Why we’re different

From its focus on urban schools to its practice-based curriculum, the UEP program distinguishes itself in several ways.

• Small, tight-knit cohort
  Students build community and collaborate closely throughout their time at Brown, working together to solve problems in complex, high-need school systems.
   
• Nine months of hands-on experience
  Students apply what they’ve learned in the classroom and engage in the Providence community. Some students intern with institutes, while others choose to intern with local school districts, municipal offices, state agencies or non-profit organizations. 
   
• Focus on racial and economic inequality in schools
  Our recently revised UEP curriculum pays special attention to race, class, community and inequality in the context of urban education, exploring the unique opportunities and challenges faced by schools in America’s cities.
   
• Integration of theory and practice
  Students’ internships in Providence coincide with academic courses — guided by experienced practitioners — that build relevant knowledge and skills. Forging connections between the classroom and the meeting room allows students to connect theory to practice in deep and meaningful ways.
   
• World-class faculty
  Education Week has ranked several Brown faculty members among the most influential scholars shaping educational policy and practice today.  
   
• Cross-campus collaboration
  Collaborations with the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs and other academic departments at Brown augment the program's practical and interdisciplinary aspects.