'Brooklyn College' is a senior college of the
City University of New York, located in
Brooklyn, New York.
Established in
1930 by the
New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as branches of
Hunter College (then a
women's college) and the
City College of New York (then a
men's college). With the merger of these branches, Brooklyn College became the first public coeducational
liberal arts college in New York City. The 26-
acre campus is known for its great beauty.
The College ranked in the top 10 nationally for the second consecutive year in
Princeton Review’s 2006 guidebook, America’s Best Value Colleges. It is considered a "level 4" school by Barrons. Emblematic of its students’ possibilities is Eugene Shenderov, who received a 2005
Rhodes Scholarship, before graduating from the
B.A.-
M.D. program in June 2005.
Campus history
Brooklyn College in winter
In 1932, an
architect named Randolph Evans drafted a plan for the college's campus on a large plot of land his employer owned in the
Midwood section of Brooklyn. He sketched out a
Georgian-style campus facing a central
quadrangle, and anchored by a library building with a tall tower. Evans presented the sketches to the President of the college at the time, Dr. William A. Boylan. Boylan was pleased with the plans, and the lot of land was bought for $1.6 million. Construction of the new campus began in 1935, with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by then
Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia and Brooklyn
Borough President Raymond Ingersoll. In 1936, then-President of the
United States Franklin D. Roosevelt went to Brooklyn College to lay the
cornerstone of the Brooklyn College
Gymnasium. President Boylan, Borough President Ingersoll, and President Roosevelt all had buildings on Brooklyn College's campus named after them. The campus located in
Midwood became the only Brooklyn College campus after the school's
Downtown Brooklyn campus was shut down during the 1975 budget emergency.
Modern campus history
Brooklyn College's campus today still looks much as it did when it was originally constructed, but with extensions of
Ingersoll Hall and
Roosevelt Hall. The campus also serves as home to the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts complex and its four theaters, including the
George Gershwin. The most recent construction to take place on the campus was the demolition of the Plaza Building, due to its inefficient use of space, poor ventilation, and significant maintenance cost. To replace the Plaza Building, the college is currently constructing a new West Quad. To keep with the academic style of the campus, the new grounds will contain a newly landscaped
quadrangle with grassy areas and trees. Also, new
façades will be constructed on the Roosevelt and James Hall buildings where they once connected with the Plaza Building. In addition to these changes, a new building will be built that will house classroom space, offices, and the Department of
Physical Education and Exercise Science. The building will also contain new gymnasiums, and a swimming pool. This follows a major library renovation that saw the library moved to a temporary home while construction took place.
Quality education requires excellent teachers, and Brooklyn College has a faculty distinguished by master teaching and scholarly achievement. Ninety percent of the Brooklyn College faculty hold the highest degree in their field. Among them are
Fulbright and
Guggenheim fellows, a
National Book Award finalist, an
Obie Award-winning playwright, 3
Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, and award-winning scientists and musicians.
Perhaps the best measure of an excellent college is the success of its graduates. The College ranks 19th nationally in the number of its undergraduates who have gone on to receive
Ph.D. degrees.
Divisions
Brooklyn College is made up of three academic divisions:
★ College of Liberal Sciences
★ School of
General Studies
★ Division of
Graduate Studies
Undergraduate Curriculum
Beginning in 1981, the college instituted a group of classes that all undergraduates were required to take, called "Core Studies." The classes were: Core 1 Classical Origins of Western Culture; Core 2.1 Introduction to Art; Core 2.2 Introduction to Music; Core 3 People, Power and Politics; Core 4 The Shaping of the Modern World; Core 5 Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning and Computer Programming; Core 6 Landmarks of Literature; Core 7.1 Chemistry; 7.2 Physics; Core 8.1 Biology; Core 8.2 Geology; Core 9 Studies in African, Asian and Latin American Cultures; Core 10
Knowledge, Existence and Values.
[1]
In 2006, the Core Curriculum was revamped, and the 13 required courses were replaced with 39 courses in 6 groups, from which students were required to take 11.
[2]
Division of Graduate Studies
'About'
The Division of Graduate Studies draws on this record of achievement. For almost 70 years, the division has enabled qualified students of diverse backgrounds to acquire an advanced education of superior quality at a comparatively modest tuition. Today students from almost every state and more than 30 countries are working toward their master's or doctoral degrees at Brooklyn College. The Division of Graduate Studies offers more than 60 master's degree and advanced certificate programs in the arts, education, humanities, social sciences, sciences, and professional studies. Each year hundreds of graduate students embark on professional careers with the assistance of the Center for Career Development and Internships. Fostering a strong sense of community are the Graduate Student Organization, a number of student clubs, a graduate student newsletter, a series of graduate student lectures, and lively social events.
Today, under the administraion of its eighth president, Dr. Christopher M. Kimmich, Brooklyn College is building on traditions that have given it a place among the nation's most respected institutions of higher education.
'Mission'
Brooklyn College is a comprehensive, state-supported institution of higher learning in the borough of Brooklyn, a culturally and ethnically diverse community of two-and-one-half million people. As one of the 11 senior colleges of the City University of New York, it shares the mission of the university, whose commitment is to access and excellence.
The College seeks to extend its educational mission to graduate students through advanced programs offered by the Division of Graduate Studies. The academic goals of the division build on the College's tradition of academic excellence in the liberal arts and in teacher education programs. The division offers studies in specialized areas to serve the growing number of adults who seek to continue their intellectual pursuits and broaden their professional goals. In addition, in order to meet the changing needs of society, Brooklyn College continually develops new degree and advanced certificate programs as well as new concentrations of courses in existing programs. The College participates in a range of doctoral programs offered by the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York, including campus-based programs in the sciences.
B.A.-M.D. Program
The Brooklyn College
B.A.-
M.D. program is an 8-year program affiliated with
SUNY Downstate Medical Center. The Program follows a rigorous selection process, with a maximum of 17 students selected every year. Each student selected to the program receives a Brooklyn College Presidential Scholarship. B.A.-M.D. students must engage in
community service for three years, beginning in their lower sophomore semester. During one summer of their undergraduate studies, students are required to volunteer in a
clinical setting where they are involved in direct
patient care. B.A.-M.D. students are encouraged to major in the
humanities or
social sciences. A student who majors in a science must choose a minor in the humanities or social sciences. All students meet the pre-med science requirements by taking
cell and
molecular biology,
botany,
physiology, general
chemistry,
organic chemistry, and general
physics. B.A.-M.D. students must maintain at Brooklyn College an overall
grade point average of 3.5, and a pre-med science GPA of 3.5.
Notable Alumni
In a
National Research Council study of baccalaureate origins of Ph.D. recipients between
1920 and
1995, Brooklyn College ranked 19th in the nation.
Academia
★
Barbara Aronstein Black (B.A. 1953),
Dean,
Columbia University School of Law
★
Arthur E. Bonfield (B.A. 1956),
Iowa College of Law professor and scholar
★
Alan M. Dershowitz (B.A. 1959),
Harvard Law School professor and author
★
R. Bruce Donoff (B.A. 1964), Dean of the
Harvard School of Dental Medicine
★
Yaffa Eliach (1967), Professor of
Judaic Studies, Brooklyn College, and pioneer scholar in
Holocaust Studies
★
Sandra Abramowitz Feldman ( 1960), President,
American Federation of Teachers
★
Allan Gibofsky (B.A. 1969), Professor,
Hospital for Special Surgery Weill Medical College of
Cornell University
★
Leon M. Goldstein (B.A. 1958), former
Chancellor of the
City University of New York and President of
Kingsborough Community College
★
Beverly Hall ( B.A. 1970), State District
Superintendent,
Newark, New Jersey Schools
★
Oscar Handlin (B.A. 1934), Carl M.
Loeb University Professor Emeritus,
Harvard University; winner of the
Pulitzer Prize in history, author
★
Donald Kagan (B.A. 1954), historian; former
Dean at
Yale University
★
Israel Kirzner (B.A. 1954), economist
★
Barbara E. Klein (B.A. 1965), Professor of
Ophthalmology,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
★
Harvey Lichtenstein, (B.A. 1951), President &
Executive Producer of the
Brooklyn Academy of Music
★
Barry Munitz (B.A. 1963),
Chancellor of the
California State University System
★
Ellen Friedman Prince (B.A. 1964), Professor of
Linguistics,
University of Pennsylvania
★
Gerald Prince (B.A. 1963), Professor of Romance Languanges,
University of Pennsylvania
★
Stuart A. Rice (B.S. 1952),
physical chemist at
The University of Chicago
★
Jack Weinstein (B.A. 1943),
Columbia Law School professor and Senior Judge,
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
★
David R. Thomas (B.A. 1954, M.A. 1956), Professor of Psychology,
University of Colorado
Business
★
Bruce Chizen (B.S. 1978), President & CEO,
Adobe Systems
★
Jerry Della Femina (1957), Chairman & CEO, Della Femina, Jeary and Partners
★
Delia McQuade Emmons (B.A. 1973), Senior Vice President,
American Stock Exchange
★
Edith Brenner Everett ( 1949), Vice President,
Gruntal & Co; co-founder, Everett Public Service Internship Program
★
George Friedman (B.A. 1956), Chairman & CEO, Parallel Communications, Inc.
★
Michael Lynne (B.A. 1961), President & COO,
New Line Cinema
★
Marge Magner (B.A. 1969),Chairman and CEO,
Citigroup Global Consumer Group
★
Stephen Riggio (B.A. 1974), CEO,
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
★
David Salzman (B.A. 1965), President,
Quincy Jones David Salzman Entertainment Company
★
Zachary Solomon (B.A. 1957), President & CEO, Associated Merchandising Corporation
★
Thomas Tizzio (B.A. 1962), President & Director,
American International Group
★
Leonard Tow (B.A. 1950), Chairman, CEO, CFO, Citizens Utilities Corporation
★ Jack Wiener (B.A. 1979), Deputy General Counsel & Managing Director,
Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation
Entertainment
★
Donald Berman (B.A. 1974), producer/director, ''
Entertainment Tonight''
★
Oscar Brand (B.S. 1942),
folk singer, radio host, musicologist
★
Daniel Glass (1977), music industry producer
★
Paul Mazursky (B.A. 1951), Film Director, best known for ''
Down and Out in Beverly Hills''; producer; actor
★
Jimmy Smits (B.A. 1980), actor, ''
NYPD Blue'' and ''
L.A. Law''; won an
Emmy Award in
1990
★
Joel Zwick (B.A. 1962), Theater and Television Producer,
Family Matters, director of
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
Government, law, and public policy
★
Perry J. Bohmstein (B.A. 1978)
Administrative Law Judge at NYC's ECB
★
Barbara Boxer (B.A. 1962)
United States Representative and
United States Senator(
D -
California)
★
Shirley Chisholm (B.A. 1946), first African American U.S.
Congresswoman, 1968—82
★
Manuel F. Cohen (B.S. 1933), Chairman,
Securities and Exchange Commission, 1964—69.
★
Lionel Hurst (B.A. 1980), Ambassador,
Antigua and Barbuda Mission to the United States
★
Vera Pistrak Katz ( 1955),
Mayor,
Portland, Oregon
★
Edward Korman (B.A. 1963), Chief Judge,
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
★
Marty Markowitz (B.A. 1970), Former New York State Senator;
Brooklyn Borough President (2001, present)
★
William Paul (B.A. 1956), Head of the U.S. National Aids Program
★
Harvey Pitt (B.A. 1965), former Chairman of the
Securities and Exchange Commission
★
Rosemary S. Pooler (B.A. 1959), Judge,
U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Second Circuit
★
Deborah Poritz (B.A. 1958), first female
Chief Justice,
New Jersey State Supreme Court; first female New Jersey
Attorney General, 1994—96.
Journalism
★
Myron Kandel (B.A. 1952), reporter,
CNN
★
Victor Lasky (1940),
Pulitzer Prize—winning writer and
syndicated newspaper
columnist
★
Mitchel Levitas (B.A. 1951), Editor, ''
New York Times''
Op-Ed Page
★
Paul Moses (B.A. 1974),
Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist and former city editor at
Newsday (current journalism professor at Brooklyn College).
★ Rochelle Udell (B.A. 1966), Editor-in-Chief, ''Self Magazine''
Literature and the arts
★
Sam Levenson (B.A. 1934), humorist, author
★
Jackson Mac Low (B.A. 1958), poet
★
Frank McCourt (M.A. 1967),
Pulitzer Prize-winning author of
Angela's Ashes and
'Tis
★
Gloria Naylor (B.A. 1981), novelist; Winner
American Book Award
★
Peter Nero (B.A. 1956),
Grammy Award winning pianist; conductor; composer
★
Harold Norse (B.A. 1938), poet & novelist
★
Robert Phillips (M.A. 1982), Classical guitarist, composer, educator, and Head of Performing Arts at
All Saints Academy
★
Suzanne Scherer (M.F.A. 1989), painter; first woman admitted to the Russian Academy of Art
★
Irwin Shaw (B.A. 1934), playwright, screenwriter, and author ("
Rich Man, Poor Man"; winner of two
O. Henry Awards
★
John Mahon (B.A. 1952), historian, Author of New York's Fighting 69th
★
David Trinidad (M.F.A. 1980), poet
★ Nari Ward (M.F.A. 1991), mixed-media sculptor,
Guggenheim Fellow, featured in
Venice Biennale
Science and technology
★
Richard Bellman (B.A. 1941),
applied mathematician and inventor of
dynamic programming
★
Paul Cohen (B.A. 1953), mathematician, winner of
Fields Medal
★
Stanley Cohen (B.A. 1943), biochemist and
Nobel laureate (
Physiology or Medicine, 1986)
★
Frank Field (meteorologist) (B.S. 1947), meteorologist and science editor
★
Len Herzenberg (B.S. 1952), developed the
fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) which revolutionized the study of cancer cells and is the basis for purification of adult
stem cells, recipient of the
Kyoto Prize in 2006.
★
Philip Zimbardo (B.A. ?),
social psychologist and designer of the
Stanford Prison Experiment
Sports
★
Nikki Franke ( ),
Olympic fencer
1976,
Pan American Games (silver 1975, bronze 1979)
★
Nathan (Nat) Frankel ( ),
NBA basketball player 1946-47
★
Melvin (Mel) Hirsch ( ),
NBA basketball player for the
Boston Celtics 1946-47
★
Dariusz Mikolajczak ( ),
Judo, alternate in the
2004 Olympics, bronze medal in 2005
Pan American Games
★
Marius Russo ( ),
Major League Baseball pitcher for the
New York Yankees 1939-43, 1946);
All-Star in
1941
★
Allie Sherman, (1943), President,
OTB; Coach of the
New York Giants, 1961—68
Notable Faculty
★
F. Murray Abraham - Actor of stage and screen; professor of theater
★
Edwin G. Burrows - Historian; Pulitzer Prize winner for co-writing with
Mike Wallace.
★
Michael Cunningham - Writer/novelist, 1999
Pulitzer Prize winner for ''
The Hours''; professor for the
MFA Writing Program
★
Allen Ginsberg - Beat poet; taught at Brooklyn College from 1986 until his death in 1997.
★
David Grubbs - musician, composer, recording artist
★
Carey Harrison - Novelist/dramatist
★
Agnieszka Holland - Film director best-known for
Europa, Europa (1992).
★
John Hospers - First presidential candidate of the
United States Libertarian Party; professor from 1956-66.
★
KC Johnson - Professor of American history.
★
Abraham Maslow - Psychologist in the school of
humanistic psychology, best known for his theory of human motivation which led to a therapeutic technique known as
self-actualization; taught from 1937-51.
★
Paul Moses-
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for work as city editor at
Newsday.
★
Lee Quinby - Carol Zicklin Chair in the Honors Academy; apocalypse scholar.
★
Mark Rothko,
Philip Pearlstein,
Ad Reinhardt,
Elizabeth Murray,
Vito Acconci,
William T. Williams - Artists (1950s to present)
★
Michel Sebastiani - Olympic fencer
Alumni Lost on Sept. 11, 2001
★ Ernest Alikakos, '89
★ Ezra Aviles, M.A., '87
★ Eustace "Rudy" Bacchus, '83
★ Steven H. Berger, '79
★ Andre Cox, '01
★ Peter L. Freund, '84
★ John Giordano, '80
★ Paul Lisson, '80
★ Gregory T. Saucedo, '92
★ Ian Schneider, '78
★ Robert Twomey, '78
★ Paul T. Zois, '78
Trivia
The opening scenes of the famous 1978 pornographic movie Debbie Does Dallas were shot at Brooklyn College on the field west of the Quad and in the Roosevelt Hall locker room.
References
1. Old Core Curriculum
2. New Core Curriculum
External links
★
Brooklyn College Web Site
★
Brooklyn College Library
★
Brooklyn College Excelsior (newspaper)
★
Brooklyn College Kingsman (newspaper)
★
Broolyn College Emergency Medical Squad
★
Brooklyn College Computer Science Society
★
Brooklyn College Orchestra
★
SUNY Downstate
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