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Catch The SpiRIT Learning at RIT Enrichment Opportunities
Catch The SpiRIT Learning at RIT Enrichment Opportunities
| Enrichment Opportunities |
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Leraning through research As the roles of research and innovation—the driving forces in our world economy—continue to expand, the importance of a university that gives you opportunities to participate in creative projects and faculty-guided research can’t be overlooked. At RIT, recognizing that many of the best careers in the future will likely require strong research skills, our undergraduates find opportunities to apply their knowledge in all kinds of fields.  You might work on an original research project in collaboration with a faculty member, or on a project sponsored and funded by industry. Depending on your major and your interests, you might work on an academic paper; market research project; scientific experiment; film, art, or photo exhibition; or engineering project. Our co-op program also provides opportunities for students to conduct applied research in a corporate or industrial setting. Here are a few examples:Three RIT students earned undergraduate laboratory fellowships sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Michael Shepard, a computer engineering major, “trained” artificial neural networks. Lynn Hall, an applied mathematics major, developed mathematical models in the metals and ceramics division. Todd Kuiken worked in the environmental sciences division during his senior year and returned after graduation to work on a biogeochemical project. These RIT students were among 450 chosen for this program from 2,700 applicants across the United States. As a biology major, Michelle Lavallee spent a summer researching how to make compounds for medical use. Her work with chemistry professor James Worman was supported by the pharmaceutical company SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline). Monique Mazza, a criminal justice major with a minor in philosophy, got firsthand career experience as a student clerk at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York. She also participated in a research project for the Rochester Police Department and presented her findings during the College of Liberal Arts’ Annual Research Conference. Accelerated Programs If you’re looking for a way to distinguish yourself from the crowd, you may want to combine undergraduate and graduate in accelerated options such as BS/MS, BS/ME, or BS/MBA degree programs. These dual-degree programs allow you to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in less time than it would normally take to complete each degree separately. There are approximately 20 such programs today, and they are so popular that more will be added. For example, you might combine a BS in industrial engineering with a business MBA in a five-year period, or you might complete both a BS and an MS in public policy in five years. Most accelerated programs require completion of freshman and sophomore course work at RIT before applying for admission.  Honors Program The Honors Program admits approximately 130 entering freshmen each year who represent the top 5 percent of students admitted to the seven participating colleges. The Honors Program features several distinctive and complementary components (Honors Program Benefits): Honors Curriculum: General education courses bring together Honors students from colleges across the university. Students draw from a substantial menu of extracurricular opportunities to fashion individual plans for learning outside the classroom.  Research and Professional Development: Honors students have opportunities to work directly with faculty on applied and interdisciplinary research projects, and to gain enhanced cooperative education experiences and internships.Honors Advising and Mentoring: Each college participating in the Honors Program has designated an experienced faculty member to serve as its Honors Program Advocate. Honors Residence: First-year and upperclass Honors students may reside in the honors residence hall to benefit from interaction with one another outside the classroom. Complementary Learning Experiences: Honors students participate in yearly complementary learning activities based on each student’s personal and professional interests. Students who are selected for admission to the Honors Program will be notified shortly after receiving admission to the university. In addition, they will receive an annual $1,000 Honors scholarship. Outstanding upperclass students who have distinguished themselves academically and as contributing members of the campus community also may apply for sophomore or junior admission to the Honors Program after enrolling at RIT. Study Abroad  There’s no better way to gain an understanding of another culture than to experience it firsthand. To prepare you for success in our global society, RIT offers a range of exciting study abroad opportunities that expand your horizons in every sense. You can immerse yourself in another culture through our Study Abroad programs offered in cooperation with the American College of Management and Technology (Croatia), Queens University (England), University of Osnabruck (Germany), or Kanazawa Institute of Technology (Japan). In programs affiliated with other institutions, RIT students also have the opportunity to study in Italy, Spain, France, Ireland, Australia, China, Kenya, New Zealand, Germany, Greece, and other international locations. RIT students from the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences took a six-credit photography course documenting the culture, food, and people of Croatia. |
