Brown University (Brown University), which is in the elite Ivy League, is located in Providence (Rhode Island). This is one of the oldest American universities - the third oldest in New England and the seventh in the United States. However, it is famous not only for its venerable age, but also for the fact that it has always been one of the most advanced educational institutions in America, a kind of pioneer.

So, he was the first to begin to study representatives of all religions, the first of the Ivy League universities began to train engineers with a bachelor's degree, specialists in computer technology, media, cinematography and film criticism (at the Department of Contemporary Culture and Media). Finally, the current 18th president of the university (since 2001), Ruth Simmons, is the first head of an African-American university in the Ivy League and the second woman to hold such a post.

But above all, Brown University is known for its unusual curriculum, the so-called New Program, which started in 1969. According to it, the student has the right to freely choose subjects (there are no compulsory disciplines at all) and for any of them to receive a pass or fail instead of an assessment, if he likes it that way. In addition, the university is the only university in the United States that has departments of Egyptology and History of Mathematics.



The university was conceived as a kind of Baptist answer to the Congregational Yale and Harvard, the Presbyterian Princeton and the Anglican Penu and Columbia. In 1763, the Association of Philadelphia Baptist Churches sent Pastor James Manning to Rhode Island with a mission to establish a Baptist college there. However, when he arrived at the place, it turned out that the Rhode Island Congregationalists, led by James Styles, had already petitioned the authorities to found a similar educational institution. It was necessary to negotiate, the Baptists and Congregationalists came to an agreement, as a result of which on March 3, 1764, a royal charter was received, allowing both religious communities to establish on an equal basis in the city of Warren College of Rhode Island.

According to the charter, the task of the new educational institution was to prepare students for "work in the public arena" by teaching them "languages, liberal arts and sciences." The college management interpreted this wording in such a way that the educational institution should not have a law faculty and a faculty of commerce (law school and business school). Indeed, Brown University is still one of two Ivy League universities (along with Princeton) where there are no such departments.

The parity agreement between Baptists and Congregationalists initially predetermined the multi-denominational composition of the college's management structures. According to the charter, the 36-member board of trustees assumed the following contingent: 22 Baptists, five Quakers, four Congregationalists, and five Anglicans. In the administration of 20 people, eight, including the president, had to be Baptists, and the rest had the right "to belong to any religious denomination or not belong to any of them at all."



It was solemnly proclaimed that "in this free and universalist institution there should never be any restrictions on religious grounds, but on the contrary, everyone should have complete and absolute freedom of conscience." Based on the principles proclaimed in 1636 by the founder of the Rhode Island Colony, Roger Williams, students of all faiths were welcome to enter the college. For that time, this is an extremely liberal institution. And later, although, due to the peculiarities of the founding of the university, a certain predominance of Baptists remained there, "Brown" has always been distinguished by the widest religious and intellectual freedom.

James Manning was elected the first president of the college, and in 1765 Rhode Island College moved from Warren to its current location in Providence. In 1770, the main university building was built, since 1823 it has been called University Hall. A significant role in financing the relocation of the college and all its further activities was played by representatives of the very wealthy Brown family - Nicholas, John, Joseph and Moses. In addition, Joseph Brown served as college professor of physics, and John Brown served as university treasurer from 1775 to 1796. But the university owes its current name to its graduate, John's nephew, Nicholas Brown. In 1804, he made an extremely generous donation to the college, and Rhode Island College was renamed Brown University in his honor.



It was the Brown family who organized the first medical courses at the university in 1811, and in 1827 President Francis Wayland founded the Faculty of Medicine. Wayland also owned the development of the principles that formed the basis of the New Program a century later. As early as 1850, he wrote: "The educational process should be organized in such a way that the student has the opportunity to learn what he has chosen, everything he has chosen, and nothing but what he has chosen."

They tried to follow these principles at Brown University, especially after the university created (1850) a one-year department that produced masters. True, in 1857 the department was abolished, and the issuance of master's diplomas was resumed at Brown only in 1887, and on a new basis. Special curricula were developed to prepare both masters and doctoral degree holders. The first master's degrees, obtained under the new rules, were awarded to students in 1888, and the first Ph.D. left the university in 1889. In 1891, Brown University began to admit women. For this purpose, a special women's college was created - Pembroke College. In 1971, he merged with the university's The College, and training at Brown became joint.

In the 20th century, the authority of Brown University increased even more due to the quality of education received there, both in the humanities and in the field of natural sciences. Famous scientists worked in this university, for example, Norbert Wiener. Many outstanding scientific discoveries have been made in its laboratories and research centers, in particular in the field of electronics and computer technology.

In 1969, after a year of work by a special independent research group headed by Ira Shoper and Elliot Maxwell, a draft of the same New Curriculum appeared, where the principles of education formulated by President Wayland were already comprehended at a new, modern level. The new program was approved by the university administration. Its basis was the thesis that "the person receiving education should be at the center of the learning process." The authors of the program developed special training courses that determined the ratio of taught disciplines for undergraduate students and interdisciplinary courses for the master's department. They are based on the freedom of choice of the student. In addition, a simplified system of assessing students' knowledge was introduced - pass or fail.



In subsequent years, the "Brown" system caused a lot of discussion, voices were heard in the university itself demanding its abolition and a return to traditional teaching methods, but the New Curriculum resisted. And now in "Brown" the work on improving the education system, introducing new elements into it, for example, the so-called seminars for beginners (freshmen), does not stop. In accordance with the Plan for Academic Enrichment program, the number of electives is also increasing.

Features of education at Brown University are very attractive for applicants, so the competition there is extremely high: only 14.6% of the total number of applicants are admitted to the university. Now students from all 50 American states, as well as from 65 countries of the world, study at the educational institution.

The university is organized into three main academic departments: a college for students seeking a bachelor's degree, a graduate school for those seeking a master's degree and a Ph.D., and a medical department for those seeking an MD degree. The Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree is awarded in more than 100 majors, in which more than 2,000 special courses are taught annually. The most popular majors are biology, history and international relations.

Brown University has no shortage of private donations, especially from former students, even those who failed to graduate, such as Ted Turner (he was kicked out for immorality). In 2004, liquor billionaire Sidney Frank made headlines around the world when he donated $100 million to his alma mater, the largest donation to a university in its history. Although Frank studied at Brown for only a year, and then dropped out.



Parents of students are also generous with donations: in 2004, the amount they donated to the needs of the university was the largest in the Ivy League and the second among all such donations to higher educational institutions in the United States (only the parents of Duke University students gave more).

All this allows Brown itself to be quite generous: the university annually allocates $ 70 million for various loans, grants, scholarships, allowances, and so on. Over half of university students receive some form of financial aid.

America is famous for its large institutions of higher education, which give students an excellent chance for a successful start in life and career growth.

One of these universities is brown university in the usa with a rich heritage and no less rich present.

Brown was founded in 1764. It was then the seventh largest university in Colonial America.

For admission to most foreign universities, certificates of passing international exams are required. Find out and get maximum scores.

Uniqueness of Brown University

Brown is a university in the USA, which can be called the most liberal university. And it's not about the atmosphere and the rules of communication.

Brown disciplines

The choice of faculties is very, very wide, because the structure of the university consists of 235 buildings!

Students have the opportunity to study almost everything that the soul lies in, from history and literature to physics and engineering.

At the same time, it should be noted that the distribution of study places in the faculties is uneven. Most (42%) are social sciences, there are many opportunities for humanities students (26% of study places).

Faculties that study physical sciences (14%) and biological sciences (17%) are strong enough. Also popular University School of Medicine.

The cost of education in Brown University

Since Brown University is a private educational institution, not all applicants can apply for a scholarship.

It is difficult for foreigners to get a budget place at all.

According to information on the official website of the university, the average cost of the 2013-2014 academic year was $44,000. Accommodation on campus with amenities costs about $12,000.

Of course, it is difficult to say the exact figure, since everything depends on the faculty and the chosen subjects.

Promising foreign students can count on financial assistance from the university, but it will not be expressed in cash, but in a reduction in fees for courses, accommodation, meals, etc.

Summer holidays and vacations are not paid.

Brown Alumni Perspectives

Such a unique university cannot but have a lot of opportunities and prospects for its graduates.

Those who want to continue their studies can enroll in a master's program, and then get a Ph.D.

The university provides many programs for graduates of the basic courses.

However, former students have a good chance to make a career in their chosen field, because a diploma from one of the best US universities is valued not only in this country, but also abroad. Famous actors, economists, public figures and other famous personalities are the best proof of this.

Brown University can provide a rewarding career for the future and gives students every opportunity for self-development.

It is famous not only for an effective training program, but also for a rich student life, which is important for the younger generation.

Brown University is an elite Ivy League research university and one of the nation's oldest universities. Opened in 1764 prior to independence from the British Empire, making it the third oldest institution of higher learning in New England and the seventh oldest university in the United States. It was the first university in the country to accept students regardless of their religion. Offers over 2,000 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and more courses.

Brown University is known for its unusual curriculum, the so-called. A new program started in 1969. Under this program, students have a full choice of subjects (no required subjects) and can receive a pass/fail instead of a grade in any subject they prefer.

To date, more than 300 communities and student organizations have been registered.

It has its own library, which contains over 300,000 volumes of books, magazines and publications.

Type of university.

Location and transport.

The university is located in Providence, Rhode Island. It is the capital and most populated city of Rhode Island, USA. Providence is the economic, cultural and political center of Rhode Island. Population - 178,042 people in 2010. Major employers:

Rhode Island Hospital

Brown University

United States Postal Service

Rhode Island Hospital for Women and Children

Bank of America

Verizon Communications (telephone company).

The nearest scheduled passenger airport to Providence is Logan Airport located near Boston.

More than 20 trains stop daily at Providence Station to Boston, New York, Washington, Philadelphia and Baltimore.

Interstate Highway I-95 passes through the city, connecting Florida with New England.

The university is ranked 15th by the U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 US rankings.

51st place among world universities in the ranking of The Times Higher Education for 2012.

42nd among world universities according to QS World University Rankings in 2012.

Number of students.

8,540 students.

Accommodations.

The university provides accommodation for studying students. Each freshman lives in the company of 40-60 of the same first-year students, to create a cozy environment for living and learning. The entire hostel complex includes 49 buildings. Each student is provided with a bed, mattress, pillow, table and chair, chest of drawers, trash can, bookcase. You can also connect wireless Internet.

The cost of living for the academic year is $12,208, which also includes meals and necessary fees.

List of awards and achievements.

The university accepts only 8.9% of students for undergraduate programs, which makes it a quoted university in the world.

Many famous projects were created within the walls of this university - FRESS, BRUIN, hypertext editing system and much more.

The university can rightfully be proud of its alumni, among which are Charles Evans Hughes, Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court and Secretary of State, Horace Mann, Father of the American School of Public Education, John Hay, Secretary of State, John Milton Thayer, Governor of Wyoming and Nebraska, James Burrill Angell, Chancellor of the University of Michigan; Brad Silverberg, Microsoft Windows Project Manager; Emma Watson, Harry Potter Star, and many more.