Johnson & Wales University

Johnson & Wales University Offers degree programs in Business, Culinary, Hospitality, Arts & Sciences and Technology Industries

Johnson & Wales University (JWU), founded in 1914, is a nonprofit, private institution. A recognized leader in career education with an emphasis on experiential education, it offers accredited degrees in business, hospitality, culinary arts, technology, arts & sciences, and education to more than 17,000 graduate and undergraduate students, representing all 50 states and 90 countries. With two campus locations in Providence, RI and Charlotte, NC and a robust offering of 80+ programs through their College of online Education, JWU has something to offer for every learner.

The academic focus of the university is on degree programs in culinary arts, food service, hospitality, technology, business administration, fashion merchandising, criminal justice, communication studies, liberal studies, advertising and marketing. M.B.A. and doctorate degrees are also offered at the Providence campus. Learning by doing is an important part of career training at JWU, and many programs include laboratory studies as well as formal internships or community service work requirements. 

Popular majors offered at JWU's College of Business include: business administration, fashion merchandising and retail marketing, criminal justice, risk management, marketing and advertising and marketing communications. At the College of Culinary Arts, students can major in culinary arts, baking and pastry arts and culinary nutrition. The Hospitality College offers majors in sports/entertainment/event management, hotel management, travel tourism and concentrations such as golf management. Students interested in the technology industry will find that at JWU's School of Technology they can major in electronics engineering, software engineering and graphic design and digital media. At the university's School of Arts & Sciences, students can earn bachelor's degrees in counseling psychology, communication studies and liberal studies.

Campuses are Located in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina

The locations of Johnson & Wales University's campuses in Providence, RI and Charlotte, NC, enable students to take advantage of internships, community service work and part-time work activities offered by many nearby businesses, community groups, and government agencies. Both of Johnson & Wales University's city campuses retain a small-town feel and easy accessibility to students, and each is designed to meet the needs of its students and their areas of study, whether it’s culinary arts, food service, hospitality, technology, business administration, fashion merchandising, criminal justice, counseling psychology, communication studies, liberal studies, advertising or marketing. 

The Providence Campus of JWU consists of two major campuses, Downcity and Harborside. The Downcity Campus, nestled in the heart of Providence, is where it all started at Johnson & Wales. Downcity is home to the university's College of Business, the College of Hospitality, the School of Technology, and the School of Arts & Sciences. Downcity is also home to many of JWU’s residence halls and various other campus amenities. 

The Harborside Campus, just a short shuttle ride from Downcity, overlooks the Providence River and houses the university's College of Culinary Arts. It has five student residence halls as well as specialized classrooms and laboratories, production kitchens, bakeshops, dining rooms, a storeroom, and meat-cutting facilities. Students who live on campus get the chance to choose whether they want to live in Downcity or Harborside. But don’t worry about transportation, JWU’s complimentary shuttle service will get you back and forth between campuses. 

Home to 1,800+ students, at our Charlotte Campus, southern charm meets a modern setting. Located in the heart of Gateway Village in Uptown Charlotte, you'll know you've arrived when you see the gleaming steel and glass tower on West Trade Street. From our on-campus baking, culinary, management and retail labs and the 33,000-square-foot Student Center, to nearby public markets and sports arenas, there is plenty to do both on and off campus.

Experience counts, count on JWU

A major component of the student's education at JWU comes from our emphasis on experiential education. Johnson & Wales has always taken a progressive approach to learning. For more than 100 years, our goal has been for students to make the most of their time at college — to bring out their potential and turn it into a career. From your first day, you will be immersed in “experiential education”, which means coursework will be specifically targeted to the field of your choice. Want to work in finance? Start investing. Want to earn a Michelin star? Get in the kitchen. From taking part in advertising competitions to snagging an internship to working with world-renowned companies, there’s an entire community behind you to help develop your skills and make the most of your potential.