202021 COURSE CATALOGUE 1299 Church Road, Wyncote, Pa. 215.576.0800 RRC.edu Table of Contents I. THE RECONSTRUCTIONIST RABBINICAL COLLEGE .................................................................................... 4 Mission and Vision Statements ..................................................................................................................... 4 RRC: Our Academic Philosophy and Program ............................................................................................... 4 The Reconstructionist Movement: Intellectual Origins ................................................................................ 6 II. FACULTY .................................................................................................................................................... 7 Emeritus Faculty ............................................................................................................................................ 8 III. DEGREE PROGRAMS AND ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................... 9 Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters and Title of Rabbi .................................................................................... 9 Requests for Credit for Independent Study at RRC .................................................................................... 14 Learning Opportunities Outside of RRC, Including Transfer of Credit Policy .............................................. 14 Applying for Exemption from Requirements While at RRC ........................................................................ 14 Master of Arts in Jewish Studies ................................................................................................................. 15 Doctor of Hebrew Letters ........................................................................................................................... 17 Joint Degree and Certificate Programs and Academic Partnerships .......................................................... 17 Non-Matriculated Students ........................................................................................................................ 18 IV. RABBINICAL PROGRAM OF STUDY ....................................................................................................... 19 Credit Policy ................................................................................................................................................ 27 Program Offerings ....................................................................................................................................... 28 Mekhinah Year Program ............................................................................................................................. 28 Required Civilizational Courses ................................................................................................................... 29 Required Thought Courses .......................................................................................................................... 30 Required Text Courses ................................................................................................................................ 31 Distribution Requirement Courses ............................................................................................................. 33 Hebrew Language ....................................................................................................................................... 42 Practical Rabbinics – Field Readiness .......................................................................................................... 43 Practical Rabbinics – Advanced................................................................................................................... 45 Multifaith/Social Justice Courses ................................................................................................................ 48 Electives ...................................................................................................................................................... 50 Immersive community-wide retreats ......................................................................................................... 52 Curricular Highlights .................................................................................................................................... 52 Beit Midrash ................................................................................................................................................ 52 1 William H. Fern Field Education Program in Field Education: Practical Rabbinics, Field Education and Student Employment .................................................................................................................................. 52 Practical rabbinics, field education and student employment in Years 1-3 ............................................... 53 Practical rabbinics, field education and student employment in years 4-5 ............................................... 53 Overview of Types of Employment and Field Experience .......................................................................... 53 Congregational Positions ............................................................................................................................ 54 High Holiday Positions ................................................................................................................................ 54 Chaplaincy Positions ................................................................................................................................... 54 Campus Work .............................................................................................................................................. 54 Social-Justice, Multifaith and Other Organizational Work ......................................................................... 54 Internships at RRC and for the Reconstructionist Movement .................................................................... 55 Education Positions ..................................................................................................................................... 55 Life-Cycle Officiation ................................................................................................................................... 55 Community-Service Placements and Other Volunteer Positions ............................................................... 55 Guest Speakers and Community Limmud (Learning) .................................................................................. 55 Jewish Spiritual Direction ............................................................................................................................ 56 The Reconstructionist Student Association ................................................................................................ 56 Funded Fellowships and Internships .......................................................................................................... 56 V. FACILITIES, SURROUNDINGS AND STUDENT RESOURCES .................................................................... 57 Campus Facilities ......................................................................................................................................... 57 Ziegelman Hall ............................................................................................................................................. 57 The Center for Jewish Ethics ....................................................................................................................... 58 Campus Surroundings ................................................................................................................................. 59 Directions to RRC ........................................................................................................................................ 60 Grading System ........................................................................................................................................... 61 Student Resources ...................................................................................................................................... 66 Financial Assistance .................................................................................................................................... 66 Financial-Aid Award Deadlines ................................................................................................................... 66 Need-Based Scholarships ............................................................................................................................ 67 Merit-Based Scholarships for Incoming Students ....................................................................................... 67 Additional Scholarships ............................................................................................................................... 67 Need- and Merit-Based Scholarships .......................................................................................................... 69 VII. GRADUATION AND EMPLOYMENT DATA ........................................................................................... 70 2 VIII. 2020-21 ACADEMIC CALENDAR .......................................................................................................... 71 3 I. THE RECONSTRUCTIONIST RABBINICAL