About Brandeis
Brandeis University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher learning and research. Located in Waltham, Massachusetts, it has more than 3,600 undergraduate students — drawn from more than 50 states and territories and over 120 countries — and more than 2,000 graduate students. Its 366 full-time faculty includes nationally and internationally recognized teachers, scholars and researchers.
Founded in 1948 by members of the American Jewish community, Brandeis brings to American higher education a unique cultural perspective reflecting Jewish traditions of scholarship and community service and the commitment to social justice personified by Louis Dembitz Brandeis, the distinguished Supreme Court justice for whom the university is named. Although Brandeis maintains a special relationship with the Jewish community, it is not affiliated with any religious organization, it offers no theological instruction and it welcomes students and faculty of all backgrounds and beliefs.
Through a comprehensive curriculum and co-curricular activities, Brandeis presents students with a diverse array of issues and approaches to learning. At the undergraduate level, the academic focus is on the liberal arts and sciences, and no formal professional training is conducted. However, undergraduate courses are offered in legal studies, education, business, film studies, premedical studies, health policy, journalism and other areas that help students prepare for later professional training. At the graduate level, Brandeis University offers professional programs in business management, nonprofit management, international business and Jewish communal service, as well as graduate programs in the disciplines.
Brandeis is a member of the Association of American Universities, which represents the 62 leading research institutions in North America, and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.). The research interests of the faculty span a wide range of disciplines in the sciences, social sciences, humanities and creative arts.
Each of our five schools is home to exceptional faculty, rigorous inquiry and diverse areas of undergraduate and graduate study. The School of Arts, Humanities and Culture, the School of Business and Economics, the School of Science, Engineering and Technology, the School of Social Sciences and Social Policy and the Rabb School of Continuing Studies.
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The School of Arts, Humanities and Culture explores the human experience — language and culture, artistic expression and ideas — within an intellectual environment that prizes open inquiry, mentorship and collaboration. Through scholarship and creative expression, in the classroom and in the field, our faculty and students seek to more fully understand our complex world — its past, present and future. Whatever course of study you pursue within the School of Arts, Humanities and Culture, you will develop essential skills for success in your chosen field, including critical thinking, communication, argumentation, research, analysis and teamwork.
What We Offer
- Comprehensive programs in creative writing, world languages and cultures, philosophy, music, studio art, literature and more
- Interdisciplinary teaching and research centers such as the Center for German and European Studies, Mandel Center for the Humanities and the Women's Studies Research Center
- The Rose Art Museum, which fosters community, experimentation and new knowledge through direct engagement with modern and contemporary art, artists and ideas
- Ample research opportunities at an R1 institution — a classification reserved for institutions with the highest levels of research excellence and output
- Internationally recognized faculty who are MacArthur Fellows, Guggenheim Fellows, and members of every leading academic society
- A history of dedication to the arts, from the Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts (founded in 1952) to a record of incomparable visiting artists, including Yo-Yo Ma, Langston Hughes and Marcel Duchamp
- Opportunity for international study through the Brandeis in Siena Arts Program
Departments and Programs
The School of Arts, Humanities and Culture brings together departments and programs that foster creative expression, critical thinking and cultural understanding across diverse disciplines and histories.
The School of Business and Economics equips students to lead in a dynamic, tech-driven world — where data, innovation and AI are transforming every industry. Grounded in the liberal arts, the School’s STEM-designated curriculum blends quantitative training with critical thinking and creative problem-solving.
The School’s faculty are scholars and practitioners working at the forefront of cutting-edge fields in business, economics and finance. They work closely with undergraduate and graduate students in small, interactive classes and research projects that explore complex systems — from global markets and supply chains to digital currencies and predictive analytics. The result is a personalized academic experience that equips students with technical proficiency and strategic perspective.
Graduates of the School of Business and Economics thrive in fast-moving industries where technology and analytics are shaping the future. They work across academia, business, economics, finance and public policy, contributing to Fortune 500 companies, groundbreaking startups, top research universities and global organizations like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and United Nations.
What We Offer
- Dynamic undergraduate programs in business, economics (STEM-designated) and finance
- STEM-designated master’s programs in business administration, business analytics, economics and finance
- Undergraduate dual degrees that allow Brandeis students to complete a master’s degree in as little as one additional year
- Personalized career coaching that matches skills, interests and professional goals for maximum success in internships and employment
- A dynamic campus close to Boston, a global hub of innovation
- Internationally recognized faculty, including active industry leaders in business, economics and finance
The School of Science, Engineering and Technology integrates a world-class interdisciplinary R1 research program that is soundly based within the liberal arts. You will engage in hands-on learning in the laboratory, engineering and Maker spaces, and in computational and virtual arenas. You will build a unique foundation in scientific approaches and engineering thinking by learning across departments, programs and disciplines; collaborating with students, faculty and researchers; and encountering diverse perspectives throughout your course of study.
In the classroom, the MakerLab and the field, you’ll apply technological, humanistic and practical problem-solving skills to critical questions in science and human health and to societal challenges. Through teamwork and collaboration, research and critical thinking, you will gain a holistic STEM education that will equip you to inspire and innovate solutions in your chosen career.
In the School of Science, Engineering and Technology, you’ll tackle the most pressing issues facing society today: engineering proteins and brain networks to promote human health, creating new materials and nano-sized machines, understanding climate change, among them.
What We Offer
- Interdisciplinary STEM programs in the life sciences, physics and computer science, environmental studies, neuroscience, engineering science and more
- Ample research opportunities at an R1 institution — a classification reserved for institutions with the highest levels of research excellence and output
- Location in suburban Boston, a global hub of scientific research and innovation, is close to numerous internship, research and employment opportunities
- A Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), which brings together more than 50 faculty, students and staff from six different universities focused on computation, microfluidics fabrication and device operation, advanced optical microscopy and biomaterials preparation
- State-of-the-art laboratories and facilities such as the Brandeis Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility, the Brandeis University Mass Spectrometry Facility and the Brandeis MakerLab
- Internationally recognized STEM faculty that includes Nobel Prize winners, MacArthur Fellows and Howard Hughes Investigators
Departments and Programs
The School of Science, Engineering and Technology brings together leading departments and programs that offer degrees in the physical, life, computational and applied sciences.
Since its earliest years, Brandeis University has pioneered evidence-based solutions to the great social challenges of our time. The School of Social Sciences and Social Policy leads this core mission. In housing, healthcare, sustainable development, disability rights and other critical areas affecting diverse communities locally and globally, our graduates are working to increase equity and implement lasting solutions.
Our students become leaders in their chosen careers because they enter the workforce with the intellectual and theoretical frameworks, analytical tools, professional experiences and collaborative mindset designed to make an impact. Evaluating complex data, managing differences and understanding complex social institutions are just a few of the essential career skills students acquire.
Our graduates lead nonprofits and government agencies and pursue high-impact careers in fields such as public health, education, human rights, journalism and law. As policy makers, advocates, researchers, scholars and other social-impact professionals, our graduates lead with evidence-based knowledge, inspired by social justice.
What We Offer
- A comprehensive academic program that includes anthropology, history, politics and sociology as well as interdisciplinary programs in public health, journalism, legal studies, women’s and gender studies, African and African American studies, education studies, international and global studies and more
- Graduate programs in Brandeis’ Heller School for Social Policy and Management, ranked among the nation’s top graduate schools of public affairs
- World-class research institutes and centers specializing in a variety of fields and disciplines, including the Schneider Institutes for Health Policy and Research, the Institute for Economic and Racial Equity and the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy
- Location in suburban Boston, close to numerous internship, research, teaching and employment opportunities
- Internationally recognized faculty that include Carnegie Fellows, Guggenheim Fellows and National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellows
Departments and Programs
The School of Social Sciences and Social Policy brings together departments and programs that prepare students to address critical social challenges through evidence-based research, policy and practice.
The Rabb School of Continuing Studies extends the traditional excellence of a Brandeis education to the greater community with opportunities for professional development and lifelong learning. One of five schools at Brandeis University, the Rabb School is dedicated to developing innovative educational offerings for a diverse, vibrant community of on-campus and online learners.
The Rabb School’s following four divisions embrace continuous lifelong learning and development regardless of a student’s age:
- Graduate Professional Studies
- Osher Institute of Lifelong Learning at Brandeis (BOLLI)
- Precollege Programs
- Summer School and Continuing Studies
In addition its schools, Brandeis has more than 30 research institutes and centers that help define the unique identity of the university and make essential contributions to its academic life.
Recreational facilities include the Shapiro Campus Center, Usdan Student Center, the Sherman Student Center and the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, one of the largest of its kind in the region. The university has an active intramural and club program and fields intercollegiate teams in eight men's and nine women's sports. Brandeis is one of eight NCAA Division III schools that compete in the University Athletic Association.
Section 2B of Chapter 151C of the Massachusetts General Laws provides that:
"Any student [...] who is unable, because of his religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study or work requirement on a particular day shall be [so] excused...and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study or work requirement which he may have missed because of such absence on any particular day; provided, however, that such makeup examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden upon such school. No fees of any kind shall be charged [...] for making available to the said student such opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his availing himself of the provisions of this section."