Brown University

Brown University, founded in 1764, is a private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island. It is the seventh-oldest college in the United States and one of only nine institutions established before the American Revolution. From its start, Brown admitted students regardless of religious affiliation, a forward-thinking policy that set the tone for its later embrace of academic freedom and student autonomy. The university sits on a 146-acre campus in the College Hill neighborhood, blending historic architecture with modern facilities.

Brown is best known for its New Curriculum, introduced in 1969, which removed general education distribution requirements and allowed students to design their own course of study, with most courses graded pass/fail or on a satisfactory/no-credit basis. This approach, rare among elite universities, attracts intellectually independent students who thrive without rigid requirements. The university also houses the Warren Alpert Medical School, one of the oldest in the country, along with professional schools in engineering, public health, and professional studies. Brown's research enterprise spans fields from brain science to international studies, and it is one of Rhode Island's largest employers. [edit]

Brown University's mission is to advance knowledge through research and to provide an innovative educational experience that fosters intellectual curiosity, open inquiry, and student autonomy. The university is committed to inclusivity, academic freedom, and the pursuit of knowledge for the public good. It aims to prepare students to become leaders and engaged citizens who contribute to society. [edit]

Brown University was chartered in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, founded by James Manning, John Brown, Moses Brown, and Morgan Edwards. It began in Warren, Rhode Island, and moved to Providence in 1770. The university was renamed Brown University in 1804 after a gift from Nicholas Brown Jr., a member of the prominent Brown family. From the start, it welcomed students of all religious backgrounds, a radical idea at the time.

In 1811, the medical school was founded, one of the oldest in the nation. The university grew steadily through the 19th and early 20th centuries, adding graduate programs and professional schools. A major turning point came in 1969 with the implementation of the New Curriculum, which eliminated distribution requirements and letter grades for most courses, a reform that reshaped undergraduate education. In 1971, Brown merged with Pembroke College, its coordinate women's college, making the university fully coeducational. Since then, Brown has expanded its research enterprise, opened the School of Public Health in 2013, and continued to evolve while maintaining its distinctive identity. [edit]