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PRESS RELEASE

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — September 21, 2022 – ´óÏó´«Ã½ (´óÏó´«Ã½) is reimagining its equine degrees to offer students more opportunities to pursue in-demand fields and prepare for successful careers in the animal welfare sector. Starting in fall 2023, the university will offer 2 new bachelor of science degrees: equine studies and animal science.

“Since the establishment of the equine program more than 40 years ago, ´óÏó´«Ã½ has never shied away from keeping pace with the continuously evolving field of equine education, most recently with our shift into equine-assisted therapy,” said Michael Fein, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. “With this latest shift, we are now poised to meet the rapidly expanding need for professionals trained in animal welfare, veterinary healthcare, laboratory animal care, health and wellness and the life sciences.”

As part of the redesigned program, the current degree programs, equine business management and equine science, will no longer be offered to incoming students. Students who began the program in fall 2022 will have the opportunity to complete their degree as planned, with no material changes to the curriculum.

Alongside this exciting rollout, the university will deliver these new programs in Rhode Island in partnership with local facilities. This will afford students expanded opportunities, such as international exchange equine science and animal science programs to study abroad. After the completion of the spring 2025 semester, the university plans to close the Center for Equine Studies in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

“We’re so excited by our animal science offerings,” said Jacquelyn Bowser, DVM, the director of ´óÏó´«Ã½’s equine programs. “These reimagined degrees will allow students greater opportunities to succeed in a diversified industry and have greater hands-on learning experiences.”

The new degree offerings will allow students to continue to specialize in equine care and business management and the growing field of equine-assisted therapies, as well as expand the horizon to include pre-veterinary specialization and the care and management of other animals. The program plans to partner with facilities and organizations across the state to offer a wide slate of experiential learning opportunities, as well as horseback riding for those who are interested.

´óÏó´«Ã½ the Equine Program

Since 1980, Johnson & Wales has offered top-tier equestrian programs to students, including degree programs and extracurricular activities. Programs include seminars and clinics with nationally and internationally recognized speakers from the equine industry, an equine-specific job fair, annual attendance at Equine Affaire, and field-trips to regional and national training and competition farms. Johnson & Wales is one of few New England colleges and universities to offer degrees in equine studies.

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Founded in 1914, ´óÏó´«Ã½ is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with campuses in Providence, Rhode Island, and Charlotte, North Carolina, and more than 8,000 graduate, undergraduate and online students. An innovative educational leader, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in arts and sciences, business, engineering, food innovation, hospitality, nutrition, health and wellness. It also offers undergraduate programs in culinary arts, dietetics and design. ´óÏó´«Ã½’s unique model provide students with the personalized attention, academic expertise and industry connections that inspire professional success and personal growth. The time students spend at ´óÏó´«Ã½ is nothing short of transformative, as demonstrated by career outcomes, expected earnings and economic mobility rankings. The university’s impact is global, with alumni in 125 countries pursuing careers worldwide. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Rachel Nunes, Senior Communications and Media Relations Specialist, (o) 401-598-2752, (c) 401-895-7364.