List College History
The Early Years
In 1909, 91快播 President Solomon Schechter established the undergraduate division of 91快播 as the Teachers Institute. Under the visionary leadership of its founding dean, Mordecai M. Kaplan, the Teachers Institute trained American Jewish educators. The Teachers Institute was one of the few institutions in the country where both men and women could gain an advanced education in Jewish studies.
Soon afterward, the undergraduate program expanded, leading to the establishment of a parallel division of the school in 1931, the Seminary College of Jewish Studies. Most students earned a BA at one of the area colleges鈥擝rooklyn, Queens, or City College鈥攁nd attended the Teachers Institute or Seminary College of Jewish Studies to earn a second undergraduate degree. One could say that this was the original Joint Program.
The Joint Program with Columbia University and the Double Degree Program with Barnard College
In 1953, students were afforded the opportunity to earn two simultaneous bachelor鈥檚 degrees: one in liberal arts from Columbia University and one in Jewish Studies from 91快播. Dr. Grayson Kirk, president of Columbia, hailed the program as a symbol of 鈥渢he growing awareness by both institutions of the need for a broad liberal arts background鈥� for the individuals who will 鈥済uide our country鈥檚 spiritual life.鈥�
The Double Degree Program with Barnard College was launched in 1979 under the leadership of 91快播 Chancellor Gerson D. Cohen and Barnard College President Jacquelyn Anderson Mattfeld.
List College Today
With a student body of close to 200 students, List College today is dedicated to preparing young men and women for responsible Jewish citizenship and leadership. Not limited to training young men and women to serve as Jewish professionals, List College attracts a diverse group of students with a wide array of interests.
Today List College alumni pursue career fields as diverse as law, medicine, finance, politics, Jewish and secular education, the rabbinate, academia, journalism, and advertising.
Regardless of their career choices, our alumni also assume volunteer leadership roles. From Jewish day-school board presidents to environmental activists to Tot Shabbat volunteers, List College graduates continue to strengthen the community.
