A unique agreement which for the first time makes it possible for undergraduate students in the field of Jewish religion, education, history and literature to receive bachelor’s degrees from both a liberal arts college and a theological seminary after following a combined course of study was ratified today by Columbia University and Jewish Theological Seminary.
Under the combined plan, students in the Seminary’s Teachers Institute and Seminary College of Jewish Studies will be able to apply 64 points of their studies towards the major field, language and elective course requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree at Columbia’s School of General Studies, At the same time the Seminary will credit 60 points of studies in the School of General Studies toward the liberal arts requirements for the Seminary degree of Bachelor of Religious Education.
General Studies requires 124 points for the B.S. degree, while the Seminary requirements are 188 points for the B.R.E. degree. All students under the joint program will also take the comprehensive examination that General Studies requires for the B.S. degree. Seminary students at Columbia will be able to take their major subject under two departments in the School of General Studies–Religion, and Hebrew Language and Jewish History. They will be able to study at both institutions simultaneously. The plan will become effective at the beginning of the 1953-54 academic years.
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