In 2002, Rabbi Pesach Lerner set out to find a fully-accredited university that would work with yeshiva and seminary students to help them earn a degree in the field of their choice and view their yeshiva and seminary experience as a valuable educational experience which could be built upon. After scouring the country, Rabbi Lerner chanced upon Bellevue University in Omaha, Nebraska—a pioneer in the then unheard of “online learning” and a paragon of academic excellence. He found the staff to be unbiased, supportive and professional. They were eager to work with the Yeshiva Initiatives Educational Programs (YIEP) students. A nearly two-decade relationship ensued between the Orthodox Jewish world and their unlikely new partners from Omaha. This relationship has flourished ever since, and borne fruit and YIEP has graduated close to 1,000 students in various disciplines.
Graduates have gone on to become real leaders in their community, thanks to some of the incredibly innovative courses that Bellevue offers—such as Dr. Steve Linenberger’s master’s in educational leadership, and the coveted CACREP-accredited master’s of science in clinical mental health counseling. But it doesn’t stop there. While Bellevue offers over 28 master’s programs, many YIEP students are also drawn to an MBA or master’s of science pursuits in cybersecurity, data science and healthcare administration to augment and accelerate their careers. Students who are seeking their bachelor’s degree may take advantage of studies in business, behavioral science/human services, data science and cybersecurity.
On average, students complete a bachelor’s in 15-18 months and a master’s within 18-30 months, all within an academic architecture focused on the unique needs of an Orthodox student. Schedules, deadlines and assignments attempt to accommodate the holidays and are designed with sensitivity to the Orthodox student. For those who still need to complete a yeshiva degree before moving into a master’s program, YIEP also offers a pathway.
Serving more than 20,000 students annually at 12 locations in three states––and everywhere online through its award-winning online learning platform––Bellevue University is the largest private university in Nebraska. Regionally accredited, Bellevue University is proud to be a leader in distance learning. Their accelerated degree completion programs are recognized for innovation, leadership and diversity.
Bellevue University’s supportive learning environment emphasizes principles of active learning that expose students to both theoretical knowledge and practical application. Its respected faculty brings real world experience to the classroom. Traditional teacher–to–learner lectures are replaced with active involvement in the learning, using applied workplace projects, library and database research, interaction with teachers and other students, and multimedia resources. (Bellevue University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of NCACS – one of the six regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education).
In 2022, Rabbi Lerner expanded the staff to support his growth vision to serve English-speaking Orthodox communities worldwide. YIEP/Bellevue aims to help you reach your academic goals and to enter the workforce with confidence and impressive credentials.
USA: (917) 209-8204 | [email protected] | Israel: 054-206-0385 | [email protected] www.theyiep.com/new/
