Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes ProCon History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Money Videos
Brown University
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images
Providence, Rhode Island: Robinson Hall at Brown University Brown University
Related Questions
Read Next
The United States Supreme Court building, Washington, D.C.
14 Questions About Government in the United States Answered
Bar graph of the United States Death Toll during major events. Infogram chart.
U.S. Death Toll During Major Events
The Battle of New Orleans, by E. Percy Moran, c. 1910. Andrew Jackson, War of 1812.
26 Decade-Defining Events in U.S. History
Groups of depositors in front of the closed American Union Bank, New York City. April 26, 1932. Great Depression run on bank crowd
Causes of the Great Depression
College graduation. University graduates in caps and gowns.
Pro and Con: College Education
Discover
Rural Irish landscape, Sligo, Ireland.
Why Is Ireland Two Countries?
Iraqi Army Soldiers from the 9th Mechanized Division learning to operate and maintain M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks at Besmaya Combat Training Center, Baghdad, Iraq, 2011. Military training. Iraq war. U.S. Army
8 Deadliest Wars of the 21st Century
Thanksgiving Celebration Traditional Dinner Setting Food Concept
Why Is Thanksgiving in the U.S. Celebrated on a Thursday?
A Factory Interior, watercolor, pen and gray ink, graphite, and white goache on wove paper by unknown artist, c. 1871-91; in the Yale Center for British Art. Industrial Revolution England
Inventors and Inventions of the Industrial Revolution
Thanksgiving Turkey with all the sides
Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?
Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”
A human Inuit skull in a stone chambered cairn in Ilulissat in Greenland. These ancient graves are pre christian and are at least 2000
14 Tough Questions Answered
Providence, Rhode Island: Robinson Hall at Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island: Robinson Hall at Brown University Robinson Hall, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.

Brown University

university, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Brown-University
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: • Article History
Related People:
James Manning
See all related content

Brown University, private, coeducational institution of higher learning in Providence, R.I., U.S., one of the eight Ivy League schools, widely regarded for their high academic standards, selectivity in admissions, and social prestige.

Brown University
Brown UniversityStudents walk near Sayles Hall on the campus of Brown University.

Brown was first chartered in Warren, R.I., in 1764 as Rhode Island College, a Baptist institution for men. The school moved to Providence in 1770 and adopted its present name in 1804 in honour of benefactor Nicholas Brown. Francis Wayland, president of Brown from 1827 to 1855, broadened the curriculum by expanding electives, adding modern languages, and improving laboratory equipment. In 1971 the university became coeducational by merging with the affiliated Pembroke College. It consists of an undergraduate college and graduate and medical schools. In an unconventional approach to fulfilling degree requirements, undergraduate students are expected to design their own interdisciplinary program of study, though most do so within one of more than 70 established academic concentrations. Total enrollment is approximately 7,600.

This article was most recently revised and updated by John M. Cunningham.