Don’t All Think Alike
T hey say great minds think alike. But at Providence College, that’s not exactly the case.
Sure, there are shared experiences that unite us — such as the Core Curriculum, PC’s distinctive Development of Western Civilization sequence, and our Catholic and Dominican identity, which underpins everything we do. These signature elements provide our students with a road map of sorts, but they don’t define the journey — or the destination. Instead, they serve as mile markers on a road to inquiry that starts here and never really ends. At PC, we’re comfortable with questions, with debate, with duality. Your studies here will challenge you to find commonality among topics that seem, on the surface, to be opposites. “Or” often becomes “and.” You’ll learn how to think rather than what to think. You’ll encounter diverse points of view. Perhaps most important, you’ll learn to approach complex problems from many different angles. You’ll consider all perspectives. And you’ll be better for it. Because great minds don’t all think alike.
PROVIDENCE COLLEGE
E SEE.
FOR YOURSELF.
THE STRONGEST
ARGUMENTS
FAITH
REASON
At Providence College, our Catholic and Dominican identity influences our approach to
At Providence College, we’re deeply committed to academic inquiry.
life. It means we rigorously seek the truth — intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally —
We welcome differences of opinion and intentionally explore unfamiliar
and live in a respectful, supportive community. And in our search for intellectual growth,
lines of thought. Because enlightened thinking requires you to see more
we explore subjects through the lenses of faith and reason.
than your own perspective.
I WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH
A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION?
n a world focused on the bottom
question is, what is the best way to
truth at all costs, cannot be taught.
line — a world in which we demand
think about living such a life? The best
It can only be awakened by example,
tangible and verifiable returns on
question to ask, Aristotle suggests, is
shown as a living reality. The greatest
our investments — it makes sense to
not “What do I need to do?” if I want to
task of a teacher is to demonstrate,
wonder about the real-world return on
live such a life. Rather, the correct
by her or his own example, the
an investment involving the commit-
question to ask is: “What sort of
desirability and attraction, the unpar-
ment of thousands of dollars and
person should I be?”
alleled invigoration and joy, of being a
hours. But in the world of education,
The life of human flourishing
lifetime learner and pursuer of truth.
depends far more on the sort of person
Our greatest desire is that it be a
particularly a liberal arts education,
one is than on what one is doing and
dynamic laboratory for the cultivation
something of far greater importance
is more a matter of continual character
of learning, the nurturing of growth,
and magnitude than the bottom line is
development than of supply and
and the shaping of character in those
at stake. Almost 2,500 years ago,
demand. Bringing Aristotle’s insight
students we are privileged to welcome
Aristotle provided the framework for
to the issue of liberal arts education,
for a short time, then send into the
the shift in focus I have in mind. In his
the best question to ask is not “What
world as ambassadors of human
moral philosophy, Aristotle argues
can I do with a liberal arts education?”
flourishing.
that all persons ultimately want the
but rather, “What sort of person will
–DR. VANCE G. MORGAN, PROFESSOR OF
same thing — to live a life of human
a liberal arts education help me
PHILOSOPHY, FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE
flourishing, a life in which one’s best
become?”
DEVELOPMENT OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION
human potentials are actualized. The
The desire to learn, to pursue the
PROGR AM
REQUIREMENTS
( BY NUMBER OF COURSES )
DEVELOPMENT OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION
Philosophy (including Ethics)
Theology
Fine Arts
AT THE
Natural Science
Social Science
Quantitative Reasoning
PROFICIENCIES MOST COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE A CORE CURRICULUM. AND WE’RE SURE
( BY NUMBER OF COURSES )
Civic Engagement
Diversity
Intensive Writing
Oral Communication
YOU’VE HEARD IT DESCRIBED WITH BUZZWORDS LIKE “WELL-ROUNDED,” “RIGOROUS,” AND “TRANSFORMATIVE.” AT PC, OUR CORE IS ALL OF THOSE THINGS. But it’s also built around things like excellent
meaningful life, regardless of where that life takes
oral and written communication skills. The ability
you. There are hundreds of classes you can take.
to work well with people unlike ourselves. Cross-
High-level. Entry-level. Hands-on. Lectures. Some of
cultural understanding. Real-world problem-solving.
them are already woven into your major. Others fulfill
Critical thinking. Values that you, your parents, and
two or three requirements. All of them will enhance
your future employers can understand.
— rather than dominate — your four years at PC.
These aren’t throwaway courses that you’ll never
Even better? A few of these classes will stretch
use again. They’re building blocks that allow you to
you out of your comfort zone — which is where
craft an academic experience that complements your
you’re really going to learn. You might even call it
major and provides you with the foundation for a
transformative.
Proficiencies can be filled with major, core, or elective courses.
CORE FOCUS A sequence of two courses in one discipline or theme that allows students to delve deeply into an area of interest outside their major.
At Providence College, every student studies the Development of Western Civilization, informally known as “Civ” or “DWC.” You’ll explore human history through many perspectives — from literature to philosophy to theology to art, and more. You’ll learn from diverse professors and exercise interdisciplinary thought. DWC will change the way you see the world. It will teach you to find connections between divergent ideas. It will inspire clear and creative thinking.
And that will prepare you to make history.
LOOKING BACKWARD
THINKING FORWARD
is the
HEART of a PC
EDUCATION. It’s what makes us unique.
4
Here’s how it works BY SEMESTER
1
Four-credit, team-taught, interdisciplinary lecture/seminar focused on works from Classical Antiquity (from Mesopotamia to the reign of Charlemagne)
Four-credit, team-taught, interdisciplinary lecture/seminar focused on works from the Medieval and Early Modern periods (from Charlemagne through the
2
Age of Reason)
3
Four-credit, team-taught, interdisciplinary lecture/seminar focused on works from the Modern period (from the American and French revolutions to today)
Four-credit, team-taught, interdisciplinary colloquium focusing on a specific contemporary issue in the context of the Western tradition. Students choose from a wide variety of topics according to their interests.
col·lo·qui·um or -quia Webster’s defines colloquium as “a usually academic meeting at which specialists deliver addresses on a topic or on related topics and then answer questions relating to them.” At PC, it’s much more exciting, dynamic, and interactive than that. We’re not satisfied with scratching the surface. Which is why the Development of Western Civilization Program goes deep. To cap off DWC, students can choose from at least 25 colloquia tailored to their interests, led by more than 50 faculty members from 18 or more academic departments and programs. These small, interdisciplinary explorations lead students on a voyage through contemporary and historical topics. Yes, they’re lively and engaging. But they also give our students the tools they need to tackle tough questions in today’s society — to think critically, broadly, and deeply.
SAMPLE DWC COLLOQUIA Science and Society @ The Myth of the Warrior @
“A liberal arts education is so valuable. Skills like writing and speaking articulately are vitally important no matter what you choose to do. When you’re in your DWC seminar, you learn how to read deeply, how to analyze text, how to speak coherently with your classmates. You build confidence in your thoughts and ideas in a small classroom setting.” —KATHRYN “KATCY” STEPHAN THEATRE AND ENGLISH DOUBLE MAJOR
Sustainability: Balancing Profits, People, and the Planet @ How the Right became the Right: the Origins and Development of Modern American Conservative Thought @ Our Monsters, Ourselves @ Greek Drama and Current Controversies
Before your DWC colloquium, you’ll dive into
DWC will challenge and inspire you. Not
historic works by a “Who’s Who” of great
through simply reading these great books,
thinkers — including Homer and Virgil,
but by reading deeply. By listening intently
Augustine and Dante, Shakespeare and
to your classmates and professors. And
Descartes, Mary Shelley and Frederick
by speaking with purpose in class
Douglass, Nietzche and Kafka, Chinua
and seminar.
Achebe and Blessed John Paul II. You’ll discover how people thought ages It’s a foundation built on classic pieces
ago and understand why their thinking
of literature over the course of three
is still relevant today.
semesters.
ARE YOU READY FOR DWC?
“These students. This conversation.
This class. This is what makes
Providence College so special.”
I TEAM-TAUGHT A DWC COLLOQUIUM on business ethics with
my colleague Tim Mahoney, who teaches philosophy. Early one morning, before the arrival of our guest speaker — Eileen Howard Boone, the senior vice president of corporate social responsibility for CVS — we engaged the class in an impromptu discussion about a recent incident in the community. There we were — Tim, an associate professor of philosophy, and me, the dean of the Providence College School of Business, taking the lessons we had taught in class all semester and applying them to a real-world issue that hit very close to home. There were many different perspectives and no easy answers. But what struck me most were the respectful dialogue, insightful questions, and spirited debate that our students brought to the conversation. All at once it hit me: These students. This conversation. This class. This is what makes Providence College so special. –DR. SYLVIA MAXFIELD DEAN, PROVIDENCE COLLEGE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
LIBERAL ARTS HONORS PROGRAM The Providence College experience is designed to challenge our students. To broaden their perspectives. To immerse them in a world of knowledge. The Liberal Arts Honors Program takes that a step further. Each year, the College invites a select number of students who demonstrate exceptional intellectual promise and initiative into the Liberal Arts Honors Program. This academically rigorous program provides exclusive opportunities to fulfill core requirements with honors-level courses that often demand advanced writing and independent research. Liberal Arts Honors not only takes our students to the next level academically — it also can take them around the world, to discover the places they’ve read about and to reflect on the works they’ve studied in DWC.
“We’re bringing down the classroom walls, connecting life outside of the class with life inside class.” —DR. WILLIAM P. HOGAN, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR ENGAGED LEARNING
LEARNING BEGINS WHERE THE CLASSROOM ENDS At Providence College, some of the most important lessons you’ll learn could take place studying marine life at one of the world’s top research institutions. Or in the library, poring over the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. Or on spring break during a Habitat for Humanity service trip to New Orleans. Or in a downtown gallery alongside a professional curator. Or on a piazza in Rome during a semester abroad. Or on a basketball court, playing a pickup game with inner-city kids who need a good role model. Wherever your studies take you, you’ll gain hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of your studies. You’ll also gain confidence, expertise, and experience that will set you apart after you leave PC.
When in Rome
(or New Zealand, or Africa, or Chile, or …)
A SAMPLE OF SCHOOLS AND LOCATIONS • PROVIDENCE COLLEGE/CEA CENTER FOR THEOLOGY & RELIGIOUS STUDIES, ROME, ITALY • SIT, ARGENTINA
• LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, ENGL AND • INTERNSHIPS FR ANCOPHONE EUROPE, FR ANCE
• QUEENSL AND UNIVERSIT Y, AUSTR ALIA
• TRINIT Y COLLEGE, IREL AND
• MACQUARIE UNIVERSIT Y, AUSTR ALIA
• NATIONAL UNIVERSIT Y, IREL AND
• EUROPEAN SOCIET Y & CULTURE
• UMBR A INSTITUTE, ITALY
PROGR AM, AUSTRIA • UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE, CHILE • BOSTON UNIVERSIT Y LONDON INTERNSHIP
• UNIVERSIT Y OF AUCKL AND, NEW ZEAL AND • UNIVERSIT Y OF EDINBURGH, SCOTL AND • UNIVERSIT Y OF STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA • BOSTON UNIVERSIT Y MADRID INTERNSHIP, SPAIN
S
t. Augustine once said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”
Through our study abroad programs, you can study
the New Testament in Rome, explore international business in Shanghai or Milan, brush up on your Shakespeare in London, research women’s rights in India, and so much more. Nearly half of all PC students study abroad in Europe, Africa, Australia, Asia, and Central and South America — we offer hundreds of programs in dozens of countries. At PC, financial aid is portable for study abroad, and students can apply for travel grants to offset expenses, making this global experience more accessible than ever. Your book begins here.
Learn Globally, Serve Locally
O
n a 26-acre farm on the island of Ometepe, Nicaragua, 11 students spent spring break studying food security
and sustainability — and joined local farmers and volunteers in workshops on fermentation, natural medicine, and chocolate making. The visit was part of Food Security and Local Agriculture, an interdisciplinary servicelearning course taught by visiting instructor Dana Ginestet and alum Pat McNiff ’96, a Rhode Island farmer. After experiencing the innovative approaches to agriculture, including permaculture, students returned to PC to investigate developing a campus-wide composting system and establishing a vegetable market share program. “Now I am positive that I want to work for organizations committed to global health; companies dedicated to corporate social responsibility; fair trade, ethically sourced food companies; or one-for-one giving companies,” one student said.
Engaged Learning BY THE NUMBERS
20
12:1
PHILLIPS MEMORIAL LIBRARY IS OPEN
DURING EXAM WEEKS
3,897 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO
400
readers and audience members
participated in a marathon reading of Dante’s Inferno,
35
part of the popular DWC Marathon series
AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
24
DOMINICAN FRIARS and SISTERS teach on campus
10
IPADS AVAILABLE FOR CHECKOUT IN THE TECHUB
speakers in the inaugural HUMANITIES FORUM, a series encouraging members of the PC community to
90%
engage regularly in INTELLECTUAL LIFE outside class, deepen their appreciation for the humanities, and explore
DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES from on and off campus
55,000 SQUARE FEET
square feet of LABORATORY SPACE planned in the new Providence College Science Complex
for learning, rehearsing, performing, and creating in the
SMITH CENTER FOR THE ARTS
of first-year students return for their sophomore year
300 + S T U DY A B ROA D P ROG R A M S offered across the Middle East,
50
Africa, Asia, Australia and dozen snacks and
1,500
New Zealand, Central and South America, and Europe
hot beverages
served during finals week in Phillips Memorial Library The Arthur and Patricia Ryan Center for Business Studies — designed with innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurial thinking in mind — will open in 2017
100%
OF INSTITUTIONAL FINANCIAL AID IS PORTABLE FOR STUDY ABROAD
RE SE A RCH
By the Numbers Nearly
2 5 out of
students conduct
research with a faculty member outside of course or program requirements
$229,204 awarded to
221
students
since 2009 by PC’s Undergraduate Research Grant Program
RESEARCH FUELS
Creativity FUELS RESEARCH
At Providence College, our professors are deeply engaged in research and scholarship — and so are our students. Here, students have the opportunity
60+
students
conducted research during summer 2016
206
students displayed
to work side-by-side with experts in everything from novelist Cormac McCarthy
their research in the Annual Celebration
to stem cells. In the process, they gain hands-on experience, a deeper understanding
of Student Scholarship and Creativity in 2016
of their academic discipline — and sometimes, a byline in an academic journal or an opportunity to present at a professional conference. This gives our students the confidence, expertise, and résumé-building credentials that set them apart in the workplace, on a scholarship or fellowship application, and in graduate school.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
Dr. Steven C. Smith, an assistant professor of history, remembers meeting history major Rebecca Marisseau like it was yesterday. He was assigned to comment on a paper Marisseau would present at PC’s annual Making History conference.
BACKSEAT DRIVERS
Ride-sharing services such as Uber
in a hands-on, interesting way,”
are giving taxis a run (or ride, as the
says marketing major Shannon
case may be) for their money. A group
Connolly. “Every time we learned
of PC marketing majors and their
a new concept in class, we got to
faculty mentor, Dr. Kevin Newman,
practice it right away. I learned that
conducted quantitative and qualitative
after you identify a problem, before
research to discover why consumers
you can jump into fun ideas about
“I was reading Rebecca’s paper and thinking the en-
use one ride-sharing service over
how to solve the problem, you must
tire time, ‘This is amazing. Very clearly the work of
another and learn how taxi companies
understand why the problem exists
a senior thesis,’” he recalls. “It was a really polished
can regain market share.
in the first place. This is an important
paper, beautifully written and engagingly argued.” Turns out she was a sophomore, and she had written the paper a year earlier. He knew right away that she was a “rock star,” and over the years, he nurtured her interest in material culture, championed her attendance and presentation at national research conferences, and advised her as she applied to some of the country’s most competitive graduate programs. (She ended up pursuing her Ph.D. at Brown.) “One of the many things I love about working at Providence College is the opportunity to work closely with students like Rebecca on research projects of their design,” Smith says.
“This project was a unique opportunity to learn about marketing research
understanding in life, not just market research.”
Shannon Connolly (pictured from right, with fellow researchers Haley Broberg, Lauren Politi, and Jessica Tourville)
THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER Patricia Krupinski traveled to the Basilica of Santa Sabina, the mother church of the Dominican Order of Preachers, to view one of the oldest mosaics in Rome firsthand. She researched the piece — a 5th-century depiction of two female figures said to represent Catholic and Jewish traditions — with her faculty mentor, Dr. Joan R. Branham, professor of art history and associate dean of the School of Arts & Sciences. “It’s a reminder that while textbooks and photos are great, when you are able to walk in and see a work of art, you are now in its space, and you react to it in a different way,” Patricia says.
THE PRIEST AND THE YEAST In the lab of Rev. Nicanor Austriaco, O.P., student researchers who call themselves “The Dead Yeast Society” study the genetics of programmed cell death in yeast to determine why cancer cells don’t die. They then have the opportunity to present their findings at numerous national and international conferences. “They wander around, stop in at poster presentations, and speak to other scientists. When they come back, they want to learn everything. If they fall in love with the discovery process, they will do it forever,” he says.
“Students gain a different level of confidence in themselves through research. They leave PC thinking, ‘You can do something meaningful, solve problems, and do work that helps someone and makes a difference.’” —DR. JENNIFER L. VAN REET ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY
ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF STUDENT
SCHOLARSHIP AND CREATIVITY Whether you’ve spent the year researching the coffee trade in Nicaragua, the poetry of T.S. Eliot, or the challenges incarcerated youth face when they return home from prison, you want to show off your results. That’s where the Annual Celebration of Student Scholarship and Creativity comes in. This showcase — one of PC’s most popular spring events — gives students a chance to share their findings with their friends, families, faculty mentors, and staff. Here, student scholars give readings and perform arias. They discuss the quality of water in Third World countries and potential cures for breast cancer. They present on such topics as the role of the tavern in the 18th century and the issue of food security. It’s a place where the best and the brightest shine even brighter.
HEALTH (CAREER) INSURANCE
Sample research and scholarship projects: The Immunization Gap @ Investigating Twitter Engagement @ The Truth of the Latin American Reality @ Morality and Diabetes @ Welcome to the Dog House: A Look into Dog Genomics @ Haiti 180 @ Cell Block #9: Women of Color and Incarceration @ Medical Opiates, Opioids, and Cannabis @ A WASH+E System Meeting Basic Needs for Rural
The Journal of the American Medical Association accepts 11 percent of
Households in the Developing World @ Not Monsters, But Men: The Problem of Moral Injury
manuscripts submitted. A recent publication by Providence College health policy and management major Erika May (pictured at left with fellow HPM major Sabrina Guilbeault) and her faculty mentor,
POST-BACCALAUREATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Dr. Robert B. Hackey, placed them in that elite group. Their research on
Our Post-Baccalaureate Scholarship Program is guided by faculty and staff members
the performance of health insurance marketplaces after the passage
who take your post-graduation plans seriously. What begins with a simple email from
of the Affordable Care Act has informed policy in Rhode Island and
you could end with teaching in Germany or Malaysia, studying underwater acoustics
nationwide. “It’s kind of a career publication for anybody,” says Hackey,
at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, or researching the life of garment workers
professor of health policy and management. “For someone who is 22,
in the Dominican Republic. Our students have received Fulbright awards, SMART
that’s unheard of. There’s no better way for her to start her career.”
scholarships, Library of Congress fellowships, and more.
HELPING YOU HELP YOURSELF At Providence College, you’ll find that our academic program is interwoven with every aspect of campus life — from faith-based endeavors to extracurriculars. When you’re always learning, things can sometimes get intense. But at PC, you’ll find the resources necessary to thrive in this rigorous environment.
Academic Advising PC offers advising that helps you understand how
checking out books. You can turn hallways into
your time here will influence the rest of your life.
classrooms and classrooms into think tanks. You
Your advisors will give you information about course
can access more than 53,000 electronic journals
loads and credits, but they’ll also connect you with
while sipping a cup of iced coffee, anytime, anyplace.
opportunities that will enrich your future — preprofessional advising, advice about research and
Writing Center
scholarship initiatives, preparation for post-graduate
Think you don’t need excellent writing skills to
fellowships, or resources tailored to recipients of
succeed in business or chemistry? Think again.
PC’s multicultural scholarships.
The goal of PC’s Writing Center is to make all PC students — regardless of their majors and abilities
Office of Academic Services
— better writers. The center assists students at any
Many students find the transition to college difficult.
stage of the writing process — from brainstorming
The Office of Academic Services (OAS) is here to
a topic to polishing a final draft before submission.
help with resources ranging from one-on-one peer tutoring sessions to workshops on test taking and
Friar Foundations Program
time management.
Friar Foundations is a free, five-week summer program aimed at easing the transition from high
Phillips Memorial Library
school to college for approximately 30 incoming
On the outside, the Phillips Memorial Library looks
Providence College students each year. Friar Foun-
like a traditional library. But inside, it functions like
dations days start early and end late. Academics are
a technology-rich space for teaching, learning, and
the priority, but a fun and fulfilling experience is just
research. In the library’s digitally focused TecHub,
as important. You’ll hit the books and hit the road
students were involved in choosing every detail of
for a number of service and social outings. When
the space, from the furniture, to the refreshment
the program is over, you’ll walk with confidence into
options, to the technology. You can check out laptops,
your freshman year — ready to thrive academically
iPads, and phone and device chargers as easily as
and socially.
MAJORS & MINORS Accountancy
Major
American Studies
Major
Art History
Major
Art/Studio
Major
Minor
German
Minor
Global Studies
Major
Minor
Health Policy and Management
Major
Minor
History
Major
concentrations in:
History/Secondary Education
Major
Ceramics
Humanities
Major
Digital Imaging
Italian
Major
Drawing
Italian/Secondary Education
Major
Painting
Latin American Studies
Photography
Management
Major
Printmaking
Marketing
Major
Sculpture
Mathematics
Major
Asian Studies
Minor
Minor Minor
Minor
Mathematics/Secondary Education
Major
Biochemistry
Major
Music
Major
Biology
Major
Music Education
Major
Biology — Optometry Option
Major
Philosophy
Major
Minor
Biology/Secondary Education
Major
Physics/Applied
Major
Minor
Physics/Secondary Education
Major
Minor
Black Studies
Minor
Chemistry
Major
Political Science
Major
Chemistry/Secondary Education
Major
Psychology
Major
Classics
Minor
Computer Science
Major
Minor
Minor
Public and Community Service Studies Major
Minor
Public and Community Service — Health
Minor
Computer Science/Business Program
Minor
Social Science
Major
Computer Science/Technical
Minor
Social Work
Major
Minor
Sociology
Major
Minor
Minor
Spanish
Major
Minor
Major
Dance Economics
Major
Economics/Business
Major
Spanish/Secondary Education
Economics/Quantitative
Major
Systems Science
Elementary/Special Education
Major
Theatre
Major
Minor
Engineering/Pre-Engineering
Major
Theology
Major
Minor
English
Major
Women’s Studies
Major
Minor
English/Creative Writing
Major
English/Secondary Education
Major
Minor
Writing
Minor
Minor
Evolutionary Biology and Ecology
Minor
C E RT I F ICAT E PR OGR A M S
Film/Video
Minor
Business Studies
Minor
Finance
Major
Minor
Labor-Management Relations
Minor
French
Major
Minor
Neuroscience
Minor
French/Secondary Education
Major
Public Administration
Minor
For comprehensive information about each major, visit providence.edu/academics
“
Global studies classes provoke you to think of things in a way that other classes don’t. They have you step out of the sphere you’re in and look at
things from a different perspective. I did a month-long independent research project in Mumbai with an organization that fights for rights for Muslim women. It was so different. I knew very little of Indian culture. I wanted to go to a place where I could learn.
”
–KIMBERLY PENA MAIDA
Interdisciplinary Programs You can be led around the world right from your seat in the classroom — or, you can experience it for yourself. When studying in one of our interdisciplinary programs, there’s no need to make a choice. These programs offer a window on the world through a flexible and diverse curriculum designed to heighten personal growth and expand your worldview. They also present remarkable opportunities to study abroad — when you can put your servicelearning, foreign language, and critical understanding skills to use. Whether you’re an armchair adventurer or a globetrotter, our interdisciplinary programs will allow you to learn about the world on your terms. And that will prepare you to make your mark, no matter where your travels take you. MA JORS AMERICAN STUDIES GLOBAL STUDIES PUBLIC & COMMUNIT Y SERVICE STUDIES WOMEN’S STUDIES
As a research assistant for Dr. Trina Vithayathil, assistant professor of global studies, Kimberly Pena Maida, a global studies major and political science minor, has interned with the Massachusetts Immigrant Refugee Coalition, spent a semester studying in India, and researched the Safe Driving Coalition’s campaign to gain undocumented workers the right to obtain driver’s licenses in Massachusetts.
I N T ER D I S C I P L I N A RY P RO G R A M S A AT P C
A WORLD OF WISDOM
T H E A RT S AT P C
LIFE IS A CABARET
“
Theatre helps you see the world in a different way.
When you read books or newspapers, you can be inspired by what’s going on in the world and use what you do in life for the purpose of making the world better.
”
–K ATRINA PAVAO
The Arts Providence is known as the Creative
Off campus, our students take
Capital, and with good reason: It’s a
advantage of Providence’s thriving
hotbed for the arts. So is the Provi-
arts scene. They get hands-on
dence College campus. Here, we’ve
experience through internships and
created our own arts district with
exhibits at prominent local galleries
galleries, studios for painting, ceram-
and take in theatrical and musical
ics, and sculpture, and state-of-the-art
performances downtown.
performing arts facilities including recital halls, main stages for student
MA JORS
productions, a black-box theatre,
ART HISTORY
and rehearsal space. From the moment she set foot on stage at PC, Katrina Pavao’s professors, mentors,
Our students have the opportunity
and classmates in the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Film became a second
to work closely with dedicated faculty
family. And like any good family, they made sure she had what she needed
who are practicing actors, directors,
to succeed. They brought her to shows and introduced her to the artistic directors at
playwrights, painters, curators, and
Rhode Island’s most prestigious theater companies. They encouraged her to audition
musicians — and experts in every-
regularly — just to get her face out there. They found her summer jobs. They stood
thing from contemporary choreog-
in the wings as she performed her capstone project — an ambitious, 16-song musical
raphy and ancient Cretan art and
theatre medley that took her nearly a year to research, choreograph, cast, and direct.
archeology, to documentary filmmak-
Most important, they showed her how her major could be a platform for change.
ing and digital design. This complements the rich liberal arts education our students receive in DWC.
MUSIC (may elect Musical Theatre track) STUDIO ART •CER AMICS •DIGITAL IMAGING •DR AWING •PAINTING •PHOTOGR APHY •PRINTMAKING •SCULPTURE THEATRE (may elect Musical Theatre track)
deeply rooted in the liberal arts was invaluable in
a competition that required us to synthesize ethical and financial considerations.
Business
”
At PC, we’re shaping a different kind of
a world away. They’ve conducted
business education. While most business
research that improves the learning
schools are about a singular focus —
experience for their classmates. They’ve
training students for one career, one job,
landed coveted internships at some of
one life — we believe there’s a better way
the most renowned financial, accounting,
to define the return on investment in a
marketing, and banking firms in the
business degree.
country.
We understand — and underscore —
Our signature commitment to educat-
the importance of integrity, commitment
ing the whole student — body, mind, and
to community, and collaboration above
soul — has earned the PC School of
all. As a result, our graduates are able to
Business a national reputation. Accred-
define and achieve success on their own
ited by AACSB International, the school
terms.
has also been recognized by Bloomberg
Our curriculum is uniquely integrated
VALUES ADDED
–BENJAMIN SWISZCZ
Businessweek as one of the country’s top
with the liberal arts and grounded in
business schools — within Bloomberg, we
Catholic and Dominican traditions. Not
ranked particularly high with employers.
only are PC business students prepared
And with good reason: Our graduates
for fulfilling lives, they are ready to take
are versatile. They are passionate about
on the challenges faced by businesses
their work. They understand the power
of all kinds.
of “we” — not “me.” They are integral to
We know this because we see it every day.
the future of business because they hold themselves to a higher standard — their
A pharmaceutical company faces a complex challenge: develop a viable
In recent years, our students have
business approach to handle an outbreak of the Zika virus. That’s the
taken top honors in national competi-
hypothetical scenario that accountancy majors Connor Barrett (clockwise from
tions in accountancy, business ethics,
MA JORS
top left), Cristian Higuita Montoya, and Kristin Michaels, and accountancy and
and marketing. They’ve pitched entre-
ACCOUNTANCY
preneurial ventures on Shark Tank.
FINANCE
history double major Benjamin Swiszcz faced at the annual Berg Cup Case Study Competition. Their solution — a three-step plan to contain, treat, and cure
They’ve created mentoring programs.
the disease — beat out 40 other schools for first place, highlighting the strength
They’ve launched businesses that share
of PC’s new Program on Ethics in Business Education.
profits with impoverished villagers half
own standard.
MANAGEMENT MARKETING
B U S I N E S S AT P C
“
We found that our four years of business education
books, they teach us about the culture and times of
the period they were written in. Karl Marx used vampires and zombies to describe the capitalist economy and its potential to suck the life out of its victims. In the decade since the financial crisis, zombie movies have exploded in popularity. Zombies close in from all directions, leaving survivors with just about enough materials and resources to scrape by and survive.
”
–BL AINE PAYER
The Humanities
NIGHT OF THE LIVING CAPITALIST For Blaine Payer, the choice was a no-brainer: Work his usual summer job as a landscaper, or use a grant from PC to research zombie movies. A philosophy major, Payer worked with Dr. Jeffrey Nicholas, associate professor of philosophy, to study a dozen films, from 1931’s Dracula to 2013’s World War Z, to consider how vampires and zombies symbolized the socio-economic conditions affecting prosperity.
A foundation in the humanities
career landscape. Because a back-
gives students a marked advantage.
ground in the humanities gives
It gives them the ability to read
students the tools they need to think
discerningly and the power to com-
critically. To reason. To answer the
municate effectively. At Providence
big questions of human existence.
College, the new Ruane Center
To understand diversity of back-
for the Humanities reaffirms our
ground and thought. In other words,
dedication to the things that define
to live.
us: The balance of faith and reason. The continual pursuit of truth. The
MA JORS
ability to find answers to the most
CREATIVE WRITING
complex of questions, whether they
ENGLISH
involve Plato or paleoecology. Our offerings in philosophy, history, modern and classical languages, theology, English, and general humanities prepare our students to be great thinkers. But they also prepare them to succeed in today’s complex and ever-changing
HISTORY HUMANITIES FOREIGN L ANGUAGE STUDIES • FRENCH • ITALIAN • SPANISH PHILOSOPHY THEOLOGY
T H E H U M A N I T I E S AT P C
“
Films are more than face-value entertainment. Like
empathy. Even if you don’t become a teacher, you
will have a voice. You will know what is necessary to make schools better. You’ll know how to ask the right questions to get to the common good.
”
–DR. COMFORT ATEH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION
Professional Studies PC graduates in the fields of education,
At PC, service and being a “profes-
social work, and health policy and man-
sional” are inseparable ideals that, at
agement are ready to hit the ground
their core, make the world a better place
running, which is why PC’s School of
— and our graduates more employable.
Professional Studies has earned a reputation among employers for excellent
MA JORS
career preparation. Extensive intern-
ELEMENTARY/SPECIAL EDUCATION
ship and fieldwork opportunities are
HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
an integral part of our curriculum, providing our students with the hands-
SCHOOL OF THOUGHT
on experience necessary to excel in the workplace. Our students also have a commitment to service and leadership that sets them
Students in Dr. Comfort Ateh’s Urban Education class don’t just read books on the
apart. Teachers serve communities by
challenges that inner-city schools face — they experience them firsthand. Through
committing themselves to educating
MUSIC EDUCATION SECONDARY EDUCATION •BIOLOGY •CHEMISTRY •ENGLISH •FRENCH •HISTORY •ITALIAN •MATHEMATICS
a service-learning collaboration with PC’s Feinstein Institute for Public Service, our
children. Social workers serve through
students go into schools in Providence and beyond, working with English-language
a dedication to improving the lives of at-
•SPANISH
learners, refugees, and other children in under-resourced areas. They spend weeks
risk populations. Healthcare profession-
SOCIAL WORK
researching culturally specific learning styles. And by the time the semester is over,
als serve by setting policy, improving
they have a more nuanced understanding of diversity — and themselves.
financial management in the industry, and conducting research — all aimed at improving the health of the world’s citizens.
•PHYSICS
P RO F E S S I O N A L S T U D I E S AT P C
“
Service is an opportunity to learn more, to experience
T H E S C I EN C E S AT P C
“
This is an experience I probably wouldn’t get at larger
schools where it’s more difficult to find positions in labs. The Walsh Fellowship put me light years ahead of my science major friends at other schools. It gave me an opportunity to spend the summer learning something directly related to my major and to my future. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. –BRIANNA ABBOT T
The Sciences
”
At PC, our scientists are on a quest to create new knowledge. That quest gets our students and
In other words, our students are constantly learning how to make their work — and the world — better.
faculty out of bed in the morning. It
(NOT SO) LAZY DAYS OF SUMMER
catalyzes their research. It informs
MA JORS
their teaching. And sometimes, it
APPLIED PHYSICS
changes the world.
BIOCHEMISTRY
Our students learn about stem cells, cancer-causing genes, sanitation in developing countries, and much more. Textbook lessons come to life in the lab, where students use imaging systems, human cadavers, a real-time PCR machine to
For Brianna Abbott, traditional summer breaks are overrated. A chemistry and
study gene expression, and climate-
English double major, Brianna has spent two summers on campus as a Walsh Student
controlled growth chambers. Expert
Research Fellow — a competitive award given to research students in the sciences.
professors engage students in
Under the guidance of Dr. Jack Breen ’81, associate professor of chemistry,
meaningful debate, groundbreak-
Abbott has tested lipid membranes and monitored the effect of UV light on plastics.
ing discovery, and active learning.
Most of all, she has gained invaluable experience and ignited her passions.
Today’s ideas become tomorrow’s breakthroughs.
BIOLOGY BIOLOGY/OPTOMETRY OPTION CHEMISTRY 3+2 COMBINED ENGINEERING PROGR AM COMPUTER SCIENCE MATHEMATICS
T H E S O C I A L S C I EN C E S AT P C
Through her study abroad program, political science and French double major Arlin Baez spent her junior year as an intern in the Ministry of the Interior in Paris. Her time there coincided with the November 2015 terrorist attacks — an experience that changed her life and her perspective on what she had learned in the classroom.
Social Sciences Would a politician vote for or
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS
“
Whether in class, through
against the Affordable Care Act?
faculty-directed research, or
What would motivate a well-
by way of countless internship
respected family man to commit
opportunities, our social science
a crime that makes headlines?
disciplines are designed to help
What does the price of corn in the
students understand society
Midwest have to do with Chinese
through many prisms. This ability
exports? To each of these questions,
to consider multiple perspectives
there are many answers — answers
prepares our graduates to excel
that can be found by studying
in law, public relations, education,
behavior.
business, and more.
Central to our social science disciplines is the understanding of
MA JORS
behavior. Political science majors
BUSINESS ECONOMICS
are taught to understand political
ECONOMICS
and cultural ideologies. Psychol-
QUANTITATIVE ECONOMICS
during and after these attacks. We worked vigorously to communicate
ogy majors study human behavior
POLITICAL SCIENCE
to the public what was to come after these events. Every day, I woke up
and mental processes. Economics
I had the unique experience of seeing what goes on behind the scenes with a sense of purpose. The Republic of France became my priority.
The analysis of a horrific situation became an academic and emotional journey for me — one that I will never forget. –ARLIN BAEZ
”
to better understand interactions majors gain a firmer grasp of social and economic issues through, you guessed it, studying historical, sociological, and philosophical behavior.
PSYCHOLOGY SOCIAL SCIENCE SOCIOLOGY
OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO
SELF-INSIGHT. EX PLOR ATION.
PROFESSIONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT. M A R K ET R EA DIN E SS.
There’s no better way to gain professional experience — and confirm that you’re on the right career path — than an internship. At Providence THESE ARE THE HALLMARKS OF THE CENTER FOR
from more than 100 employers and graduate schools.
CAREER EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Our students have the opportunity to shadow success-
AT PROVIDENCE COLLEGE. The center offers programs
ful alumni, engage in mentoring programs, and attend
and services that help students identify their strengths,
networking nights with alumni and parents in Boston,
discover academic interests, and achieve their
New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and
educational and career goals — in fact, the self-insight
Providence.
process begins within a student’s first few weeks on campus. As a result, our students have the ability to see all sides of complex problems. They are articulate, composed, mature, and well prepared for their chosen
Students also have access to a network of more than
Duffy & Shanley Advertising @ Farm Fresh RI Nutrition Initiative Esquire Magazine Marketing @ Goldman Sachs Investment Banking @ Live Nation Sponsorship
informational interviews, and E-Friars, an exclusive
PwC Assurance @ Summer Institute for the Gifted Counselor @ Talbots Marketing
job and internship database.
Textron Corporate Communications @ U.S. Senate Intern @ Zac Posen Sales
With these tools and the benefits of PC’s signature liberal arts education at their disposal, it’s no wonder our students have a competitive advantage in the
and spring career expos each attract representatives
Citigroup Sales & Trading @ Dana Farber & The Jimmy Fund Development
New York Giants Community Relations @ Nordstrom Retail Management Development
they need to succeed. either visit campus or collect résumés, and our fall
Alex and Ani Marketing @ American Lung Association Special Events
950 alumni and parents who have agreed to conduct
fields. And they are able to make the connections Each year, recruiters from more than 150 companies
College, internship opportunities abound. Here are a few recent examples:
workplace and in some of the world’s most competitive graduate programs.
78%
of 2015 graduates participated in an internship by the time they graduated.
THE SOCIAL NETWORKER Adam Benjamin ’91 can’t pinpoint one thing about PC that shaped his life and his career. Because so many things did. There was Civ. There was business ethics. There was his wife, Meg ’91, whom he met
THE DRIVE TO SUCCEED Monica Womack Peterson ’91 didn’t
freshman year. There was the culture of
have an appointment with the Nissan
treating others well. There was the PC community and the Friar network. But most
recruiters who came to campus
of all, there was an overwhelming sense of
senior year. She went anyway,
possibility that naturally fed his love for
dressed for success, résumé in hand, confidence in her heart. One of the
innovation — and gave him the confidence to work for a series of startup companies. Today, Benjamin heads up the Atlas
recruiters was Nissan’s president and CEO, PC alum Thomas D. Mignanelli ’66. The
Global Accounts group for Facebook and he
result was an invitation to interview with his
recently launched the Benjamin Family
colleagues in Southern California, which led to a
Social Media Fellowship program through
great offer to work for Nissan after graduation.
the Providence College School of Business.
Peterson is still in California — but with
His PC experience instilled a sense of flexibility, curiosity, and humility that
Toyota now. “Providence College taught me to be open to
allowed him to take what he learned at each
challenges and opportunities, and to have cour-
startup and apply them to his next entrepre-
age and confidence in what I can bring to the
neurial career challenge.
table,” says Peterson, a finance major. “It made
“I am passionate about building new
me very well-balanced. I could easily talk and
things, and that’s why I have always been
relate to others. I knew how to package myself.
drawn to startup organizations,” he says.
So I took a chance, knowing the worst that could
“To successfully build a company, you must
happen was that they would say no.”
fully believe in the power of relationships
Today, Peterson is in charge of social media
and surrounding yourself with people who
strategy for Toyota. In a previous role with
are better than you — those who will push
Lexus Marketing, another PC alum greeted her
you, question you, and fundamentally
on her first day with, “What’s up, Friar?”
balance you out. Ultimately, by surrounding
“PC teaches you that forming solid relation-
yourself with the best people, you will have
ships and staying in touch with people can
the opportunity to better yourself, your
lead to wonderful things in your future,” says
company, your industry, and, hopefully,
Peterson.
society as a whole. Throughout my life, but specifically at PC, I feel I have been surrounded by the best, and have taken this idea through my career.”
MIND GAMES On paper, Eddie Martucci ’04 is a biochemist. He earned three degrees — a bachelor’s from PC and a master’s and Ph.D. from Yale — all in biochemistry. But in practice, Martucci is an alchemist of sorts — an entrepreneur, venture capitialist, and scientist who combines seemingly dissimilar specialties to create biomedical breakthroughs. In 2009, he joined PureTech, an incubator and think tank that seeks out “the best scientists in the world working on the best technologies” that have the potential to transform patients’ lives. In 2012, he founded Akili Interactive, a “digital medicine” company that has hired top video game design-
THE ART (AND SCIENCE, AND HISTORY, AND SOCIOLOGY, AND PHILOSOPHY)
OF FASHION
ers, biomedical and biochemical engineers, neuroscientists, and business minds to create apps with the potential to treat ADHD and autism. “At the time, this was a ridiculously crazy idea,” Martucci recalls. “I was trained very early to take an interdisciplinary approach to any problem. It’s the only way to be successful in the startup environment. If you drop all of the politics and preconceptions of what certain disciplines of science do better than others, you’ll discover the best way to solve problems scientifically.” Clearly, he’s on to something. In 2016, Akili was ranked No. 1 in the healthcare category of Entrepreneur magazine’s 100 Brilliant Companies to Watch and has attracted the atten-
Dr. Michelle Tolini Finamore ’91 has crafted her career as one might assemble the perfect outfit. The fashion curator’s base was an art history degree from Providence College. She added layers of specialized education and complemented them with internships, work at museums, and professional connections — many of which resulted from her PC network — and the result was on point. Behind the scenes at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Finamore oversees a collection of 20th- and 21st-century clothing, jewelry, fabric, and accessories. She acquires new pieces, plans exhibits, presents lectures, writes scholarly articles, and travels the world with museum supporters. “One of the lessons I learned at PC that I carry throughout my life is this idea
tion of Pfizer, Shire Pharmaceuticals, and Autism Speaks.
that you have to look beyond your immediate situation and think about the broader
“At PC, they do a really great thing. In your junior and
context,” says Finamore. “When I think about fashion, for example, I really do
senior year, you dive into the scientific literature and new re-
think of it as this much bigger expression of what is happening more broadly in the
search and then present this fascinating new area of research
world on a cultural, social, and aesthetic level.”
to the department. It’s open-book. You can do anything you want. And I think that’s reflective of PC generally — you’re encouraged not to have too many preconceptions. You’re encouraged to find something interesting with no predefined boxes. I still remember that intensely.”
Life after PC There are more than
Employers of recent PC graduates include:
55,000 PC alumni worldwide
and they love to network with current students and recent graduates.
AmeriCorps
Massachusetts General Hospital
Barclays
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Mercer
Citizens Bank
Morgan Stanley
Deloitte & Touche
NBCUniversal
Fidelity Investments
Nestlé
FOX Broadcasting
PricewaterhouseCoopers
KPMG
Time, Inc.
The Lewin Group
U.S. Army
Liberty Mutual
U.S. Senate
Madison Square Garden
Institutions where recent PC graduates are studying include:
of 2015 graduates were employed, attending graduate school, or participating in full-time volunteer service within six months of graduation. of full-time employees were working in their desired
fields.
Babson College
Providence College
Boston College
St. John’s University
Boston University
University of Connecticut
Brown University
University of Dayton
Columbia University
University of Michigan
Emory University
University of Notre Dame
Fairfield University
University of Southern California
George Washington University
Villanova University
Georgetown University
Virginia Commonwealth University
New York University
Wake Forest University
of 2015 graduates were furthering their education six months after graduation; most of those attending school (74%) were
of recent alums work in business fields (accounting, financial services, insurance, marketing, advertising, or retail).
were working
were working
in education.
in health care, policy, or administration.
enrolled in master’s degree programs.
19% 36% 11%
OFFICE OF ADMISSION 1 CUNNINGHAM SQUARE PROVIDENCE, RI 02918-0001 www.providence.edu PRODUCED BY THE PROVIDENCE COLLEGE DIVISION OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND THE OFFICE OF ADMISSION