Brown Academic Calendar
Does Brown Use Semesters Or Quarters?
Does Brown use semesters or quarters? The Brown academic calendar consists of two roughly fifteen-week-long semesters, as well as a seven-week for-credit summer session. The unit of credit is the semester course. This is referred to as a course that is taken for one semester and can be roughly equated to four semester hours for evaluation purposes.
Summer Session 2022
Registration for Summer courses for continuing Brown undergraduates opens | April 4-14 |
Registration period for fall courses for Brown undergraduates. Summer registration closed during this period. | April 19-26 |
Registration period for Summer courses for Brown undergraduates re-opens | April 27-June 22 |
Residence halls open | June 19 |
Juneteenth Holiday | June 20 |
Start of Summer Session classes | June 21 |
Last day to change courses. All students MUST be in their registered courses by June 23. | June 22 |
Independence Day holiday | July 4 |
Last day to change grade options | July 6 |
End of Summer Session classes in the Brown academic calendar | July 29 |
Reading Period | July 30-August 2 |
Last day to drop a course. | August 2 |
Final examination period | August 3-5 |
Summer Session ends | August 5 |
Residence halls close | August 6 |
Fall Term 2022
Last day for payment of charges. | August 1 |
Beginning of Graduate School All-Student Orientation. | August 30 |
Beginning of College Orientation. | September 1 |
Registration of new undergraduate and all graduate students for the fall semester begins. | September 2-5 |
Registration re-opens for all students for the fall semester. | September 6 |
First day of RISD Fall Session; Classes of the first semester begin. | September 7 |
Theses/Dissertations of candidates for Masters and Ph.D. degrees due. | September 9 |
Opening Convocation | September 10 |
Last day to register for a Fall RISD course without a fee or change a grade option for a Fall RISD course | September 14 |
Last day to add a course without a fee | September 20 |
Deadline for undergraduates on personal leave (including employment and military leave) or Full-time Study Away status to request a return for Spring term. | October 1 |
Last day to add a course (includes late fee), change from audit to credit, or change a grade option declaration | October 4 |
Indigenous Peoples’ Day holiday | October 10 |
Last day to receive any partial tuition refund. | October 11 |
Last day to change from credit to audit in a course (5:00 p.m. EDT deadline). | October 14 |
Mid-semester. | October 15 |
Advising period for spring pre-registration begins. | October 24 |
United States Election Day | November 8 |
Thanksgiving recess | November 23-27 |
Classes resume | November 28 |
Deadline for undergraduates to request a personal leave (including employment and military leave) or to request Full-time Study Away status for Spring. | December 1 |
Midyear Completion Celebration in Salomon De Ciccio Family Auditorium. | December 3 |
Last day of Fall RISD classes. | December 5 |
Beginning of Reading Period (optional and at the discretion of the instructor). | December 8 |
Final Examination Period (inclusive of Sunday). | December 13-21 |
Winter Session 2023
Registration for Winter Session courses. | November 17-December 5 |
Last day to register for a Winter Session course. | December 5 |
Winter Session tuition due. | December 14 |
Winter Session courses begin. | December 22 |
Last day to change a grade option declaration. | January 10 |
Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday | January 16 |
Last day to drop a course or request an incomplete from an instructor. | January 17 |
Final examinations. Winter Session ends. | January 24 |
Spring Term 2023
Last day for payment of charges. | January 1 |
First day of RISD Winter Session. | January 5 |
Last day to register for a Winter RISD course without a fee or change a grade option for a Winter RISD course. | January 12 |
Theses/Dissertations of candidates for Masters and Ph.D. degrees due. | January 13 |
Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday | January 16 |
Registration of new students for the second semester. | January 24 |
Classes of the second semester begin. Web registration begins. | January 25 |
Last day to add a course without a fee. | February 7 |
Last day of Winter RISD classes. | February 8 |
First day of RISD Spring Session. | February 16 |
Long weekend (No classes) | February 18-21 |
Classes resume. Last day to add a course (includes late fee), change from audit to credit, or change a grade option declaration. | February 22 |
Last day to register for a Spring RISD course without a fee or change a grade option for a Spring RISD course. | February 23 |
Last day to receive any partial tuition refund. | February 28 |
Last day to change from credit to audit in a course. | March 10 |
Mid-semester in the Brown academic calendar | March 11 |
Spring recess | March 25-April 2 |
Deadline for undergraduates on personal leave (including employment and military leave) or on Full-time Study Away status to request a return for Fall Term. | April 1 |
Advising period for fall pre-registration begins; Classes resume. | April 3 |
Reading Period begins (optional and at the discretion of the instructor). | April 28 |
Deadline for undergraduates to request a personal leave (including employment and military leave) or to request Full-time Study Away status for Fall. | May 1 |
Classes end for courses not observing the Reading Period. Last day to drop a course or to request an incomplete from an instructor. | May 9 |
Reading Period ends | May 9 |
Final Examination Period (No exams on Sunday May 14) | May 10-19 |
Last day of Spring RISD classes. | May 17 |
Commencement | May 28 |
How Many Classes Can You Take In A Semester At Brown?
It is typical for each student to sign up for four courses in each of the eight semesters, for a total of 32 courses. (The Corporation decided that tuition payments should be based on the typical 32 courses and eight semesters of full-time residence at Brown.)
Now, how many classes can you take in a semester at Brown? The minimum number of course credits that must be successfully completed for graduation has been set at 30 to encourage risk-taking in the creation of educational programs or to offer some flexibility in specific programs. Successful completion is defined as finishing a course with a grade of A, B, C, or S.
For students enrolled in the 5-year combined AB-ScB program (38 credits) and the concurrent Bachelor’s/program Master’s (36 credits*), the minimum quantity is set higher. Forty (40) courses are the most that may be finished in eight semesters. In any given semester in the Brown academic calendar, a student may select from three to five courses to enroll in.
The completion of eight courses for two semesters is normal academic progress. According to the standards for academic standing established by the faculty, a student must satisfactorily complete at least three courses by the end of the first semester, seven courses by the end of the second semester, 11 courses by the end of the third semester, 15 courses by the end of the fourth semester, 18 courses by the end of the fifth semester, 22 courses by the end of the sixth semester, 26 courses by the end of the seventh semester, and 30 courses to graduate after eight semesters to remain in good standing. (Note: A course with an “Incomplete” designation has not yet been satisfactorily finished and cannot, as a result, be considered when determining academic standing.)
A student must also successfully finish a minimum of seven (7) courses over any two semesters in a row. Students whose cases are referred to the Committee on Academic Standing for action—which may include academic statuses of Warning, Serious Warning, or Suspension/Dismissal—who do not fulfill these requirements will have their cases reviewed.
What Is the Application Deadline For Brown?
For students who are prepared to commit and would want early news of their acceptance status, Brown offers Early Decision. If you decide to apply early decision to Brown, do not apply early decision, single-choice early action, or restriction early action to any other institution. You will be forced to withdraw all current applications, including any that you may have already submitted to regular, rolling, or (open) early action programs, if you are admitted under the Early Decision plan.
Most first-year students select the Regular Decision application process at Brown. If you apply under the Regular Decision process, you can think about different colleges before deciding on one by May 2. Admitted applicants must inform Brown of their enrollment decision by May 2, which is the standard reply period for many universities. What is the application deadline for Brown? Let’s take a look at the application deadline for both admission options.
- The deadline for early decision applications is November 1 at 11:59 p.m.
- Early Decision letters are accessible online starting in mid-December.
- The deadline for Regular Decision applications is January 5 at 11:59 p.m.
- Regular Decision letters are accessible online starting on March 30.
- The commitment deadline for Regular Decision applicants is on May 1st.
What Are the Big Social Events At Brown?
In contrast to the rigorous events reflected in the Brown academic calendar, what are the big social events at Brown? The Commencement procession, Campus Dance, and the opening of the Van Wickle gates at Convocation are just a few of the time-honored customs that Brown values.
Opening Convocation
Every fall, freshmen gather on the College Green and proceed through the Van Wickle Gates to begin their academic careers at Brown. Only on convocation, mid-year convocation, and graduation do the gates open each year. According to a rumor, if you enter the building through the main door more than twice, you’ll be cursed for life and won’t be able to graduate or find love.
Family Weekend
The perfect autumnal setting for a get-together and tour of Brown is provided by Family Weekend for students, parents, and other visitors. Family Weekend is a significant occasion in the Brown community since it is when many students first introduce their families to their lives on campus. The school hopes that the visit will provide you with a small glimpse of what it’s like for the students both inside and outside the classroom.
Commencement
At Brown, Commencement is a time of ritual, spectacle, and celebration, with many of the events honoring centuries-old customs, such as Campus Dance, the Baccalaureate, and the procession of new graduates.
Reunion Weekend
A remarkable number of Brown alums from various eras came to campus for three days of programs and celebrations. Brunonians reconnected through class and affinity group activities, satisfied their intellectual curiosity during a variety of forums, and absorbed in the joy of the people and places that make Brown always feel like home in between time-honored traditions like Campus Dance, Field Day, and Procession.
What is it like being at Brown?
Brown is a leading research institution that is known for its student-centered instruction and strong sense of purpose. Students at Brown are inspired by the notion that their work will have a global influence. If you’re curious about what is it like being at Brown, here’s an overview of the Brown student life.
Location
Quadrangles, beautiful green spaces, soaring modern architecture, restored centuries-old buildings, cutting-edge labs, and top-notch libraries, all of these that Brown could offer are situated in the center of Providence, Rhode Island’s thriving capital city, which is renowned for its eateries, avant-garde cultural scene, youthful energy, and laid-back atmosphere.
Boston is 50 miles away and New York City is 180 miles away from Providence. Due to the abundance of parks, bicycle routes, and hiking opportunities nearby, the city makes a fantastic starting place for outdoor activities. Just a short drive will take you to the ocean.
Housing
The housing options at Brown reflect the lively, diverse community on campus. Seventy-four percent of undergraduates and all first-year students reside on campus. First-year undergrads dwell with roommates in tight-knit communities of 50–60 students in residential halls. Through a lottery system, returning students select their living arrangements, which might range from private single rooms to suites and flats for friends and groups.
The opportunity to live and learn with others who share your interests is provided via a network of program houses, with options including Casa Machado (Spanish language, Hispanic culture), Environmental House (sustainability, social action), and St. Anthony Hall (literary society).
More than 1,100 students participate in the University’s Greek letter organizations, some of which also provide housing on campus.
Academics
There are 80 majors, or “concentrations,” as they are known at Brown, which is an Ivy League school. The Open Curriculum is the foundation of a Brown education. Students are not subject to any distribution or core curriculum requirements under this liberal educational philosophy.
Additionally, Brown is renowned for its elite and competitive Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME). Students who complete this eight-year program in undergraduate education and professional studies in medicine spend the first four years pursuing either an AB or ScB degree and the final four years pursuing an MD.
The Brown-RISD Dual Degree Program is an additional noteworthy initiative. Students can acquire an AB or ScB from Brown and a BFA from RISD by simultaneously pursuing degrees at both institutions over five years while pursuing both intellectual and artistic interests. Students must apply to and be accepted by both universities as well as a unique Brown|RISD Dual Degree admissions committee to take part.
Student Clubs and Activities
The diversity of interests within the student body is reflected in the 500+ student organizations at Brown, which range from a capella ensembles and ultimate frisbee to student leadership and community service. Students can create their own clubs and organizations if they cannot find the ones they want. It’s simple to participate.
In addition to guiding student organizations, the Student Activities Office also oversees the operation of the Greek and Program houses on campus and coordinates leadership training initiatives. Numerous clubs and activities are conducted by graduate and medical students as well, which greatly enhances their time at Brown. Particularly important aspects of Brown’s social and extracurricular life include the arts and political action. Along with participating in theater, visual arts, and literary organizations, many students participate in protests and other political actions and events.
Athletics
Student-athletes participate in 34 varsity sports at Brown, where Brown teams frequently lead the nation in NCAA accolades for academic excellence. The athletics department at Brown offers a wide range of club sports, intramural sports, physical education classes, fitness programs, and leisure options. A state-of-the-art exercise center with 10,000 square feet is located next to a sizable athletics complex at Brown University.
The women’s rowing team at Brown has the most impressive sports resume; they have won all seven of the school’s NCAA national titles! The team most recently participated in the NCAA finals for the 24th straight year.
One of the longest-running and most successful clubs at Brown is its sailing team. Among the top 10 sailing teams in the United States is the current Brown cohort. When not on the water, team members spend a lot of time instructing locals in sailing.
Now that you have an idea of the Brown academic calendar, application deadline, and what to look forward to in your stay at Brown University, you might consider seeking assistance from experts like AdmissionSight. We, at AdmissionSight, have over 10 years of experience guiding students through the competitive admissions process to get accepted to the top universities in the world. Book an initial consultation now.