The Brandeis Core
For students entering Fall 2026 and later
The Brandeis Core is the shared academic experience every undergraduate completes. It ensures students graduate not only with deep knowledge in their major, but with essential skills they'll use for the rest of their lives. The Core is also designed so that many courses fulfill both Core and major requirements at the same time, giving students more flexibility in how they shape their education.
Students develop a recognizable set of essential skills through the Brandeis Core:
- Clear communication
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Technological fluency
- Quantitative reasoning
- Global understanding and social responsibility
What the Core Curriculum Includes
First-Year Seminar
A small, first-semester seminar focused on academic writing, reading and argumentation. Topics vary across disciplines.
Core Competencies
Essential skills developed through coursework across every program — fulfilled in any department, not just a student's major.
Areas of Inquiry
Coursework across the sciences, social sciences, humanities and creative arts that builds breadth across disciplines.
Health, Wellness and Life Skills
Practical coursework in physical and mental wellbeing, healthy habits and life skills beyond the classroom.