The International School for Holocaust Studies

1. What is the duration of a course?
2. What is the workload?
3. How many lessons are there in a course?
4. Where do I access the material and readings?
5. Are the courses suitable for my knowledge level? What is the target audience?
6. Can I take this course at my own pace?
7. What is the fee for an individual course?
8. Can I operate the course on a Macintosh computer?
9. Will you accept assignments created in word processor X?
10. Are there scholarships or discounts?
11. What type of certification do I receive for a course?
12. I am an Israeli teacher. Am I eligible for professional development credit (gmul hishtalmut) hours?

What is the duration of a course?

Course registration is active for a period of 6 months (per course) from the moment of approval onto the course system. Within that period, students may complete the assignment at any pace they wish - we recommend reading the material and submitting the assignments at a rate of one lesson or more every two weeks. (Courses operating in the Gmul format - applicable only for Israeli teachers - have structured submission dates.)

What is the workload?

For each lesson, participants are required to read the materials provided – including the lesson and mandatory reading. Additional readings are optional, according to prior knowledge and interest. Participants are required to complete an assignment for each lesson. These usually consist of two or three questions, and answers are limited to a maximum of a half page for each question. (In addition to these assignments, Gmul courses - applicable only for Israeli teachers - also require participation in separate forum questions, usually more depth- or philosophy-oriented. These courses also include a mandatory day-seminar at Yad Vashem, and submission of a final assignment (5-6 pages in length).)

How many lessons are there in a course?

Course comprise of 12-13 lessons each. (Gmul courses run to 13 lessons.)

Where do I access the material and readings?

Students access all required materials online, and the course may thus be taken from anywhere with a computer and internet connection. The "further reading" materials are not available online (mostly due to copyright restrictions, etc.).

Are the courses suitable for my knowledge level? What is the target audience?

While extensive in scope, our courses are defined as introductory. Most of our students thus far have been educators in some capacity – either at a school, at a university or running Holocaust resource centers. However, many participants have had no formal training beyond general interest in the field, and simply wished to expand their knowledge in Holocaust history.

Can I take this course at my own pace?

Our courses allow participants to work at a steady pace, in your own time. Course registration is active for a period of 6 months (per course) from the moment of approval onto the course system. within that period, students may complete the assignment at any pace they wish - we recommend reading the material and submitting the assignments at a rate of one lesson or more every two weeks. (Gmul courses have structured, bi-weekly submission dates, and a final assignment.)

What is the fee for an individual course?

The registration fee per course is currently US$100. Students receive a 10% discount for their second course, 15% for third and subsequent courses. Registrants for 5 or more in advance, receive the 15% discount on all courses. Repeating a course, or renewing a course that has timed-out will be charged as an additional course purchase. Israeli teachers who are members of Irgun Hamorim and taking a gmul course, pay a subsidized fee. In all cases, please contact us when ready to enroll, to receive the discounts.

Can I operate the course on a Macintosh computer?

The course is Mac compatible.

Will you accept assignments created in word processor X?

If you are using any non-standard word processor, or otherwise have any doubts, simply save your assignments in .RTF format (Rich Text Format). This option is generally available in the drop-down menu when naming and saving your work file.

Are there scholarships or discounts?

There are currently no scholarships available, as the course is already heavily subsidized by Yad Vashem. However, return students receive a discount for subsequent courses (see above).

What type of certification do I receive for a course?

Participants will receive a certificate of completion from Yad Vashem for 60 online hours.
For those interested in accreditation, please note these courses are not currently formally accredited by an academic institution (though this is in the works). Having said this, we have had teachers contact their respective certifying bodies and getting recognition for certification from their relevant certifying body. Therefore, for both academic and teaching accreditation, please check in advance with your own institution to see if they will accept hours for these courses. (Israeli teachers - see also next question regarding Gmul courses.)

I am an Israeli teacher. Am I eligible for professional development credit (gmul hishtalmut) hours?

This answer only applies for teachers within Israel's formal education system.
Our courses are eligible for 56 gmul hishtalmut hours. In accordance with Education Ministry requirements, courses for Israeli teachers are offered periodically, with specific starting and ending dates, and are subject to minimum enrollment to qualify. Lessons are updated every other week, with a similar schedule for assignment submissions. As each course comprises 12 lessons, courses last approximately 6 months.
The courses also include a professional development seminar day that takes place at Yad Vashem, and a final assignment for participants. Check our online courses page for upcoming course dates with eligibility. For more details, contact the relevant course instructor by clicking "For further inquiries" on the online courses page.