Majors and Minors 2024

Our American Studies Program allows you to learn about and examine the American experience through many lenses — art, literature, history, culture, politics, and social movements. It is a highly flexible program, making it an ideal program for students interested in multiple aspects of the humanities such as English, history, black studies, political science, sociology, public and community service, business, and many other disciplines.

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The studio art program stresses a strong foundation in the fine arts, as well as the liberal arts, on which to build careers in the arts, communication, advertising, and related fields. The student is also prepared for graduate study leading to an M.F.A. in studio art or M.A.T. in art education.

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The program in art history emphasizes the historical, cultural, and formal contexts of art and visual culture, preparing students for graduate study as well as careers in museums, cultural advocacy, marketing, communication, and other fields. 

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The bachelor of science program in biochemistry combines the chemistry courses required for the bachelor of arts in chemistry program with selected courses in biology and biochemistry. The program is excellent preparation for students interested in medical and dental school, as well as students interested in graduate school in biochemistry or molecular biology.

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The goal of the biology curriculum is to make students aware of the structure, function, and evolution of life as manifested on the cellular, organismic, and population levels through lecture, formal laboratories, and experiential education (e.g. research and internship).

There are many opportunities offered to students to explore their passions in the biological and life sciences, including our focus areas of bioinformatics, ecology and evolutionary biology, molecular biology, conservation, marine biology, bioethics, cancer biology, bioimaging, neuroscience, organismal biomechanics, and physiology.  

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Our program offers a strong grounding in the African-American community’s past and present. We study the unique cultures, collective experiences, and connections within the African Diaspora so that students gain a better understanding of American society and the world we live in. 

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The Catholic Studies major is a perfect choice for those seeking an interdisciplinary education animated by the Catholic intellectual tradition that combines theology, philosophy, literature, history, the arts, and more.

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Chemistry is the “central science” — it’s the air, the oceans, the earth. Chemistry is a foundational scientific discipline that is critical to solving many of the world’s most pressing problems. At Providence College, we provide our students the tools to satisfy their natural curiosity about the world and explore wherever their interests lead them.

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Studying the wellspring of Western thinking gives them a wider perspective and deeper understanding of the problems and opportunities that confront modern society. The study of the classics teaches analytical thinking, close attention to detail, and the ability to see the big picture and small details at the same time.  

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The computer science major at PC provides students with the knowledge of networks, databases, operating and numerical methods of solving problems, as well as the mathematics that form the base of the field. Our program incorporates rigorous practice in solving problems using algorithms and teaches students how to implement solutions using high-level programming languages.

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The Creative Writing major offers a rich mix of creative writing and literature courses that provides students the rare opportunity to complement their creative writing skills with the exciting addition of literature courses that arc from Chaucer to contemporary fiction and poetry.

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A successful and impactful career in economics today requires much more than knowledge of economics; it requires that we go beyond the “what” and have the ability to answer the big questions of “what then?” That’s why our program is designed to not only provide knowledge of economics but an understanding of the social science that gives that knowledge critical context in the real world.

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The most popular program is the 3+2 plan in which a student spends three years in a pre-engineering curriculum at Providence College. The final two years of study are spent in an engineering concentration of the student’s choice at one of our affiliate universities.

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The English major allows students to read, study, and write about literature written in English, from the Middle Ages to the present. Dive deep into the writings of specific literary periods, explore the works of individual authors, and study one-on-one with professors through tutorials, independent studies, and senior theses. 

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Majoring in a foreign language is much more than just learning a foreign language. Our majors and minors become proficient Spanish, French, German, or Italian readers, writers, and speakers. But, our hope for students goes deeper than that. We want our students to become even more culturally proficient — understanding how the cultures they are studying are different from their own and also accepting of the connections.

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Global Studies combines many disciplines in support of a single goal: to make the world a better place. Our department was founded on the idea that a better and more just world is possible.

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History majors learn to analyze and assess evidence, raise important questions, communicate ideas clearly, and develop sound arguments with excellent evidence. All of these skills are highly marketable and sought after in a range of professional enterprises.  

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The Humanities Program offers a highly individualized interdisciplinary plan of study that is focused on the liberal arts. Emphasis is placed on critical understanding and disciplined reflection. The program provides a strong liberal arts education that can serve as excellent preparation for all professions.

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Students in good academic standing who wish to pursue a course of study not defined in any of the established majors in the College have the option to develop an individualized studies major which is usually interdisciplinary in nature.

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Majoring in a foreign language is much more than just learning a foreign language. Our majors and minors become proficient Spanish, French, German, or Italian readers, writers, and speakers. But, our hope for students goes deeper than that. We want our students to become even more culturally proficient — understanding how the cultures they are studying are different from their own and also accepting of the connections. 

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