Academic Services

AAAS Website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first course:

  • AAAS 5a Introduction to African and Afro-American Studies

• Other recommended courses:

  • AAAS 127a African Refugees

African and African American Studies (AAAS) is a unique opportunity to explore the histories and experiences of Africans and African descended people and their impact on the world. Using multiple disciplines and strategies we offer courses that consider culture, class, gender, race, work and citizenship.

American Studies Website

Course of Study: Major

• Recommended first course:

  • AMST 100a Foundations of American Culture

• Other recommended courses:
  • AMST 35a Hollywood and American Culture

American Studies takes an interdisciplinary approach to the culture, society, politics, institutions, identities, thoughts, values and behavior of Americans, including the critical issues that confront the United States domestically and internationally. Using materials central to social and intellectual history —  film, literature, culture, music, art and architecture, oral history —  the major is designed to provide students with an educated awareness of the way the United States, viewed as a civilization, frames the lives, aspirations and self-perceptions of its citizens.

Anthropology website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first course:

  • ANTH 1a Introduction to the Comparative Study of Human Societies

• Other recommended courses:

  • ANTH 7a Archaeology and the Human Experience:  An Introduction

Anthropology explores the dynamics and diversity of humankind. It asks a most difficult and most important question: What does it mean to be human? The discipline ranges from the study of culture and social relations, to human biology and evolution, to economics and politics, to religion and world views, to languages and the connections between language and social dynamics, to visual cultures and architecture, to medicine and disease, and to what we can learn about past societies through the study of material culture, including paintings, earthenware vessels, religious figurines, discarded stone tools, bone fragments and the foundations of ancient homes. Due to its focus on human society and culture, anthropology provides a solid background for students preparing for a broad range of professions including medicine, law, public health, public policy, social work, museum studies and business, as well as a career in anthropology itself.

Course of Study: Minor

• Recommended first course:

  • ARBC 10a Beginning Arabic I

• Other recommended courses:
  • NEJS 104b Islam: Civilization and Institutions

Architectural Studies Website

Course of Study: Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • FA 30a History of Western Art I: From Antiquity to the Middle Ages

  • FA 80a Modern Architecture

Art History Website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first course:

  • FA 30a History of Art I: From Antiquity to the Middle Ages

• Other recommended courses:
  • FA 59a Modern Art and Modern Culture
  • FA 80a Modern Architecture

First-time art history students are encouraged to try out any course numbered from FA 30a to FA 86b.

Course of Study: Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • SOC 126a South Asian Diasporas
  • AAPI/HIS 186b Legacies of the Korean War

Biochemistry Website

Course of Study: Major

The biochemistry major is designed to equip students with a broad understanding of the chemical and molecular events involved in biological processes. The biochemistry major provides a fundamental training for careers in biomedical research, medicine, biotechnology and related fields.

Brandeis students intending to be Biochemistry majors should take in their first year:

• a full year of general chemistry (CHEM 11a,b with corresponding lab CHEM 18a,b or honors chemistry CHEM 15a, b with corresponding lab CHEM 19a,b); AND

• a full year of introductory physics (PHYS 11a,b or the honors version PHYS 15a,b) and the accompanying lab, PHYS 19a,b.

There are strong reasons for these recommendations, which are explained more fully on our FAQ page. Students considering the biochemistry major should review that page carefully.

The possible exceptions to the above recommendations are students who placed into pre-calculus or differential calculus (these students cannot enroll in PHYS 11a until they have finished MATH 5a and/or MATH 10a); and some students who intend to receive credit for advanced placement exams in chemistry, and/or physics. Another possible exception is students who intend to fulfill some of their major requirements with Summer School courses.

First-year students who placed into Math 10b should take Math 10b in their first semester.

First year students considering the biochemistry major should note that many of the required science courses are dependent on prerequisites. Also, most required courses are offered either Fall semester or Spring semester but not both. Therefore, students should familiarize themselves with the biochemistry major requirements and plan their program of courses carefully. The undergraduate advising head can provide advice if students have questions or concerns.

Biological Physics Website

• Recommended first courses:
  • BIOL 14a or 15b
  • QBIO 11a
  • MATH 10a
  • PHYS 11/15a,b
  • PHYS 19a,b

Biology website

Course of Study: Major

• BIOL 15b Cells and Organisms; BIOL 16a Evolution and Biodiversity; or BIOL 14a Genetics and Genomics
• CHEM 11a or CHEM 15a General Chemistry *
• CHEM 18a or CHEM 19a General Chemistry Laboratory I *

Core courses required for both the BA and BS degrees include the introductory biology series BIOL 14a (Genetics and Genomics), BIOL 15b (Cells and Organisms) and BIOL 16a (Evolution and Biodiversity), which can be taken in any order. These courses have no corequisites or prerequisites. The most important course to take in the first year is BIOL 15b (offered both fall and spring), because it is a prerequisite for the lab course (BIOL 18b) that many students take in fall of the second year. We recommend that you take BIOL 14a (Genetics and Genomics) in either your first or second year, and the General Biology Laboratory series (BIOL 18b and BIOL 18a) in your second year (or later). BIOL 16a (Evolution and Biodiversity) can be taken in any fall semester. BIOL 15b is the prerequisite for BIOL 18b. BIOL 14a and BIOL 18b are the prerequisites for BIOL 18a.

Here are a few common examples, any of which allow a student to take General Chemistry in their first year, and General Biology Laboratory in their second year (or later):

• Wait to begin biology with BIOL 15b in spring, then BIOL 14a the following fall. Take BIOL 16a in the fall of the Junior or Senior year. This works well for students who want to ease in by starting with only a chemistry class (see below) in their first semester.

• Take both BIOL 15b and BIOL 14a in the first year, in either order. One or both of these are prerequisites for most biology electives, which you could then take as early as your third semester.

• Begin the biology series with BIOL 16a in fall, BIOL 15b in spring, and BIOL 14a the following fall. This is a good option for students who are most interested in organismal biology, ecology or evolution, and want to take electives in those areas as soon as possible.

Students receiving an AP or IB score of 5 or higher may choose not to take BIOL 15b. You should be aware, however, that a high AP score does not necessarily indicate readiness to continue with upper-level biology electives. For this reason, we strongly recommend all students considering opting out of BIOL 15b take the Biology placement exam to check their preparedness.

* Most students who have already taken pre-calculus enroll in the first year in the CHEM 11a,b or CHEM 15a,b General Chemistry series, which are required for the biology major, along with their laboratories CHEM 18a,b or CHEM 19a,b. (See First Year Placement in Chemistry) Students who feel less prepared in math are encouraged to take MATH 5a, Precalculus, in the first year, and General Chemistry in their second year.  BIOL 14a and BIOL 18b are the prerequisites for BIOL 18a.

Business website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • ECON 2a A Survey of Economics

  • ECON 10a Introduction to Microeconomics

• Other recommended courses:
  • HS 104b - American Healthcare
  • ENGR 11a - Introduction to Design Methodology
  • SOC 112b - Social Class and Social Inequality

Administered and staffed by the International Business School and the College of Arts and Sciences, our undergraduate programs in Business teach a way of thinking that cuts across disciplines and is rooted in practice. Undergraduates are offered an array of business courses that cover all the primary business disciplines at both the introductory and advanced level, supported by a large number of liberal arts courses. A combination of these courses can be pursued to fulfill either a major or minor in Business. The program is designed to complement nicely with any other Brandeis concentration. Indeed, leveraging the strength of a Brandeis liberal arts education is a cornerstone of the undergraduate Business program.

Students should begin with ECON 2a or ECON 10a, as either serves as a prerequisite to all business courses. BUS 6a, Financial Accounting, should be taken the following semester.

Chemistry Website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • CHEM 11a General Chemistry I and CHEM 18a General Chemistry Laboratory I

  • CHEM 15a Honors General Chemistry I and CHEM 19a Honors General Chemistry Laboratory I

• Courses for students not majoring in a science:

  • CHSC 3b Solving Environmental Challenges:  The Role of Chemistry

Chemistry focuses on how atoms of just a few dozen types combine to form countless molecules, and how these molecules interact with each other to form the materials we encounter in our everyday lives. Chemistry is therefore called “the central science,” the material realization of principles of physics, and a foundation of the life sciences.

General Chemistry is a required course in the chemistry, biology, biochemistry and neuroscience majors. It is also required of pre-medical, pre- dental and pre-veterinary students, so most first year students with these academic and/or professional interests enroll in this introductory course.

We offer introductory chemistry for two levels of preparation: General Chemistry (CHEM 11a with corresponding lab CHEM 18a) and Honors Chemistry (CHEM 15a with corresponding lab CHEM 19a). At each level, the lecture and lab courses are separate and require separate registrations.

Detailed placement information is available on the Registrar's website.

Classical Studies website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• • Recommended first courses:

    • LAT 10a Beginning Latin (or higher level by placement)

    • GRK 10a Beginning Ancient Greek (or higher level by placement)

• Other recommended courses:
  • CLAS 133a The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece
  • CLAS 170a Classical Mythology

The requirements for the major are designed to be flexible, giving students the ability to plan their program around a particular interest — for example, history, literature, language, or art and archaeology.

Comparative Literature and Culture website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • COML 105a World Culture and Marxism

  • COML/REC 136a All in the Family:  Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and the English Novel

Discover the joy of beauty in your intellectual life. Learn what it really means to be ‘cultured.’ Realize your power to define your own cultural identity, rather than let others do it for you. Find out why the social sciences are just now discovering what we already know: you can learn the most about both individuals and societies through their cultural products of expression. We welcome students of all majors and levels to enroll in our courses; try one and we know you’ll be back for more.

Computer Science website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses (depending on the results of the placement test):

  • COSI 10a Introduction to Problem Solving in Python

  • COSI 12b Advanced Programming in Java

The Department of Computer Science teaches students the theoretical fundamentals and practical aspects of computing — to prepare students for innovative jobs in the computer field or for graduate study. Besides a full range of CS courses, we also offer classes in entrepreneurship, to ready students for working in start-up companies.

• Other Recommended Courses:

  • COSI 29a Discrete Structures

Computer science majors have access to the Vertica Lounge, an innovative space for study and collaboration, and advanced servers for computing-intensive and online projects. Students can also do research with a faculty member as part of independent study or an honors project. Faculty research interests include artificial intelligence, computational linguistics, data compression, computer networks and systems, databases, human centered computing, educational technology, computer vision and machine learning.

It is recommended that students have completed the courses COSI 10a and COSI 12b by the end of their sophomore year since they are prerequisites for advanced courses in the major.

Creative Writing website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended courses:

  • ENG 109b Fiction Workshop: Short Fiction

  • ENG 119b Poetry Workshop: Special Topics in Poetry
    

CAST Website

Course of Study: Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • CAST 150b Introduction to Creativity, the Arts and Social Transformation

• Other Recommended courses:
  • ENG 12a Decolonizing Tongues: Language in African Literature

The interdepartmental minor in Creativity, the Arts and Social Transformation offers students the opportunity to explore theory and practice at the center of arts and culture, peace and justice, and creativity. A minor in Creativity, the Arts and Social Transformation is designed for students in the arts who want to connect their creative talents to their concerns for social change, and for students in the humanities and social sciences to explore music, theater, literature and visual arts as resources for justice and peace.

Students in the minor are required to take an introductory course, Introduction to Creativity, the Arts and Social Transformation (CAST 150b). All minors will choose from a list of elective courses, one each from the Creative Arts, the Humanities and Social Sciences. To complete the minor, students are required to complete a capstone experience.

East Asian Studies website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • CHIN 10a Beginning Chinese I (or higher level by placement)

  • HIST 80a Introduction to East Asian Civilization

  • JAPN 10a Beginning Japanese (or higher level by placement)

  • FA 71 b The Art of Japan
  • KOR 10a Beginning Korean (or higher level by placement)

Interested in learning more about the East Asian civilization? East Asian Studies is an interdisciplinary program that provides students with a deeper understanding of both current and historic East Asia while exploring history, politics, economics, arts and the languages of East Asia.

Economics website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • ECON 10a Introduction to Microeconomics

  • MATH 10a Techniques of Calculus (a)

Economics is the social science that studies the roles of prices, markets, institutions, technology and government policies in determining patterns of human behavior and economic activity, including production, employment, economic growth, living standards and the distribution of income in modern economies. Students are drawn to the subject by several distinct aspects of the field: its rigorous quantitative methods, its relationship to the business sector and its numerous applications to controversial issues of public policy such as the environment, health care, taxation, regulation of financial markets and international trade.

Students are exempt from ECON 10a if they have AP credit for micro or transfer credit for a one-semester Introduction to Microeconomics course or an Introduction to Economics course that covers both micro and macro. Students are exempt from ECON 20a if they have AP credit for macro or transfer credit for a one-semester Introduction to Macroeconomics course. Students who only have credit for Introduction to Macroeconomics should take ECON 10a.

Calculus is a requirement for the major and a prerequisite for the intermediate theory courses (ECON 80a, 82b, 83a, and 184b). Students interested in becoming Economics majors who have not taken calculus should register for MATH 10a. Students who have had calculus and received at least a 4 on the AP Mathematics AB test or at least a 3 on the AP Mathematics BC test satisfy the calculus requirement. Students who have had calculus but do not otherwise satisfy the requirement can take the department calculus exam given at the beginning of each semester. Students must satisfy the calculus requirement before enrolling in the intermediate theory courses and will be automatically dropped from these courses if at any point it is determined that the prerequisite has not been satisfied.

Transfer students planning an Economics major should contact Professor Redenius as soon as possible to apply transfer credits to the major and discuss appropriate courses to take during their first semester at Brandeis.

Education program website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • ED 10a Introduction to Teaching and Learning

• Other recommended courses:
  

  • ED 155b Education and Social Policy

The Education Studies program offers both a major and a minor for undergraduates who are interested in education itself as well as in education-related fields.  For more information regarding major and minor requirements please refer to the University Bulletin.

English website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • ENG 10b Poetry: A Basic Course

  • ENG 12a Decolonizing Tongues: Language in African Literature
• Other Recommended Courses:
  • ENG 33a Shakespeare Now

Environmental Studies website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first course/s:

  • ENVS 2a Fundamentals of Environmental Challenges

  • BIOL 16a Evolution and Biodiversity
• Other recommended course/s:
  • ENVS 107b Foundations of Global Environmental Diplomacy

The Environmental Studies program equips students to address the profound challenges facing our global environment. It combines the academic excellence and rigor of Brandeis coursework, faculty and teaching across the disciplines of the natural and social sciences, with considerable hands-on, experiential learning opportunities.

A fundamental component of the ENVS major and minor is the Applied Learning Experience (AppLE), which the vast majority of students fulfill with either an internship or a study abroad. Our students have completed internships in government, public interest, field research, nonprofit, and industry related jobs in the Boston area and beyond, working alongside environmental professionals in the field. Our study abroad partners offer a range of experiences that expose students to hands-on research and environmental management around the globe in places like Panama, Antarctica, Iceland and Tanzania.

Environmental Studies students learn research techniques, report-writing, oral communication, mapping, and quantitative problem-solving skills that prepare them for their later work and studies — whether or not they pursue a career in an environmental field.

It is recommended that ENVS majors and minors complete ENVS 2a in their first year or at the latest in their second year. The Undergraduate Advising Head (UAH) can help students determine which additional ENVS electives will best help them meet their professional goals. The Climate Justice, Science & Policy minor can be completed along with the ENVS major or minor.

European Cultural Studies website

Course of Study: Major

• Recommended first course:

  • CLAS 133a The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece

  • GECS 188b Human/Nature: European Perspectives on the Climate Crisis and What to Do About It
  • HIST 103a Roman History to 455 CE

Feeling intellectually adventurous? European Cultural Studies (ECS) is for students who want to explore the interrelationships of literature with the fine arts, history, music, philosophy and politics. Many ECS students study abroad to experience the cultures they are interested in first hand. ECS majors have gone on to graduate school, law school, business school and advanced programs in international studies.

Film, Television and Interactive Media website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first course/s:

  • AMST 35a Hollywood and American Culture

• Other recommended course/s:
  
  • CHIN 130b China on Film:  The Changes of Chinese Culture
  • ENG 180b Romanic Comedy/ Matrimonial Tragedy
  • ENG 62a - Documentary: Techniques and Controversies
  • FA 8a - Introduction to Video Art

Gain insight into motion picture media through a major or minor in film studies. This curriculum provides students with knowledge about the dominant medium of our age — the moving image. Students develop an informed background in motion picture history, cinematic style and a critical appreciation of the cultural meanings of film. The minor in film studies complements a range of disciplines including American studies, English, history, politics, sociology, fine arts, theater arts and German, Russian, Asian languages and literature.

French Studies Website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • FREN 10a Beginning French (or higher level by placement)

  • FREN 20b Continuing French (or higher level by placement)

  • FREN 32a Intermediate French: Conversation (or higher level by placement)

  • FREN 104b Advanced Language Skills through Culture (or higher level by placement)

  • FREN 105 The Francophone World Today: Advanced Language Skills through Culture II (or higher level by placement)

  • FREN 106b Writing Workshop

The French-speaking world is vast in both geographical scope, historical depth, and cultural variety. French is a first language for many in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and North America, and it is also an important second language in other parts of the globe. The French and Francophone Studies program brings this world to students in all of its diversity, from the lais of Marie de France to the comedies of Molière, the plays of Olympe de Gouge, the films of the Dardenne brothers, the novels of Marie NDiaye, the bandes dessinées of Riad Sattouf, and the music of Stromae, for example. Students in this program develop strong oral and written interpretive skills as they discover the past achievements of French-speaking peoples and the challenges currently facing them. Moreover, learners enhance their sensitivity to cultural differences while deepening their understanding of the linguistic, social, artistic, economic, and political complexities of the Francophone world.

Placement Guidelines

For information about placement/enrollment for French classes, please see the ROMS Language Programs Placement page.

Still have questions? Contact our Director of the French Language Program, Hollie Harder.

German Studies website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • GER 10a Beginning German (or higher level by placement)

  • GECS 188b Human/Nature: European Perspectives on the Climate Crisis and What to Do About It

German has always been one of the prime languages of international scholarship, and the reunification of Germany has reinvigorated European and indeed worldwide importance. German majors have gone on to graduate school in German literature to prepare for a career of teaching and research and many have continued on to professional school in law, medicine or business. Some have entered government work, have found employment with publishing companies or business firms with international connections. We offer a major and a minor in German. Our department is also part of the major in European Cultural Studies (ECS).

Health: Science, Society, and Policy website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended First Course/s:

  • HSSP 114b Racial/Ethnic and Gender Uniequalities in Health and Health Care
  • HSSP 116a Health Workforce Policy and Practice

  • BIOL 14a Genetics and Genomics

  • BIOL 15b Cells and Organisms

  • BIOL 16a Evolution and Biodiversity

  • HS 104b  American Health Care

Health: Science, Society and Policy (HSSP) is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program that draws from three of the major strengths of Brandeis: the life sciences, the social sciences of health and the health policy of the Heller School. There are few programs like HSSP in the country; the emphasis is studying multiple perspectives on health and health care in the United States and throughout the world. The many disciplines of HSSP contribute to our current understanding of human health and disease. This program will help students understand the biological underpinnings of health, illness and disability, as well as their social, political, legal and economic dimensions. Majors enhance their knowledge with a "hands on" experience, for example, in an internship (in a health care delivery, public health or advocacy organization), a laboratory (studying the biological basis of health, behavior or disease), or a field-based research project or thesis (investigating aspects of health or illness in a social context).

Students may choose to earn a degree in HSSP as either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS). Students may also choose a HSSP minor.

By undertaking this broad interdisciplinary study of health, students prepare themselves for a variety of educational and professional opportunities. Graduates of HSSP will go on to careers in the fields of medicine, dentistry, public health, clinical therapy, social work, genetic counseling, biomedical research, law, social policy and public service, among many others.

• Recommended courses:

  • HWL 26 Ballroom/Latin Dance

  • HWL 40 Personal Safety/ Self Defense

  • HWL 55 Body Mapping:  Freedom from Pain, Movement with Ease!

The Health, Wellness and Life Skills requirement will be satisfied by completing three noncredit, six-week module courses. All first-year students will automatically be enrolled in the core Navigating Health and Safety module in their first semester at Brandeis, and students will then choose one module from Mind and Body Balance and one other module from any of the three groups.

Course of Study: Minor

• Recommended first course:

  • HBRW 10a Beginning Hebrew

Hispanic Studies website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first course/s:

  • HISP 10a Beginning Spanish (or higher level by placement)

  • HISP 20b Continuing Spanish (or higher level by placement)

  • HISP 32a Intermediate Spanish: Conversation (or higher level by placement)

  • HISP 104b Peoples, Ideas, and Language of the Hispanic World (or higher level by placement)

  • HISP 105a Oral Communication through Cultural Topics (or higher level by placement)

  • HISP 106b Spanish for Written Communication through Contemporary Culture
    

Hispanic Studies at Brandeis focuses on the Spanish language, and much more. Students improve their Spanish-language skills in the courses they take. But language is also the matter of politics, advertising, media and social communication. Students, therefore, engage in the analysis of cultural artifacts and artistic movements as they learn more about language and their own place in the world. Study abroad for a semester or a year may play an important part in students’ academic careers and personal growth.

Majors and minors in Hispanic Studies are prepared to pursue careers in a wide range of fields where effective communication and intercultural critical thinking are essential, including those in which they will have direct contact with Spanish speakers and/or Hispanic cultures, both in this country and globally.

Placement Guidelines

For information about placement/enrollment for Spanish classes, please see the ROMS Language Programs Placement page. 

Still have questions? Contact our Director of the Spanish Language Program, Elena González Ros.

Visit the History website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first course/s:

  • HIST 103a Roman History to 455 CE

• Other recommended courses:

  • HIST 71b Latin American and Caribbean History II: Modernity, Medicine, Sexuality

  • HIST 112b The Crusades and the Expansion of Medieval Europe

  • HIST 128a A Spatial History of the Modern U.S.
  • HIST 134b The Ottoman Empire: From Principality to Republic by Way of Empire
  • HIST 153b Slavery and the American Civil War:  #1619 Project

History of Ideas website

Course of Study: Minor

• Recommended first course/s:

  • HIST 152b The European Occult Tradition, 1200-2021

  • PHIL 114b Topics in Ethical Theory
  • POL 10a Introduction to Political Theory

To understand the significance of our beliefs and commitments, we need to trace their sources and their history. The History of Ideas program proposes to provide students with the historical background of the issues and the values that have shaped their interests. It is intended to provide students with the skills, the knowledge, the guidance and the freedom to construct a focused and rigorous course of study — one that explores the historical transformation of a set of ideas and institutions across several traditional disciplines.

International and Global Studies website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first course:

  • IGS 10a Introduction to International and Global Studies

• Other recommended courses:

  • POL 15a Introduction to International Relations

  • ANTH 1a - Introduction to the Comparative Study of Human Societies
  • IGS 8a - Economics Principles and Globalization

Understand the complex processes of globalization that affect politics, economics, culture, society, the environment and many other facets of our lives. International and Global Studies (IGS) students take four core courses and then take elective courses offered in departments across campus to gain an interdisciplinary understanding of how to address the world’s most pressing problems.

ISLAMIC AND MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES WEBSITE

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • NEJS 104b Islam: Civilization and Institutions

  • ARBC 10a Beginning Arabic I

  • POL 133a Contemporary Politics in the Middle East
  • REL 107a Introduction to World Religions

Italian Website

Course of Study: Minor, Independent Interdisciplinary Major (IIM)

• Recommended first courses:

  • ITAL 10a Beginning Italian (or higher level by placement)

  • ITAL 30a Intermediate Italian (or higher level by placement)

  • CLAS 161b The Corrupting Sea: Cities and Communities of the Ancient Mediterranean

Brandeis offers students the opportunity to focus on the cultural heritage of Italy from the inception of the Italian language to the present day. The study of Italy's language and creative achievements enables students to explore this culture in depth in preparation for study abroad, graduate work or related opportunities in the workplace.

Italian studies provides a minor and an independent major (through an Independent Interdisciplinary Major or IIM) for those who wish to extend their study of Italian beyond language and culture to areas of Italian literature, history, film, art history and music. The study of Italian within a variety of cultural contexts enables students to deepen their understanding of Italian culture beyond the boundaries of a single time frame, region, gender, genre or academic discipline.

Students in the program work closely with an adviser to develop an individualized plan of study that balances the exploration of a broad range of topics and sectors with a focus on a single discipline or cultural period.

Placement Guidelines

For information about placement/enrollment for Italian classes, please see the ROMS Language Programs Placement page. 

Still have questions? Contact our Director of the Italian Language Program, Hollie Harder.

Journalism website

Course of Study: Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • JOUR 101a The Fundamentals of Journalism
  • JOUR 112b Social Journalism: The Art of Engaging Audiences

  • AMST/JOUR 137b Journalism in Modern America

LATIN AMERICAN, Caribbean and LATInX STUDIES WEBSITE

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first course:

  • LACLS 1a Introduction to Latin American/LatinX:  Cultures, Histories, and Societies
• Other recommended course/s:
  • POL 144a Latin American Politics

The Latin American and Latino Studies Program offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding South America, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and the Latin American diaspora in the United States. To have a first hand experience of the subject, students are encouraged to go abroad and study in Latin America for a semester.

Legal Studies website

Course of Study: Minor

• Recommended first course:

  • LGLS 10a Introduction to Law

Legal Studies is a flexible program that includes law-related courses drawn from many different departments in addition to its own courses and seminars on a wide range of legal topics. Individual courses are open to students from all fields, including the sciences and medicine, as well as humanities, social sciences and creative arts. Students can minor, but not major, in Legal Studies by completing the program requirements of five courses and a research-based internship or an approved law-related thesis.

Linguistics website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Courses that may be taken without prior study of linguistics:

  • LING 100a Introduction to Linguistics

  • LING 160b Mathematical Methods for Computational Linguistics

Linguists research the components of human languages, including the sounds of speech; the organization of sound patterns, words, sentences, discourses, and meanings; variation and change in human languages; and the relationships between language and computation, cognition, and society.

The undergraduate linguistics program at Brandeis offers an in-depth study of human language, and linguistics majors learn the methods, concepts, and theories that will enable them to recognize, explore, describe, and explain the complex patterning of human languages, and of their knowledge and use. Whether you major or minor in linguistics, you can complement your course of study by taking language-related classes in other disciplines, such as anthropology, philosophy, computer science, or neuroscience.

Incoming students interested in linguistics should take Introduction to Linguistics (LING 100a) in the fall, if at all possible. The course can be taken in later years if it doesn't fit a student's first year schedule, but the course introduces the core concepts of the field — and is a prerequisite for many other linguistics courses.

Students with other questions about how to begin studying linguistics are encouraged to visit the program's advising page for up to date detailed information about who to see for linguistics advising.

Mathematics website

Course of Study: BA/BS Major in Mathematics, Minor in Mathematics, BS Major in Applied Mathematics

• Recommended first course:

  • Get a first course recommendation by placement exam

Mathematics is central to the natural sciences, to ecological issues, to economics and to our technical society. Since mathematics courses build upon earlier courses, it is extremely important that students place themselves at the correct level. Students who place themselves in too advanced a course usually have difficulty as the semester progresses. Students with AP credit in mathematics should take the placement exam.

Students who plan to enroll in precalculus (MATH 5a), single variable calculus (MATH 10a or 10b) or an intermediate course like MATH 15a, MATH 20a, or MATH 22a should take the mathematics placement exam before enrolling.

Students who place out of calculus may take MATH 15a or MATH 22a. MATH 15a should be taken before Math 20a and is offered every semester. Students trying to decide between MATH 15a/20a and MATH 22a should take the MATH 22a placement exam. Both placement exams can be found on the Registrar's website.

MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE STUDIES WEBSITE

Course of Study: Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • HIST 103a Roman History to 455 CE
  • HIST 112b The Crusades and the Expansion of Medieval Europe
  • FA 30a History of Western Art I: From Antiquity to the Middle Ages

The Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program provides students with a broad introduction to the development of Western civilization from the end of antiquity to the 17th century. Faculty from a variety of disciplines offer courses that provide an interdisciplinary perspective on the formation of early modern Europe and the Mediterranean.

In order to develop a multifaceted picture of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, all students select one of several broad core courses in history and other fields. Students then are encouraged to explore other disciplinary perspectives through their choice of designated courses in History, Literature, Music, Art and Philosophy. Since each student tailors the choice of electives to their interests, this program offers a useful complement to concentrations in the contributing departments, can create a focused Humanities minor to balance a stem major, and serves as a good foundation for graduate study in a variety of fields.

MUSIC WEBSITE

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first course:

  • AMST/MUS 35a Rock, Country, and Hip-Hop:  History of American Popular Music

First-year students who may be considering a major or minor in Music should plan to take theory courses appropriate to their level by enrolling initially in Western Classical and Popular Music I (MUS 101a) and Western Classical and Popular Music Lab I (MUS 102a). A placement exam, given on the first day of class, ensures that students are enrolled in the appropriate level of music theory.

The curriculum and repertoire explore the connection between the art of the past and the present by seeking new interpretive meanings to classical works; creating and experiencing new music inspired by the visionaries who preceded us; exploring western and non-western musical traditions; and understanding music as a cultural phenomenon.

Music Performance Courses

There is a long tradition and a strong emphasis on performance in the music department. First-year students, especially potential majors, are encouraged to enroll in Private Lessons: Instrumentalists (MUS 111a and b) or Private Lessons: Voice (112a and b). Placement auditions for teacher assignments are held at the beginning of the semester. The department also extends a warm invitation to all students to register for participation in the performing ensembles: Early Music Ensemble (MUS 80), Chamber Choir (MUS 81), University Chorus (MUS 82), Jazz Ensemble (MUS 83), Orchestra (MUS 84), Wind Ensemble MUS 85), Improv Collective (MUS 86), Music and Dance from Ghana (MUS 87) and Chamber Music (MUS 116).

NEAR EASTERN AND JUDAIC STUDIES WEBSITE

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• • • Recommended first courses:

      • NEJS 104b Islam: Civilization and Institutions
      • NEJS 115a Gender, Women, and Islam
      • NEJS 134a Debating Religion:  Muslims, Christians, and Jews in Dialogue and Dispute

NEJS is home to a strong and diverse international faculty whose members research the Bible and ancient Near East, Jewish civilization from its beginnings through historical and contemporary times, Israel studies, Rabbinic Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Our classes are taught on many levels, in disciplines including textual and literary studies, history, social sciences, intellectual history and philosophy, religion and the arts.

Neuroscience website

Course of Study: Major

• Recommended first course sequences:

  • BIOL 14a Genetics and Genomics and BIOL 15b Cells and Organisms

  • CHEM 11a General Chemistry I and CHEM 18a General Chemistry Laboratory I (fall) and CHEM 11b General Chemistry II and CHEM 18b General Chemistry Laboratory II (spring) or CHEM 15a Honors General Chemistry I and CHEM 19a Honors General Chemistry Laboratory I (fall) and CHEM 15b Honors General Chemistry II and CHEM 19b Honors General Chemistry Laboratory II (spring)

  • MATH 10A Techniques of Calculus (fall) and NPSY 11b Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience (spring)

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary study of the neural mechanisms involved in the control of human and animal behavior. It combines a strong foundation in basic science with more specialized courses in neurobiology and psychology. The course requirements overlap with those recommended for admissions to medical school and graduate programs in biology, neuroscience and neuropsychology. Therefore, the major is especially appropriate for students wishing to pursue graduate school in medicine, neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience or neuro-modeling.

Peace, Conflict and Coexistence Studies website

Course of Study: Minor

• Recommended first course:

  • CAST 150b Introduction to Creativity, the Arts, and Social Transformation

  • SOC 112b Social Class and Social Inequality
  • POL 144a Latin American Politics

Since the end of World War II, peace studies has emerged as an interdisciplinary area of inquiry that draws on social science, the humanities, the creative arts and science in an effort to understand reasons for war and ways to resolve conflicts without violence.

Since the late 1980s, the focus of Brandeis' Peace, Conflict and Coexistence Studies Program (PAX) has shifted from the Cold War and the nuclear threat to understanding how conflicts can be resolved nonviolently instead of violently — whether the conflicts are international, among groups and individuals or even within the self. This emphasis supplements and intersects with the larger goal of ending war altogether.

Our students examine the many meanings of "security," study the nature of power and political participation, consider contrasts between war culture and peace culture, recognize differences between positive peace and negative peace, investigate the relationship between inner peace and outer peace, see the role the arts can play in analyzing war and promoting peace, and explore ways of addressing conflicts.

Philosophy website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • PHIL 1a Introduction to Philosophy

  • PHIL 6a Introduction to Symbolic Logic

  • PHIL 17a Introduction to Ethics
  • PHIL 24a Philosophy of Religion

In the course of our daily lives we take the ideas of time, language, knowledge and our own identity for granted. Philosophy seeks to push the understanding of the ideas that are fundamental to all the other disciplines taught at Brandeis University — the sciences, social sciences, humanities and the arts.

Physics website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • MATH 10a Techniques of Calculus (a) (or higher level by placement)

  • PHYS 11a Introductory Physics I

  • PHYS 15a Advanced Introductory Physics I

  • PHYS 19a Physics Laboratory I

Physics is the study of the interactions of matter and energy on scales ranging from elementary particles to the universe. A physics major prepares the student for further study or employment in any field involving quantitative analysis or modelling. Our students go on to graduate studies in physics, engineering and medicine and are employed in industry, government and the non-profit sector.

Due to the large number of required courses as well as the cumulative nature of the physics sequence, it is strongly advised for a prospective major to start taking physics courses in their first semester. Most students start with Physics 11a or 15a, Physics 19a, and a math course chosen based on the math placement exam. The choice between Physics 11a and 15a depends on one's prior preparation in math and physics, with students placing into Math 10a usually taking Physics 11a and others usually taking Physics 15a. The Undergraduate Advising Head (UAH) and Undergraduate Departmental Representatives (UDRs) are also good sources of advice on choosing physics courses. Note that Physics 11a and 15a meet at the same time, so if you find that your initial choice was wrong, it is easy to change classes. Students with exceptional prior preparation in math and physics, for example those who have already taken a physics course at a college or university, may be allowed to take Physics 20a in their first semester (AP exams are not usually sufficient); this requires permission from the UAH as well as the course instructor.

POLITICS WEBSITE

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • POL 10a Introduction to Political Theory

  • POL 11b Introduction to Comparative Politics

  • POL 14b Introduction to American Government

  • POL 15a Introduction to International Relations

• Other recommended courses:

  • POL 52a Basic Statistics for Social and Political Analysis
  • POL 113b The American Presidency

Interested in a career that makes a difference in campaigns, public service, policy analysis, journalism, law and business, or in post-graduate study in political science or law? The Politics Department welcomes students to learn the history, the skills and the contemporary practices that shape political power in today’s rapidly changing world. Courses range from the classical philosophers whose work shape the Western political tradition, to the modern political theorists and practitioners who shape the politics of these issues, to contemporary political conflict and reform around the globe.

Our teaching emphasizes critical reading, thinking and writing skills in all of our undergraduate courses. Many of our courses satisfy the Brandeis Core requirements in exciting and practical ways. In our seminars we seek to develop our students’ abilities to articulate reasoned arguments in support of their views before an audience of their peers.

PSYCHOLOGY WEBSITE

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first course:

  • PSYC 10a Introduction to Psychology

• Other recommended courses:

  • CHEM 11a General Chemistry I

  • BIOL 15b Cells and Organisms

  • PSYC 15a - Biological Bases of Motivation*
  • PSYC 32 - Abnormal Psychology*
  • PSYC 36b: Adolescence and the Transition to Maturity*

Students are urged to take these courses soon after taking PSYC 10a because they provide foundational training and experience with the methods and styles of thinking and analysis that will be employed in upper level courses. *Students need PSYCH 10a or equivalent as a prerequisite to take these courses.

The Department of Psychology offers students the opportunity to establish a strong scientific and research foundation in psychology, which prepares them to be thoughtful and discerning problem solvers. The program examines the most up-to-date and comprehensive psychological research and theory and provides opportunities for direct involvement in its application to clinical, mental-health, business, educational and other settings.

Our faculty conducts research in diverse areas including cognitive science, normal and abnormal development, health, culture, social interaction, spatial orientation, neurological bases of sensation, perception, memory, emotion, life-span development and aging, and effects of brain damage.

Religious Studies website

Course of Study: Minor

• Recommended courses:

  • REL 107a Introduction to World Religions

  • NEJS 104b Islam: Civilization and Institutions
  • PHIL 24a Philosophy of Religion

Deepen your understanding of religion and its manifestations through different methodologies and disciplines with the Religious Studies Program. The program offers courses in religious thought, ritual, culture, institutions, spirituality and sacred texts, often in historical and comparative contexts.

Brandeis, with its commitment to the wide range of religious and ethnic backgrounds in its student body, provides a supportive context for examining religion with open-minded curiosity and sympathetic understanding.

Russian Studies website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • RUS 10a: Beginning Russian I (or higher level by placement)

  • RUS 29b Russian Language for Russian Speakers (for heritage Russian speakers looking to improve reading and writing skills)

  • RUS 30a: Intermediate Russian I (or higher level by placement)

• Other recommended courses:

  • RECS 135a Russian Short Fictions:  Where is Justice in this World?

  • POL 133b Politics of Russia and the Post Communist World

Sexuality and Queer Studies website

Course of Study: Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • WGS 5a Women, Genders, and Sexualities

  • HIST/WGS 120b Queer History in the United States
  • POL/WGS 125a Gender in American Politics

The Sexuality and Queer Studies (SQS) minor can be earned within the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies program. Across the SQS curriculum, students may study the relation of sexuality and gender; develop understanding of non-heteronormative genders (including gender non-conforming, intersex, transgender, transsexual, and genderqueer individuals and collectives); study gender and sexuality in relation to heterosexual as well as LGBTIAQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual and queer) persons; explore discrimination toward non-normative genders and sexualities and historical struggles for rights and legal representation; and analyze the normative function of all identity categories.

Sociology website

Course of Study: Major

• Recommended first courses:

  • SOC 1a Order and Change in Society

  • SOC 121a  Inequality and Environmental Justice in the City
  • SOC 133b Sociology of Reproduction

Acquire the skills for understanding a broad array of institutions and cultures, from the everyday level of interpersonal and community interaction to large-scale political and social systems and public policies. The sociology department engages students as active learners while encouraging them to develop knowledge that can make a difference in the world, including the potential for leadership development and action for social justice.

A degree in Sociology prepares students for a wide array of careers in human services, education, law, health, public service and social change organizations.

South Asian Studies website

Course of Study: Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • ANTH 134a Contemporary South Asia

  • FA 33b islamic Art and Architecture
  • SOC 126a South Asian Diasporas

The South Asian Studies program provides a minor (open to students in any major) for those who wish to structure their studies of South Asia or the South Asian diaspora. The minor offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the literatures, histories, societies, cultures, religions, arts and contemporary importance of South Asia and diasporic South Asian communities. South Asia, one of the world’s most populous and significant regions, includes the modern nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and in certain contexts Afghanistan, Maldives, Myanmar and Tibet. Students completing the minor will come away with a strong understanding of the intellectual, cultural, political, economic and social developments at several key periods in South Asia’s history and in the contemporary era.

studio Art website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • FA 11a - Beginning Painting

  • FA 3a - Introduction to Drawing I

  • FA 4a - Sculpture Foundation: 3-D Design I

  • FA 8a - Introduction to Video Art

Theater Arts website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • THA 10a Theater as Collaboration

  • THA 125b The Art of Scenography: Scenic Design and Invention for Performance

Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies website

Course of Study: Major, Minor

• Recommended first course:

  • WGS 5a Women, Genders, and Sexualities

  • AAAS/WGS 125a Intellectual History of Black Women

  • POL/WGS 125a Gender in American Politics

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies draws on the humanities, arts, social and biological sciences to explore the broad range of intellectual questions raised by the social positions of women, gendered constructions of knowledge, identity and culture and many aspects of sexuality. The curriculum brings students into contact with the extensive research on women, gender, feminism, sexuality and queer theory that has burgeoned during the past forty years as well as with historical and cross-cultural knowledge that recognizes the intersections of gender and sexuality with race, class, religion, ethnicity, age, ability and nationality.

Course of Study: Minor

• Recommended first courses:

  • YDSH 10a Beginning Yiddish