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Comparative Humanities

About the Program

Brandeis University's Master of Arts in Comparative Humanities (M.A.C.H.) provides a flexible, interdisciplinary curriculum across 30 program areas, ranging from (but not limited to) film to philosophy, history to the fine arts, and literature to women’s and gender studies, with the potential for connections to the natural sciences and other fields.  The versatility of the M.A.C.H. program allows students to work with an advisor to customize a program that helps them meet their academic and professional goals. Our program offers rigorous humanistic studies in both cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural frameworks, and takes advantage of our dynamic faculty’s expertise across geographies, nationalities, historical periods, and/or languages.  Some additional highlights of the program include:

• Located just outside of Boston with its world-renowned academic resources--an ideal location for internships, research, and career opportunities;
• Individualized faculty mentorship that capitalizes on Brandeis’ close-knit community of scholars. Students work closely with their faculty advisor to structure their curriculum requirements and when completing their capstone project;
• Brandeis’ Mandel Center for the Humanities encourages cross-cultural and trans-regional work that draws upon our rich co-curricular course offerings;
• Draws upon our close connections with well-known academic, cultural, and research resources of the Boston area including the Boston Area Graduate Consortium.

Faculty

We encourage you to explore one of the department’s greatest assets through our faculty pages. Learn more about the people who will help guide you along your graduate school path.

Courses and Degree Requirements

In conjunction with a primary advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), each student builds a cogent curriculum that bridges cultures in courses that span 30 program areas. Visit the department's curriculum page for required course descriptions and degree requirements.

How to Apply

Application Deadlines:

For fall semester (starts in late August): Rolling through May 1; review of applications begins January 15th.

Admission Requirements:

To apply for the program, you need to submit:

• An application to the graduate school, which can be electronically submitted here;
• An application fee;
• Official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended; applicants must provide a final transcript indicating successful completion of an undergraduate degree program before registration.
• Two letters of recommendation, which the admissions committee prefers to be submitted online;
• A curriculum vitae (CV) or resumé;
• A statement of purpose indicating your reasons for undertaking graduate study. In addition, please describe your qualifications for the M.A.C.H. and your objectives in undertaking this program.
• A writing sample, not to exceed 35 pages.
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required. Our ETS institution code is 3092.

International students:  For additional requirements for international applicants (non-U.S. citizens or non-permanent residents), minimum TOEFL and IELTS scores, and important information regarding visas, please click here.

Visit the GSAS "Apply" page for a more comprehensive description of application requirements.

Financial Aid and Scholarships 

Generous scholarships and financial aid are available.

Careers and Alumni

With its strong emphasis on research and communication skills, the Comparative Humanities graduate program provides opportunities for professional development, enhanced marketability in numerous career areas, and preparation for doctoral studies in a wide range of fields. Graduates may find themselves in various settings—from museums, libraries, and classrooms, to Ph.D. programs and Brandeis’ Master’s program in Teaching. The master’s degree can be used as a stepping stone to a Ph.D. program in a wide variety of humanities-related fields. Teachers in K-12 in all subjects who pursue a Masters in Comparative Humanities may gain better standing in their schools and greatly enhances their teaching of art, social studies and social sciences, languages, and much more.

The M.A.C.H. program provides both guidance and flexibility for:

• Professional or pre-professional students seeking advanced training in language, literature, and culture studies;
• Prospective doctoral candidates seeking rigorous preparation in textual and cultural studies;
• Students who want to explore several fields before identifying a definitive career path;
• Current teachers aiming to return to the classroom and non-teachers looking to teach at the secondary or community college levels;
• Individuals with knowledge of one discipline wanting to enhance their understanding of another.

Students can work closely with our Career Services office for an array of resources, including CV/resumé help, job search, and networking.