Shaping the future of education with innovation: Brandeis to launch Engineering Science degree program
February 20, 2025
Waltham, Mass. — Advancing its mission to connect knowledge, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning with solutions to society's challenges, Brandeis University today announced the launch of its Engineering Science program. This distinctive new major will embed engineering faculty within existing departments rather than creating a separate engineering school, fostering unprecedented collaboration across disciplines while preparing students to develop sustainable solutions to society's most pressing problems.
The Engineering program is a key component of the university’s vision in reimagining a liberal arts education to meet the needs of today’s learners and prepare graduates for the global digital knowledge economy of tomorrow. The new Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Science will be offered beginning in the 2026–27 academic year. The curriculum for this major is designed for ABET accreditation, and will provide students with the essential skills to become engineers as they design solutions to complex problems.
“Brandeis University has always been committed to academic excellence and to innovation in the ways we provide pathways to fulfilling career options,” said Jennifer Walker, Vice President for Enrollment Management. “The Engineering Science major is testimony to our dedication to meeting the needs of our current and future students.”
What makes this new major so exciting is our unique approach:
- It’s interdisciplinary: Engineering faculty are being embedded in science departments, enhancing the university’s research and sparking new technological innovations.
- It’s integrative: By drawing from the full spectrum of the liberal arts—from science and math to humanities, arts, and social sciences—our graduates craft engineering solutions that address human needs while understanding their broader social impact.
- It’s inclusive: Opening engineering coursework and experiences to all majors empowers every student with a problem-solving mindset and versatile skills that translate seamlessly into the workforce.
“This exciting new program promotes critical thinking and problem solving, including ethical and social implications; and, it will allow students to learn to perform engineering work in conjunction with others across a wide range of disciplines,” said Avital Rodal, Professor of Biology. “We could not be more thrilled to be launching it now.”
Brandeis began offering introductory engineering courses in fall 2023 as a precursor to launching the Engineering major. The first cohort of graduates is expected to be the class of 2030. We invite current students, and those thinking of attending Brandeis, to explore our innovative engineering courses and state-of-the-art facilities as they continue to grow.
