School of Social and Natural Sciences of the Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences

Mission Statement

At the heart of each strong, established university is its College of Arts and Sciences. At Roger Williams, the Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences (FCAS), like its counterparts on other campuses across the world, houses and ensures the vitality of that tradition. Here as elsewhere, today as in the times when human imagination first entertained the enterprise of higher education, the College is the unifying center of the University and of undergraduate studies. Here students and faculty come together from all parts of the University and of the world. Here we pursue knowledge. We master skills. We become informed. We discover how the traditional arts and sciences impact contemporary interdisciplinary and professional studies. We achieve in the fullest sense of the term a well-rounded education.

The following pages describe the College’s wealth of knowledge and diversity of programs in the humanities, in the natural and social sciences, and in the fine and performing arts. Here all paths toward graduation, toward rewarding work and toward enriched lives converge. As each student pursues his or her own path through professional studies majors or through arts and sciences, all students meet in the College to explore the traditional disciplines, to accomplish the University Core Curriculum, and, in growing numbers, to earn dual majors.

The College’s programs and its faculty are dedicated not only to preserving and transmitting the tradition, but to developing habits of mind that appreciate and can deal well with the increasing complexities of contemporary, global life and work. Teaching and learning in the College are characterized by exploration, diversity, inquiry, interaction, tolerance, confidence, competence, community and service.

Education is relevant and interpersonal. It is the means by which students prepare for the challenging roles they will play and for the civic responsibilities they will fulfill in this rapidly changing world. As students complete their studies in the College, they carry forward a sense of the joy involved in the process of discovery and an understanding of why that fundamental process must be an integral component of their daily lives.

Overview

The Feinstein College of Arts and Science consists of two “Schools;” the School of Humanities, Arts and Education (SHAE) and the School of Social and Natural Sciences (SSNS). In the finest liberal arts tradition, Roger Williams undergraduates pursue liberal studies course work in both Schools of the Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences as they major or minor in the humanities, fine arts, social or natural sciences. All University undergraduates enter the halls of the College as they pursue Core Curriculum requirements and as they take electives to explore subjects outside their respective majors. With the largest number of students, faculty and courses of study, the College is the heart of the University.

Throughout the two Schools, professors and students work together in an academic community that values the hallmarks of a strong, competitive liberal arts education: intellectual inquiry, the lively exchange of ideas, scholarship and commitment to the mission of teaching and learning. Dedicated not only to the study of established disciplines, the College also fosters cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies. Graduates prove that the traditional liberal arts curriculum combined with cutting-edge inquiry into newly emerging fields provide the essential education for the 21st century. Knowledge and skills acquired through studies in the arts and sciences apply more than ever to the demands and challenges of our increasingly diverse and ever-changing international workplace.

To learn how to learn: that is the key to our students’ futures and the defining purpose of the College. Small classes, none taught by teaching assistants, a commitment to studentcentered learning, achievement, and quality, distinguish the College, its faculty, students and programs.

Programs of Study

Academic programs emphasize analytical thinking, problem-solving and research, all of which prepare FCAS graduates to compete effectively in a world that increasingly requires flexible habits of mind, teamwork, the ability to reason well and a broad base of knowledge. Students enrolled in the College also develop competence in effective communication; they learn to read, write and speak with clarity and precision. They learn to think critically about the works, ideas and events that have shaped knowledge. They learn to explore how these relate not only to the past, but also to the present and future. They engage in the creative process and learn how the arts are produced and why they are integral to humanity. As they study and learn in multiple areas of the arts and sciences, FCAS students develop intelligence, talent, competence and confidence.

Choosing from over 22 majors and minors, FCAS students are able to combine and tailor their academic programs to meet their goals and interests. They can exercise the option to complete two majors by applying work in the Core Concentration toward a second major. In addition to traditional majors, students in good standing may undertake individualized majors and directed independent studies. Cross-disciplinary programs further promote the flow of knowledge and skill across traditional academic fields of study, and students develop competence in multiple areas. FCAS students may also expand their portfolios by enrolling in courses in the School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation, the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business, the School of Engineering Computing and Construction Management or the School of Justice Studies.

Pre-professional and interdisciplinary courses of study offer additional options. Students interested in preparing for law school enroll in a joint program that includes course work in the College and in the School of Justice Studies. FCAS majors who plan to enter the medical or veterinary fields can pursue studies that prepare them for graduate studies in those areas. Those who elect careers in secondary education follow a program of study that ensures a rich background in the arts and sciences, coupled with course work in educational history, philosophy, and the teaching-learning process.

As a result of this rich range of choices, graduates of the College possess both multi-disciplinary perspectives and multiple skills competitive advantages always, but never more so than Well-rounded, knowledgeable and skilled, FCAS graduates are well prepared and highly competitive as they enter either the workforce or graduate school. All majors offered through the College of Arts and Sciences lead to the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Facilities

The academic departments of the Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences are housed in several campus buildings, conveniently grouped according to their shared needs for laboratories, studios, stages, lecture halls, seminar rooms, computer and audio-visual equipped classrooms and other facilities. Administrative offices are located in GHH; faculty offices are also located there and in other buildings on the campus.

The College’s Marine and Natural Sciences Building (MNS), houses the science and mathematics programs. This two-level bayside complex contains state-of-the-art laboratories, including an open seawater lab that was expanded in 2009. The Performing Arts Center (PAC), affectionately called The Barn, is a lively venue of cultural activity on campus. The Performing Arts Annex (formerly the North Campus Classroom Building) is another hub of creative activity for the Theatre, Dance and Music programs, for rehearsals and classes. It includes two rehearsal/dance studio spaces, a chorus room, music practice rooms, a classroom, and faculty offices. The Center contains professionally lighted stage and performance areas as well as costume, makeup and scenery rooms. More than 30 events are staged here each year. The Fine Art Center (FAC), sometimes called “The Muffin” for its unique shape, is home to the Visual Arts disciplines of drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture. Courses in photography and digital media take place in the SAAHP darkroom and MAC labs. Additional studio space is located in nearby downtown Bristol at the Reynolds and Byfield schools on the historic Town Common. There, a new ceramics studio, senior studio spaces and a project space for exhibitions and installations are in close proximity to working arts professionals, cultural centers, Bristol businesses and restaurants.

Global Heritage Hall - the newest academic facility on campus, opened in fall 2009 - is home to the humanities including the departments of communication and graphic design, English and creative writing, foreign languages, philosophy and culture, history, and writing studies, rhetoric and composition. This four-story technology-rich academic center features heritage-themed classrooms, an interactive world languages center, four Mac labs and a fully equipped broadcast production studio for hands-on learning experiences.

Learning Outcomes for Academic Programs in the Feinstein College of Arts & Sciences can be found at http://www.rwu.edu/academics/schools/fcas/outcomes/

Degrees Offered by the School of Social and Natural Sciences

The School of Social and Natural Sciences offers the following graduate degrees:

Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology
Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology 4+1

The School of Social and Natural Sciences offers the Bachelor of Arts in:

Anthropology + Sociology
Aquaculture and Aquarium
Science
Biology
Chemistry

The School of Social and Natural Sciences offers the Bachelor of Science in:

Biochemistry
Biology
Applied Mathematics
Mathematics

The School of Social and Natural Sciences offers Dual Degrees in:

Biochemistry B.S. and Pharm D.
Biology B.A. and Pharm D.
Biology B.S. and Pharm D.
Chemistry B.A. and Pharm D.
Chemistry B.S. and Pharm D.

The School of Social and Natural Sciences offers Minors in:

Anthropology + Sociology
Aquaculture and Aquarium
Science
Marine Biology
Biology
Mathematics

The School of Social and Natural Sciences offers a Certificate Program in:

Biotechnology

Degrees Offered by the School of Humanities, Arts and Education

The School of Humanities, Arts and Education offers the following Graduate degrees:

The Master of Arts in Literacy

The School of Humanities, Arts and Education offers the Bachelor of Arts in:

American Studies
Communication &
Media Studies
Dance & Performance Studies
Education, Elementary
Education, Secondary
Educational Studies
English Literature
Foreign Language (Classics/Modern & Latin American Language Studies)
Graphic Design Communication
History
Journalism
Music
Performing Arts
Philosophy
Public Relations
Theatre
Visual Arts
Web Development

The School of Humanities, Arts and Education offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts in:

Creative Writing
Visual Arts

The School of Humanities, Arts and Education offers a Certificate Program to:

Teach at the Middle School level

The School of Humanities, Arts and Education offers Minors in:

American Studies
Chinese
Communication, Global
Creative Writing
Dance
English Literature
Film Studies
Foreign Language (Modern or Classical Language)
Graphic Design Communication
History
Performing Arts
Philosophy
Professional & Public Writing
Theatre
Visual Arts: Film, Animation and Video
Visual Arts: Painting, Drawing and Printmaking
Visual Arts: Photography and Digital Media
Visual Arts: Sculpture
Web Development

Degrees Offered by the School of Continuing Studies

For part-time adult students, the College offers the Bachelor of General Studies through the School of Continuing Studies.

Minors are offered in:

American Studies
Anthropology + Sociology
Aquaculture and Aquarium Science
Biology
Chemistry
Chinese
Computational Mathematics
Creative Writing
Dance & Performance Studies
English Literature
Environmental Science
Film Studies
Foreign Language (Modern Language)
Global Communication
Graphic Design Communication
History
Marine Biology
Mathematics
Music
Performing Arts
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Professional & Public Writing
Psychology
Theatre

Certificate Program offered in:

Biotechnology

Feinstein College of Arts and Science Faculty

Robert A. Cole, Ph.D., Interim Dean of SHAE
Ben Greenstein, Ph.D., Dean of SSNS
Roberta E. Adams, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Professor of English
Jeffrey Meriwether, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Professor of History
Anne-Marie Cerda - Manager, FCAS Operations

Professors:

Roberta Adams - English
Peter Alfieri - Foreign Language
Garrett Berman - Psychology
Robert Blackburn - Philosophy
Dorisa S. Boggs - Theatre
Bruce Burdick - Mathematics
Jennifer Campbell - Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition
Alan Canestrari - Education
Robert A. Cole - Communication
Sean Colin - Environmental Science
Alan Cutting - Web Development
Edward Delaney - Creative Writing
Kelly Donnell - Education
Elizabeth Duffy - Art
Frank Eyetsemitan, Ph.D. - Psychology
Steven Esons - Public Administration
Lonnie Guralnick - Biology
Anthony Hollingsworth - Classics and Modern Languages
Dale Leavitt - Biology
MaryBeth MacPhee - Anthropology
Marcia Marston - Biology
Jeffrey B. Martin - Theatre
Rachel McCormack - Education
Jeffrey Meriwether - History
Nancy Nester - Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition
Stephen K. O’Shea - Chemistry
Susan Pasquarelli - Education
Judith Platania - Psychology
Anjali Ram - Communication
Michael Rich - Art
Deborah A. Robinson - English Literature
Teal Rothschild - Sociology
Scott Rutherford - Environmental Science
Mark Sawoski - Political Science
Timothy Scott - Biology
Jeffrey Silverthorne - Art
Jessica Skolnikoff - Anthropology
Thomas Sorger - Biology
June Speakman - Political Science
Becky Spritz - Psychology
Robin Stone - Theatre
James Tackach - English Literature
David Taylor - Biology
Margaret Thombs - Education
Peter Thompson - Foreign Languages
Cliff J. Timpson - Chemistry
Mel A. Topf - Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition
Yajni Warnapala - Mathematics
Kerri Warren - Biology
Paul Webb - Biology
Donald Whitworth - Psychology
Michael B. Wright - Philosophy
Brian Wysor - Biology
Matt Zaitchik - Psychology

Associate Professors:

Paul Bender - Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition
Adam Braver - Creative Writing
Nancy Breen - Chemistry
Kelly Brooks - Psychology
Loren Byrne - Biology
Bonita G. Cade - Psychology
Margaret Case - English Literature
Jeremy Campbell - Anthropology
Jacquline Cottle - Psychology
Laura D’Amore - American Studies
Frank DiCataldo - Psychology
Sargon Donabed - History
Avelina Espinosa - Biology
Kamille Gentles-Peart - Communication
Ernest Greco - Political Science
Annika Hagley - Political Science
Catherine Hawkes - Music
France Hunter - Dance/Performance
Jason Jacobs - Foreign Languages
Hume Johnson - Communication
Tadeusz Kugler - Political Science
Dong-Hoon Lee - ESL
Alejandro Leguízamo - Psychology
John Madritch - Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition
Murray McMillan - Art
Kate Mele - Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition
David Moskowitz - Political Science
Deborah Mulligan - History
Clifford B. Murphy - Chemistry
Cathy Nicoli - Dance/Performance
Roxanne O’Connell - Communication
Erica Oduaran - Chemistry
Koray Ozer - Mathematics
Paola Prado - Communication
Jason Patch - Sociology
Autumn Quezada-Grant - History
Andrew Rhyne - Marine Biology
Joseph W. Roberts - Political Science
Lauren Rossi - Chemistry
Michael Scully - Communication
Amiee Shelton - Communication
Gary Shore - Dance/Performance
Valerie Sloan - Graphic Design
Roxanna Smolowitz - Biology
Renee Soto - Creative Writing
Jennifer Stevens - American Studies
Anne Tait - Art
Evgenia Tsankova - Education
Laura Butkovsky Turner - Psychology
Kerri Ullicci - Education
Annie Winfield - Education
Li-Ling Yang - Education
Min Zhou - Modernn Language

Assistant Professors:

Aaron Allen - American Studies
Charlotte Carrington - History
Selby Conrad - Psychology
Edward Dougherty - Mathematics
Catherine Forsa - Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition
Hasala Gallolu Kankanamalage - Mathematics
Brian Hendrickson - Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition
Saeed Hydaralli - Sociology
Dorian Lee Jackson - Modern Languages
Robert Jacobson - Mathematics
Elliot McKinley - Music
Jennifer Pearce - Physics
Christian Pulver - Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition
Dahliani Reynolds - Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition
Koty Sharp - Marine Biology
Erin Tooley - Psychology
Adria Updike - Physics
Lori Lee Wallace - Theatre

Visiting Professors:

John Farmer - Graphic Design

Lecturers:

Christina Rawls - Philosophy

Special Events

The Professor John Howard Birss, Jr. Memorial Lectureship and Professor John Howard Birss, Jr. Endowed Library Fund, were established by Roger Williams University alumnus Robert Blais ‘70, to honor Professor John Howard Birss, Jr., mentor and life-long friend of Mr. Blais. Professor Birss studied in the New York public school system and completed his academic work at New York University, Harvard University, and Columbia University. An English instructor at Rutgers University and later a professor of English and American Literature, Birss was a noted Herman Melville scholar and one of the founders of the Melville Society. He was also a bibliographer and collector of letters as well as inscribed and rare first edition books. His extensive collection included a wide variety of material on Melville, Hart Crane, Edgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman.

The library funds are allocated for the purchase of reference and research books for the library and expand holdings in the Humanities area. The Professor John Howard Birss, Jr. Memorial Lectureship is an annual event that features an important work of literature. Past works honored have included Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, and Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass.

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