School of Arts and Sciences

Contact Information

Phone: 401.865.2600
Website: https://arts-sciences.providence.edu/
Location: Ruane Center for the Humanities 147

Margaret Watkins, Ph.D., Dean
Elisabeth Arévalo, Ph.D., Associate Dean
Joan R. Branham, Ph.D., Associate Dean
Denise A. Godin, Associate Dean/Sr. Director of Student Advising Initiatives
Maureen C. Outlaw, Ph.D., Associate Dean

Introduction

As the home of the arts and sciences programs, the School of Arts and Sciences is central to the Providence College mission and identity as a liberal arts institution. Programs of study offered through the School of Arts and Sciences support the College’s mission of fostering academic excellence through the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, and natural sciences while cultivating intellectual, spiritual, ethical, and aesthetic values within the context of the Judaeo-Christian heritage. This is accomplished not only through the major and minor programs of study offered, but also through the College’s undergraduate core curriculum; the majority of the Providence College core curriculum is offered by programs and departments housed in the School of Arts and Sciences. Therefore, the School has a significant impact on every Providence College undergraduate student, regardless of major. 

The School of Arts and Sciences includes 18 academic departments and 16 academic programs that offer undergraduate majors, minors, and/or certificates.  Graduate degree programs are also available. At present, the School of Arts and Sciences has no special academic policies for students enrolled in its degree programs.

Programs of Study

Undergraduate 

Programs of study are offered leading to the degrees of bachelor of arts and bachelor of science. 

The bachelor of arts degree is offered with major programs of study in American studies, art history, biology, biology/optometry (3/4 combined program), biology/secondary education, Black Studies, Catholic studies, chemistry, chemistry/secondary education, classics, creative writing, economics (including business economics and quantitative economics), English, English/secondary education, French, French/secondary education, global studies, history, history/secondary education, humanities, Italian, Italian/secondary education, mathematics, mathematics/secondary education, music, music education, music technology and production, philosophy, physics/secondary education, political science, psychology, public and community service studies, social science, sociology, Spanish, Spanish/secondary education, studio art, theatre, theology, and women’s studies. 

The bachelor of science degree is offered with major programs of study in applied physics, biochemistry, biology, biology/optometry (3/4 combined program), biology/secondary education, chemistry, computer science, neuroscience, and pre-engineering (3/2 combined program).

Minors are offered in anthropology, art history, Asian and Asian American Studies, Black studies, business and innovation, Catholic humanities, classics, communication, computer science, dance, economics, English, evolutionary biology and ecology, film/video, French, German, history, Italian, Latin American and Latina/o studies, mathematics, music, philosophy, physics, political science, public and community service studies, sociology, Spanish, studio art, theatre, theology, women’s studies, and writing.

Certificate programs are offered in labor-management relations, neuroscience, and public administration.  In addition, an Honors Certificate is awarded to students who complete the Honors Program.

Interdisciplinary and non-departmental courses are offered to enhance the educational experience and allow for a variety of interests and initiatives. Information on general degree requirements is recorded in the section on Academic Policies. 

Graduate

Graduate degree programs are available in history, mathematics, and theology.

Programs are offered leading to the degree of master of arts in history, mathematics (teaching), biblical studies, and theology; a program leading to the degree of master of theological studies (with a concentration in Catholic Education) is also offered. Advanced degree programs are described in the Graduate Catalog.