
That same year, BCI was founded by Dr. Shlomo Bardin to safeguard against the assimilation of young American Jews by making “the great ethical heritage of Judaism” relevant to them.
American Jewish University’s undergraduate program is distinguished by a core curriculum that integrates the study of Jewish, Western and other world civilizations. Taking advantage of small classes taught by world-renowned professors, AJU students can earn their Bachelor of Arts degree in such fields as Bioethics and Natural Sciences, Business, Behavioral Sciences, Jewish Studies, Political Science and Literature Communications & Media.
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