Hebrew University Starts Degree-teaching Next Month

The introduction of systematic degree-teaching in the biological sciences at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, it was announced to-night, will begin for a number of selected students with the winter term starting on October 27th.

There will be a four-year course leading to an academic degree, and students will also be afforded greater freedom in the selection of subjects in the humanity courses leading to a degree.

The introduction of degree-teaching in the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, which has been urged in many quarters for several years past, was approved in June 1928 by the Board of Governors and the Academic Council of the University at their meeting held in London. The meeting devoted very serious attention, the communique said, to the question of the introduction of degree-teaching into the University, and after careful discussion of an elaborate report drawn up by a special committee appointed by the Board of Governors at its meeting in August 1926, and presided over by Professor Brodetsky, it was decided to approve the introduction of degree-teaching, in accordance with the general sense of the report, with proper safeguards in order to ensure that only students who are fully equipped and prepared to undertake intensive study are admitted and that University courses should be introduced only in subjects in which there are at the University professors and lecturers of high University rank, and in which adequate equipment also exists for the prosecution of post-graduate teaching and research. In this sense it was decided that a beginning should be made in a Faculty of Arts or Humanities by constituting the Institute of Jewish Studies and the School of Oriental Studies departments of the Faculty and by instituting courses in philosophy, history, and letters in the Faculty.

With regard to science, it was agreed not to undertake degree-teaching for the time being, because certain basic sciences were not yet adequately represented in the University. It was decided, however, to announce that degree-teaching in mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology within the Faculty of Science should begin not later than 1932.

At the last meeting of the Board of Governors and the Academic Council of the Board of the University held in Zurich about five weeks ago, a special committee was set up to take action with regard to the legal status of the University as a degree-giving institution. The meeting decided that the titles of the degree should be given after the first degree examinations take place in November.