Brown University

Academic Programs

Brown is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education and offers Bachelor’s Degrees, Master’s Degrees and Doctorates in many fields of study. The academic structure is a multi-layered network of Divisions, Schools and Centers, each offering degrees in their fields. Brown University’s mission is to “serve the community, the nation, and the world by discovering, communicating, and preserving knowledge and understanding in a spirit of free inquiry, and by educating and preparing students to discharge the offices of life with usefulness and reputation.” The largest programs are in Social Sciences (Economics) and Biology/Bio-med fields. Brown also enjoys specific accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and has available Internships through the American Psychological Association. Brown has an online component to its coursework, but currently only offers non-credit courses online. Brown does have a dual-degree program in partnership with the Rhode Island School of Design whereby graduates are awarded a Bachelor of Arts from Brown and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from RISD.

Student Life

The 9,000 students have an available 300 clubs and organizations to choose from for extra-curricular activities. Based on affinity, interest or field of study, these clubs are in addition to the 21 sports that Brown participates in under the NCAA Division 1-AA. For the non-varsity athlete, there are Intramural sports and 17 different club sports teams for their participation. Brown is considered a sober-minded, yet liberal leaning school. Academics are of the utmost importance, as are social issues. Core Values include: Integrity, Strength in Community, Individual Responsibility for a Common Goal and Education of Mind, Body, and Spirit. Each of these components are a part of each segment’s mission statement of purpose (athletic, social or academic). Yet, even with the perception of being a stuffy, upper crust ivy league school, one tradition is the “Naked Donut Run” where studious folks are rewarded with a Dunkin Donut after a night of work in the library during the end of the “reading period” before Finals.