Its Core Curriculum, the centerpiece of the college’s academic community, includes courses in philosophy, history, the natural and social sciences, literature, and the fine arts.

[9] It emphasizes the classic texts of both Judaism and Islam (the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, and the Koran,[10] among others) and courses on the history of the wider Middle East—subjects the college deems essential to meaningful citizenship in a modern Jewish state and active participation in Israel’s diverse society.

[13] The college features a comprehensive citizenship curriculum, including an experiential course on the major challenges in Israeli society[14] and the “Israel Story” event series,[15] part of the Asper Center for Zionist Studies.

The series brings notable Israeli authors—including David Grossman,[16] Meir Shalev, Eli Amir, and Micah Goodman—to campus to discuss texts that have shaped the nation’s narrative.

[18][19][20] Through the Koret Jewish Peoplehood Project at Shalem College, students participate in annual delegations to the Bay Area and the AIPAC policy convention in Washington DC.