Providence College Great Minds Book

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%

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