In accordance with the recommendation of the Curriculum and Academic Restructuring Steering committee, the University is currently considering phasing out four-year departmental combined bachelor's and master's degree programs, according to Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe. Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Gregory Freeze has submitted a proposal which is now under discussion by the departments that offer a four-year combined bachelor's and master's degree program for undergraduate students.

The departments currently offering such combined programs are Anthropology, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, History, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Physics and Politics.

The idea of eliminating such programs was first introduced by the CARS committee, which wrote in its final report, "The existence of these options precludes the development of five-year combined bachelor's and master's programs, which might offer students an attractive and strong option for achieving the MA degree, while also providing revenue possibilities for [the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences]. We recommend that the 4-year BA/MA option be phased out."

Jaffe said that there were two main motivations behind the University's consideration of the BA/MA programs.

"I think there was a feeling that, in many cases, the graduate work that is done in the BA/MA programs is really not graduate-quality work. ... There was also a feeling that advising the master's work is a drain on faculty resources." In its original report, the CARS committee wrote, "The Committee believes that such programs are generally not appropriate, with the work done to earn the MA closer to an undergraduate honors degree than a true graduate degree."

"We hope to have a resolution by the end of this year," said Jaffe. Jaffe said that the next step in the process is a formal discussion of the proposal at a meeting of the Graduate School Council and that any decision made there would then be sent on the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.

Jaffe said that if the decision to cancel the programs is made, the University Bulletin will be amended to indicate that the option of the four-year combined program is no longer available beginning with the class entering in the fall of 2010. Students who entered Brandeis when the University offered such combined programs would have the opportunity to complete them.

Several faculty members have since voiced their support of such programs. Prof. Gregory Petsko (CHEM) wrote in an e-mail to the Justice, "[The combined bachelor's and master's degree program] permits outstanding students to do research in more depth, and to derive a tangible credential from their additional efforts."

Prof. Ira Gessel (MATH) wrote, "In the mathematics department there are not many students who take advantage of the 4 year BA/MA program, but it is beneficial to those few."

Prof. Dagmar Ringe (CHEM) said, "From the point of view of the students, it gives them a goal; it gives what they perceive as a more focused research opportunity." Ringe said that, in her opinion, the four-year combined bachelor's and master's degree program requires much more extensive study and research then an honors degree. "For most of the students, they simply love it," said Ringe.

Stefan Isaac '10, who is pursuing a four-year combined BS/MS in Biochemistry, said that he had "put a lot of time into working in the lab and working on my projects. ... You get a lot out of that because you are working as if you were a [graduate] student. ... [You learn] things that you don't learn in a classroom."

Isaac added that it is his impression that the theses of master's candidates are graded more harshly and expected to be at a higher level than those of students pursuing honors degrees. The combined BS/MS program offers the chance to learn how "to be independent, which is huge in science," said Isaac. He felt that the increased emphasis on research and real-world application was an experience which was unique to the four- year BS/MS program.

Jaffe said that the University plans to maintain five-year BA/MA programs and added that "in departments that have had four-year programs ... it might be appropriate for them to think about creating a five-year or even a nine-semester program.