Dean's Welcome Message
Jeffrey Shoulson, Dean
Welcome to the Brandeis University School of Arts and Sciences. Enrolling approximately 3600 undergraduates and 750 graduate students (in both Masters and Doctoral programs), A&S constitutes the very heart of Brandeis. Students learn with our 400 world-class faculty, situated across four divisions and housed within 23 standing departments and 27 academic programs, offering 45 majors and 52 minors. Our relatively small size, coupled with our extraordinarily deep and broad research profile, offer students the advantages of a high-touch liberal arts education enriched by expansive opportunities to engage in research and other hands-on learning experiences from the moment they set foot on campus.
Current and prospective students can learn about our approach to undergraduate liberal arts education through the Brandeis Core. The core is designed to guide your journey through Brandeis by fostering experiences rooted in academic inquiry and inclusion, encouraging you to explore across disciplines, and equipping you with professional skills you will use throughout your lifetime. Faculty-student partnerships are a significant part of what makes the School of Arts and Sciences so special. I recommend reviewing undergraduate funding opportunities and networking with faculty on the ForagerOne database.
The School of Arts and Sciences also has a number of exciting new initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program, new courses that will become part of our Engineering major, a new minor in Asian America and Pacific Islander Studies, a Data Sciences Initiative, and a revised listing of student resources on our website.
Faculty, students, and staff are encouraged to follow our social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn), which focus on faculty recognition and faculty-student partnerships. Our website also has a number of new pages where current and prospective Brandesians can view our faculty's recent accomplishments and publications. Faculty can also find a curated listing of teaching resources, along with funding opportunities for travel and research, and mentoring and professional development.
One of Brandeis University’s founding values is the belief that diverse backgrounds and ideas are crucial to academic excellence. The School of Arts and Sciences is committed to an antiracist approach to research and education. On our Diversity & Inclusion page you will find the school’s antiracism plans, related resources for students, staff and faculty, and recent updates about the School’s efforts to increase diversity and create a more equitable, inclusive space for learning and research.
If you have any questions or concerns I encourage you to reach out to my office. I enthusiastically look forward to meeting and working with you in the coming year.