The Master of Rabbinic Studies (MRb) is a graduate degree granted by a Yeshivaorrabbinical school. It involves the academic study of Talmud, Jewish law, philosophy, ethics, and rabbinic literature; see Yeshiva § Curriculum. The Master of Talmudic Law is closely related. In many institutions, this degree is a standard component in the study for semicha (rabbinic ordination).
At accredited institutions this degree requires between 72 and 90 credit hours of study; 72 being the minimum determined by academic accrediting agencies and 90 being on the upper end of certain schools that wish to ensure a broader study of the related material.
The MRb is a significantly more extensive program than most master's degrees. The degree usually consists on average of 90 semester hours, as opposed to the usual 36 or 48. Ordination in a mainstream[clarification needed] yeshiva or rabbinical school requires seven or eight years of education past high school: the first four in undergraduate studies leading to a Bachelor of Talmudic Law and then three or four years of seminary or rabbinical school leading to the MRb.[1][2] See Rabbi § Orthodox and Modern Orthodox Judaism and Yeshiva § Jewish law.
In North America, four entities that accredit religious schools in particular are recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation:[3]
Since these accreditors meet Council for Higher Education Accreditation[4] and United States Department of Education[5] recognition criteria, standards correspond to those of regional accreditors. Contrary to the principles laid out by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation in Transfer and the Public Interest: A Statement to the Community,[6] many regionally accredited institutions continue to base transfer credit decisions solely or primarily upon regional accreditation.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) "Transfer and the Public Interest: A Statement to the Community"
