Schools and Colleges

// Brown University

Brown University is home to more than 70 schools and colleges. We offer various academic programs in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering and applied sciences, medical sciences, and professional programs. Our world-class faculty members are committed to hands-on learning that engages students in their education and prepares them for future careers.

About Schools and Colleges

Brown University’s College is the oldest school in the university, and it’s also the largest. The College has more undergraduate students than any other school at Brown and more graduate and professional students.

The College

The College, the oldest and largest school at Brown University, has a rich history. It was founded in 1764 when Rhode Island Governor Francis Bernard agreed to send his son to study under President Samuel Webber at Kings College (now Columbia University). The school’s first class included only three students: two were sons of Massachusetts politicians; one was a local boy whose parents owned a small farm near Providence. Today, The College is home to 2200 undergraduates who represent over 80 countries around the world.

The College offers more than 60 majors across seven schools: Architecture; Art; Biological Sciences; Engineering; Humanities & Sciences (HUM); Social Sciences (SOC), and Environment & Behavior(E&B). Students can also choose from more than 1000 courses offered through these seven schools and their departments! For example: if you’re interested in marine biology but want to only some of the majors devoted specifically toward it–no problem! Just take some classes through E&B or SOC instead of having a separate major dedicated just for yourself.”

Graduate School

Graduate school is the first step towards a PhD, a master’s, or a professional degree. The Graduate School at Brown University is committed to helping you achieve your goals in graduate study by providing exceptional academic and personal support that will enrich your experience at Brown and beyond.

School of Engineering

Engineering is one of the oldest fields at Brown, with roots in the School of Engineering Sciences, founded in 1847. Today, it offers undergraduate and graduate programs through five departments:

The Department of Biomedical Engineering (DBME) was established in 1971 and has long been recognized as one of the premier biomedical engineering departments worldwide. It is home to several research centers focused on areas like tissue engineering; cell and molecular biology; microelectromechanical systems (MEMS); tissue regeneration; biomaterials science; nanomedicine; bioinformatics & computational biology.

School of Professional Studies

The School of Professional Studies offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. These include business administration, education, health professions, and social work. The school also offers several programs that lead to a master’s degree in education:

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
Professional Education Certificate (PEC)

School of Public Health

The School of Public Health (SPH) is the country's oldest school of public health and one of only two Ivy League schools with a department devoted to public health. It was founded in 1914 by Brown University President Ray Lyman Wilbur and former Rhode Island Governor Charles Warren, who wanted to establish an institute "to promote social well-being through scientific investigation." The SPH offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and continuing education classes for professionals who wish to stay current on topics related to their field

Warren Alpert Medical School

Warren Alpert Medical School is a highly competitive program offering MD and PhD degrees in the biomedical sciences. The school has a history of excellence dates back to its founding in 1824 as the nation's first medical school. Today, it is recognized for its strong commitment to community service and research, with more than 600 faculty members conducting research in various fields, including cancer biology and genetics; neuroscience; cardiovascular medicine; reproductive health; immunology; infectious diseases; psychiatry/neuroscience.