As the city’s center of knowledge and creativity, several colleges maintain a strong presence in the downtown neighborhood. Learning opportunities don’t end after 4 years of college; we’re privileged to have a variety of convenient programs offered here at night and on weekends.
In February, Brown University joined several other programs offered downtown. The university has renovated a building at 200 Dyer Street for its continuing education program, which now occupies 22,000 square feet on the first floor. The program offers on-campus, online, and international programs for almost 5,000 adult, professional, undergraduate, and pre-college students. With the new facility, CE has broadened its offerings with executive-level programs and noncredit courses in areas like information technology, health services, innovation and entrepreneurship, biotechnology and communication. As its programs grow, CE also plans to increase its staffing levels. The building is in an ideal location beside the Providence River, near the planned pedestrian bridge that will connect the Knowledge District with the East Side. (Photo: Heidi Gumula, DBVW Architects).
RISD also offers year-round continuing education programs for adults, teens and children on art and design topics, along with more traditional subjects. Several certificate programs are offered, ranging from advertising design and web design to interior design, training people for work in those specific fields. Part-time evening courses are accessible to people who are already working downtown. Registration is currently open for the summer term, which runs from June 11th through August 3rd. Registration for the fall term begins on July 23rd, and classes run from September 10th through December 9th. You may register online, call (401) 454-6200, or visit the RISD|CE office at 345 South Main Street during regular office hours.
Johnson & Wales’ adult & continuing education programs are housed at both the downtown Providence and Harborside campuses. Business, hospitality and technology courses are typically offered downtown, while culinary arts and baking/pastry arts courses take place at Harborside. JWU is hosting 3 CE information nights for all programs this summer at the Harborside campus on Wednesdays June 20th, July 25th and August 15th between 5 and 7 pm. You can also make an appointment to learn about business/hospitality/technology programs at 111 Dorrance Street during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.
The University of Rhode Island Providence Feinstein campus’ office of Special Programs offers a wide variety of certificate programs, credit programs, and non-credit seminars for professionals. Located in the Shepard building at 80 Washington Street, programs range from auditing and accounting to computer software and biotechnology. URI also offers evening graduate programs for busy professionals wanting to earn
advanced degrees. For more information, call (401) 277-5000.
Roger Williams University’s School of Continuing Studies also has classes scheduled at convenient times and locations, including the Metro campus at 150 Washington Street, in addition to its main campus in Bristol.