Home > Pre-College

About Brown

Brown University is a leading Ivy League institution with a distinctive undergraduate academic program, a world-class faculty, outstanding graduate and medical students, and a tradition of innovative and rigorous multidisciplinary study. A commitment to diversity and intellectual freedom has remained a hallmark of the University since its establishment.

Brown students are distinguished by their academic excellence, self-direction, and collaborative style of learning. Brown faculty are deeply committed to teaching, preeminent in their fields, and leaders in advancing knowledge that has broad scholarly, theoretical, and practical applications.

Brown's Mission

The mission of Brown University 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. We do this through a partnership of students and teachers in a unified community known as a university-college.

Providence, Rhode Island

Brown University is in Providence, RI, a city of about 175,000 people at the head of Narragansett Bay. Founded in 1636, Providence is one of the oldest cities in the United States. Providence is rich in history and has a myriad of entries in the National Register of Historic Places. The Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission is an excellent source of information on Providence history. In addition to Brown, Providence is also home to a top culinary school (Johnson and Wales University) and a world-class design school (Rhode Island School of Design ). As a result, Providence has a very active arts and restaurant scene.

Providence is centered around Waterplace Park, which was created in the early 90's by re-routing the Providence River and building a series of Venetian-inspired bridges. The park begins at the foot of the State House and winds its way through the city. On any given day, Waterplace Park is home to artists, sculpture, outdoor theater, and live music. PBS did an excellent review of Waterplace Park in their Great Public Spaces series.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island is located in the southeastern corner of New England within traveling distance of several major cities. We're just 60 miles from Boston, Mass., 180 miles from New York City and under 350 miles from Montreal, Canada.

Rhode Island is one of the oldest states in the United States and was the first of the thirteen original colonies to declare independence from Great Britain. Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States but has 20% of the nation's historical landmarks.

Rhode Island was originally established by Roger Williams in 1635 as a "lively experiment" in religious freedom. He had been expelled from Salem, Massachusetts for his radical ideas, some of which have become tenets of American values, including the separation of church and state.

Despite its small size, Rhode Island has more than 400 mi/650 km of coastline, so the ocean plays a big part in Rhode Island's past and present. The southern section of the state is home to miles of white sand beaches and small towns. The city of Newport is in southern Rhode Island, home to a rich maritime heritage and the famous waterfront mansions of the guilded age.

Brown is located in Providence, the state capitol and largest city in Rhode Island.

Brown University/Office of Summer & Continuing Studies 42 Charlesfield St., Providence, RI Summer@Brown.edu

About Brown

Brown's Mission

Providence, Rhode Island

Rhode Island

Links