Near Eastern and Judaic Studies

Bachelor of Arts in Near Eastern Judaic Studies

The field of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies (NEJS) is broad and deep, encompassing a complex array of religions, cultures, politics, languages and literatures, and demanding both geographic and historical perspectives. To study the Near East in all its complexity is to gain insight into many of the forces that have shaped the Western world.

From the history of Islam to the state of Israel, from the ancient Near East to the modern Middle East, from Christianity to Rabbinic Judaism, from Yiddish to Arabic, the NEJS major offers a rich assortment of prisms through which to study Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. We also believe in exploring these topics through a variety of disciplines, including textual and literary studies, history, social sciences, intellectual history and philosophy, religion and the arts.

In addition to introducing you to the critical study of Near Eastern and Judaic source materials, the broad, cross-disciplinary scope of the NEJS major prepares you for a wide range of careers, including community organizing, secular and religious education, academia, political consulting, writing and entertainment, business, law and medicine. Many of our majors also pursue their study of NEJS in the finest doctoral programs.

• A completed Common Application.
• $80 application fee (or fee waiver).
• Official copies of all high school transcripts and/or GED certificate and/or marks from any externally graded national exams. (If the original documents are not in English, please submit both original documents and English translations.) This should include transcripts for courses taken for credit outside your high school. Transcripts must include official grades from all years of secondary school.
• A school report and a letter of recommendation from a secondary school official.
• High School Senior Grades: Send your senior midyear grades as soon as they become available. We understand this may not be until late January or early February for some students, though we encourage you to send them as soon as possible. For Early Decision applicants, submit first marking period grades, which may be first quarter or first trimester grades.
• A letter of recommendation from a teacher who has instructed you in a core academic course (math, science, history, foreign language or English). (Homeschooled students and those applying for the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program, see the tabs below for more details.)
• Optional standardized test scores: Learn more about our test-optional policy.
• A completed Early Decision Agreement Form (pdf). If you're applying for Early Decision I or Early Decision II.

Additional Materials and Information

• English Proficiency: If you're an international student for whom English is not your native language, you should submit results of an English proficiency exam. You have the choice of submitting scores from one of the following exams. Scanned copies of the TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge Assessment exams are accepted; Duolingo (DET) scores must be submitted directly from the testing agency.
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) 
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) 
  • Duolingo English Test (DET) 
  • Cambridge Assessment English Qualifications (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency)
  • If you have spent four or more years attending a high school where the full academic curriculum is in English, you are exempt from this requirement, and may submit a request for a waiver in your DEISconnect portal after applying.
  • If you're applying directly from a United World College (UWC) campus, you are also exempt from this requirement.
• Financial documentation:
  • If you are not applying for financial aid, you must submit:
    • The Certification of Finances for International Students through your DEISconnect portal.
    • Supporting financial documentation demonstrating the funds that the family will contribute to your education for the first year of study. Examples are statements of earnings from employers, certification of finances from banks or other financial institutions, or tax returns if available.
  • If you are applying for financial aid, you must submit:
    • A completed CSS Profile.
    • Supporting financial documentation demonstrating the funds that the family can contribute to your education for the first year of study. Examples are statements of earnings from employers, certification of finances from banks or other financial institutions, or tax returns if available.
• Additional recommendations:
  • Visits: We encourage you to participate in a virtual visit and, if possible, schedule an interview with an admissions representative.
  • Third-party interviews: Interviews through services like InitialView or Vericant are also encouraged. Deadlines are as follows:
    • Early Decision I : Record and submit by November 15.
    • Early Decision II / Regular Decision: Record and submit by January 15.

Your roadmap to a complete application.

Applying to Brandeis as a first-year student? Below, you'll find everything you need to include in your application.

In addition to the core first-year applicant materials list, be sure to check out the additional guides below for more info, advice and supplementary information! And remember, we're always here to help.