First-Year Gateway

From the very first semester, Bryant’s nationally recognized First-Year Gateway  is the foundation for your success. Centered on fundamental questions about the role of the individual in an ever-changing world, the interdisciplinary Gateway sets the stage for you to explore the global foundations of character and leadership, and of organizations and business.

Central to the Gateway is a 13-credit core curriculum aimed at improving your writing proficiency, critical thinking, cultural awareness, and ethical reasoning — skills you’ll need for success during your four years at Bryant and beyond. In addition to the Global Foundations of Character and Leadership and Global Foundations of Organizations and Business courses, the interdisciplinary curriculum includes a writing course and The Bryant IDEA (Innovation Design Experience for All), our immersive January program.

IDEA runs for 72 intensive hours and is designed to provide you with a unique forum for experiential learning. You’ll develop your understanding of creative problem solving, the dynamics of teamwork, and the innovation process. You’ll be introduced to the concept of design thinking, and work in teams charged with generating creative solutions to real-world situations in everything from the arts to social services to the business sector.

A unique component of the First-Year Gateway is the integration of student life experiences with academics. Working in collaboration with faculty, Student Life staff have identified co-curricular programs aligned with the Gateway outcomes and designed materials for faculty to incorporate into their courses. Our goal? To help you connect your classroom learning and what you do and think as a member of Bryant’s dynamic community.

To learn more, please contact:
Office of Admission
Phone: (800) 622-7001 or
(401) 232-6100
Email: admission@bryant.edu

"The First-Year Gateway is the initial component of a multi-year plan that is transforming Bryant's approach to teaching and learning. The aim is to produce graduates equipped not only with the professional skills to succeed in a global economy but also with the critical-thinking skills needed to succeed as citizens of the world.”

José-Marie Griffiths, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Affairs