Brandeis University

Brandeis University was initially founded in 1914 by John Hall Smith as Middlesex College of Medicine and Surgery, the nation's first medical school that didn't have Jewish quota. By 1946, the college was purchased by the Albert Einstein Foundation and renamed to honor Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis. Today, Brandeis University stands as a premier private, non-sectarian research institution with a strong liberal arts tradition. Brandeis enrolls approximately 3,500 undergraduates and 2,200 post-graduates each year. Just nine miles from Boston, Brandeis University is located on a 235-acre suburban campus in Waltham, Massachusetts. As part of the Boston Consortium, students can cross-register with MIT, Tufts, and Boston College.

According to the U.S. News, Brandeis University is the 34th best national university, 27th top value school, and 28th top college for military veterans. In particular, Brandeis has America's 36th best history programs, 44th best English degrees, and 45th top public affairs department. Forbes magazine ranked Brandeis as the nation's 54th best research university with the 46th most grateful grads and an A- financial grade. The Princeton Review placed Brandeis #1 nationally for "Most Engaged in Community." Kiplinger Personal Finance honored Brandeis University as the 33rd top private value in the United States. The Economist also recognized Brandeis for the world's 98th best MBA program.

Brandeis University Accreditation Details

Last reaffirmed in fall 2006, Brandeis University is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), a non-governmental agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education. The Brandeis International Business School is accredited via the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The Heller School of Social Policy and Management is a member of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). Brandeis is also accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC).

Brandeis University Application Requirements

With an acceptance rate of 35 percent, Brandeis University's graduate programs have a highly selective admissions process. All master's and PhD applicants must have completed at least a bachelor's degree from a four-year, regionally accredited institution. Curriculum prerequisites vary based on program. For instance, the M.S. in Genetic Counseling requires one year of chemistry, one year of biology, one semester of genetics, and one semester of statistics. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences mandates a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 semester hours. Satisfactory scores for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) are generally required. Successful applicants are typically in the 85th percentile in verbal or quantitative sections.

Before the fall deadline on January 15th and spring deadline on November 1st, post-graduates applying to Brandeis University should submit:

• Completed online application form
• $75 non-refundable application fee
• Transcripts from all colleges attended
• GRE General or Subject test results
• Proof of English proficiency (if applicable)
• Two or three letters of recommendation
• Curriculum vitae (CV) or resume
• Two-page personal statement of purpose
• Listing of research experience (PhD students only)

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time graduate students at Brandeis University pay an average yearly tuition of $45,900. Exact costs will differ based on the program selected. For instance, Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program charges $31,500 over 14 months. Yet the MS/MBA in Biotechnology bills students $70,950 for three semesters. The Pre-Medical Post-Baccalaureate program costs $8,400 per semester. Part-time Brandeis students can pay $5,910 per course. Additional costs include the $88 activities fee, $44 orientation fee, and $2,882 health insurance fee. Students in on-campus graduate housing must also afford $1,515 per month for rent.

The NCES reports that 58 percent of full-time Brandeis students receive assistance. The average financial aid package is worth $31,363. Students can borrow money with Stafford loans, Graduate PLUS loans, and alternative/private loans. Some may be eligible for the Fulbright U.S. Student Grant or Brandeis Dissertation Research Grant. Biweekly tuition stipends are available with research and course assistantships. A few master's and PhD programs have two-year fellowships for full tuition coverage. Education majors could earn the Federal TEACH Grant for $4,000 per year. Extended master's fee waivers are given during the thesis phase. Brandeis University also awards merit, need, and service-based scholarships.

Graduate Degree(s) Available

Brandeis University is a world-class research university granting 40 master's and 17 doctoral programs in a variety of fields. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences also has 12 joint/dual degrees for accelerated learning. As a distinguished AAU member, Brandeis offers rigorous training with mentored support thanks to the low student-faculty ratio of 10:1. The full-time faculty of several Fulbright, Guggenheim, and MacArthur fellows has trained over 6,500 GSAS alumni. Available graduate degrees include:

Master of Public Policy

Accredited by the NASPAA, the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program at Brandeis is highly regarded for preparing graduate students to succeed in governmental careers by implementing socially responsive policies. The 48-credit curriculum has concentrations in Women's and Gender Studies, Youth and Family Policy, Poverty Alleviation, Health Policy, Behavioral Health, Aging Policy and Services, and Social Policy. The two-year program gives future policy analysts the foundation to effectively resolve today's complex social challenges. Students benefit from hands-on capstone research in Heller's 10 centers, including the Schneider Institutes.

MFA in Music Composition and Theory

The two-year Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Music Composition and Theory program allows Brandeis students to command the craft of composing musical works. Coursework in the 36-credit curriculum will cover tonal analysis, electro-acoustic music, music history, composition theory, vocal instruction, and musicology. For a thesis, students must compose an original work for performance in the New Music Brandeis concert series. Students benefit from access to the state-of-the-art Slosberg Music Center and Jencks Early Music Room with a historic Viennese fortepiano.

PhD in Computer Science

Doctoral students can pursue a PhD in Computer Science at Brandeis University to fine-tune their expertise on cutting-edge technology advancements. Ideally located in Boston's high-tech Route 128 corridor, the three-year program involves hands-on research in the Alterman Lab, Chinese Language Processing Group, Brandeis Laboratory for Computational Linguistics, and more. Coursework will delve into artificial intelligence, programming, database management, human-computer interaction, machine learning, and computational biology. Along with a dissertation, PhD candidates must complete a teaching fellowship to prepare for academia.

Other unique graduate degrees at Brandeis University are the M.A. in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies, M.S. in Neuroscience, M.A. in Global Studies, PhD in International Economics, and PhD in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies.