The College of Judea & Samaria

The College of Judea & Samaria (CJS) was established in 1982 in Ariel in the Samarian hills. CJS is the largest public college and one of the fastest-growing Israeli academic institutions, with 8,500 students, representing the full spectrum of Israeli society: Jew & Arab, secular & observant, new immigrant & veteran Israeli. Students from across the country attend the College, with 70% coming from the greater Tel Aviv area and central Israel and the remainder from northern and southern Israel.

As a demonstratively Zionist institution, the College has two key requirements: every student must study one course per semester on some aspect of Judaism, Jewish heritage or Land of Israel studies, and the Israeli flag must be displayed in every classroom, laboratory and auditorium on campus.

Academic Excellence

The College offers undergraduate studies in a wide variety of subjects:Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering & Electronics, Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, Industrial Engineering & Management, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, Physiotherapy, Health Management, Nutrition, Social Work, Behavioral Sciences, Economics & Business Management, Mass Communications, Israel & Middle Eastern Studies, Israel Heritage, General Studies (Humanities), Applied Physics, Molecular Biology, Biological Chemistry and Mathematics & Computer Science.

In the near future, CJS will open additional undergraduate courses in Education, Medical Physics and Material Science. The College has also applied for accreditation for graduate studies in Electrical Engineering & Electronics, Industrial Engineering, Psychology, Social Work and Business Administration, with classes expected to begin within a few years.

In July 2005, the college received official approval from the Council of Higher Education (CHE) to begin registering students for a Master's degree in its Department of Social Work.  The CHE decision marks the first time that the College will be authorized to offer a graduate degree.  With 227 students, the Department of Social Work, chaired by Prof. Shlomo Sharlin, previously taught only academic courses towards an undergraduate degree.

Scientific Research - The Key to Unlocking Our Future

The College of Judea & Samaria is the only college in Israel to conduct advanced research. With nearly 60% of the Israeli economy's output being technology driven, scientific research provides the key to securing the Jewish state's future and prosperity.

The College has provided research and employment opportunities to more than 150 immigrant professionals from the former Soviet Union and other countries. These scientists have worked on dozens of R&D projects, in fields such as robotics, electro-optics, crystal growth and environmental studies.

In 2000, CJS inaugurated the Free Electron Laser (FEL) on its Ariel campus. The FEL serves as a national center for studying and testing radiation and laser use, providing scientists from Israel and overseas the opportunity to research areas, including material processing, advanced imaging, communications and atmospheric studies.

Absorbing Immigrant Students and Professionals

The College's unique efforts to help with the absorption of immigrant students and professionals from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia have come to serve as a model for educational institutions throughout Israel.

New immigrants are well represented on the Ariel campus, with more than 200 Ethiopian students attending the College and a significantly larger number from the former Soviet Union. Some immigrant students are provided with scholarships, tutorial services and social counseling to help them better integrate into academic life.

There are also dozens of immigrant professionals working as lecturers and researchers in various departments at the school, teaching in Hebrew and becoming full members of the faculty.