Applied Arts and Science Degrees
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The Center for Multidisciplinary Studies offers students the opportunity to tailor individualized undergraduate programs of technical and professional study through its applied arts and science program. In this program, students work closely with faculty, advisers, and the program review committee to co-design unique, multidisciplinary plans of study that combine several areas of expertise. The center also will work with employers to design multidisciplinary programs that are specially suited to their employees’ needs.
The applied arts and science program is particularly appropriate for individuals who have prior college-level learning, are interested in changing majors, or who want to prepare themselves for a career that requires skills and expertise in several areas of knowledge. There are three levels:
Diploma
36 credits; 1 area of concentration
Associate of applied science (AAS) degree
52 core credits in general education plus 38 credits in 1 to 2 areas of concentration
Bachelor of science (BS) degree
90 core credits in general education plus 90 credits in 2 to 4 areas of concentration
The AAS and BS degrees are available to both full-time day students and part-time evening students.
The day program for full-time students is very flexible, includes physical education requirements,
and contains a different set of math and science course options. (Full-time students should telephone
585-475-2234 for further information.)
Individualized concentrations
The associate and bachelor’s degrees allow you to study several different professional and technical areas, selected specifically to meet your unique career and personal goals. The diploma focuses on one concentration. For your professional concentrations, you can draw on a wealth of educational resources from across RIT colleges and departments, including quality management, information technology, engineering technologies, sciences, computing, photography, printing, business and management, liberal arts, physical and social sciences, mathematics, fine arts, technical communication, and public relations. Concentrations in health systems administration, business management, quality management, technical communication, applied computing, telecommunications, emergency management, and environmental management technology are now available through online delivery.
No two applied arts and science programs will be exactly alike because each takes into account the student’s previous learning and brings together a special combination of courses that are right for his or her career and professional development. For example, one individualized program might lead to a bachelor’s degree with concentrations in information technology, graphic arts, and management, while another could lead to a bachelor’s degree that combines fields of technical communication and health systems administration.
As their career plans evolve and the demands of their technical and professional fields change, students meet regularly with advisers to review and update plans of study.
Common features
Every applied arts and science degree has certain features in common:
- An approved program of study developed with faculty, an individual adviser, and the degree
committee
- General education courses in mathematics, computer literacy, science and liberal arts (52
credits for the AAS; 90 for the BS)
- One or more professional concentrations that provide each student with the opportunity to
develop a multidisciplinary program tailored to specific career and personal objectives
- Students must achieve a program GPA of at least 2.0 in order to be certified.
Recognition for prior college-level learning
Each program begins by taking account of what the student already knows and has accomplished. For example, college credits earned at RIT or other accredited institutions will be reviewed to see how they might be applied to the program of study; professional certifications and experiences will be evaluated for the possibility of receiving credit; and credits may be earned (by examination, portfolio reviews, or other documentation) for college-level learning that was gained on the job or through other educational experiences.
Course requirements, AAS and BS degrees in applied arts and science
For a curriculum chart for this program, look in the PDF for this college.