Reinventing the Liberal Arts: A conversation about the updated Brandeis Core

Brandeis Stories

Reinventing the Liberal Arts: A conversation about the updated Brandeis Core

June 9, 2026

Starting in Fall 2026, Brandeis students will experience an updated Brandeis Core curriculum designed to make the skills and experiences that define a Brandeis education more visible and create greater flexibility for research, internships, study abroad and other applied learning opportunities.

We spoke with Jeffrey Shoulson, vice provost for undergraduate affairs and dean of undergraduate studies, about what the updated Core means for future students and how it reflects Brandeis' broader effort to reinvent the liberal arts for a rapidly changing world.

What is the Brandeis Core?

The Brandeis Core is the foundation of every undergraduate education at Brandeis. No matter what major a student chooses, the Core ensures that they develop essential skills, explore different ways of thinking, and engage with ideas and perspectives beyond their primary field of study. This ensures students leave Brandeis with both intellectual depth and a broad understanding of the world.

What will be different for students entering Brandeis in Fall 2026?

Students will see a stronger focus on a set of Core Competencies that are woven throughout their academic experience. These include communication, teamwork and collaboration, technological fluency, quantitative reasoning and global engagement and social responsibility.

Many of these skills have always been part of a Brandeis education. The difference is that we're making them more visible and more intentional.

Why did Brandeis update the Core Curriculum?

We wanted to make more explicit something that has always been true about a Brandeis education: students develop skills that serve them well long after graduation. Employers, graduate schools and students themselves increasingly want to understand how academic learning translates into real-world capabilities. The revised Core helps us articulate those connections more clearly while remaining true to the values and goals of a Brandeis education.

What's important is that we're not changing the purpose of a Brandeis education. We're making clearer the value it has always provided while creating more opportunities for students to apply what they learn through research, internships, study abroad and other hands-on experiences.

Why are these competencies important?

Whether students go on to graduate school, launch a startup, work in healthcare, conduct research, enter public service or pursue careers we can't even imagine today, they will need to communicate clearly, work effectively with others, analyze information, adapt to new technologies and understand an increasingly interconnected world.

The Core helps students develop those capabilities regardless of their major.

How does the updated Core Curriculum give students more flexibility?

One of our goals was to make it easier for students to pursue opportunities beyond the classroom, applying what they have learned in meaningful ways.

The revised Core allows students to satisfy multiple requirements through the same courses, reducing redundancy and creating more flexibility in their schedules. That can make it easier to participate in faculty research, pursue internships, study abroad or explore interdisciplinary interests.

What would you say to a student who is just beginning their college search?

I would tell them that the world is changing rapidly, and the most valuable education is one that prepares you not just for your first job, but for a lifetime of learning, growth and adaptation.

At Brandeis, you'll explore big ideas, work closely with faculty, engage in research and experiential learning and develop the skills to make an impact wherever your path takes you. The Brandeis Core Curriculum is designed to help make that possible.