About
Our Mission
The College of Liberal Arts encourages the creation, development, dissemination, and application of human knowledge in the arts, humanities, and social sciences by promoting innovative teaching, scholarship, and research, thus providing a comprehensive education for all RIT students.
We strive to prepare students for a lifetime of personal growth and responsible citizenship in an increasingly technological and rapidly changing society by maintaining and promoting the intellectual climate on campus, contributing to students’ awareness and understanding of diversity, and enhancing students’ abilities to reason critically and communicate effectively.
We value a rigorous liberal arts education that encourages innovative experiential learning and active scholarship, the highest ethical standards, the educational and social benefits of diversity and global awareness, an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment of openness and academic freedom, a working environment in which all staff and faculty enjoy respect and recognition, and the active and meaningful participation of all members of the College community.
By the Numbers
College of Liberal Arts Enrollment (2025–26)
| Category | Students |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate, Primary Majors | 571 |
| Undergraduate, Double Majors | 204 |
| Graduate | 63 |
|
Total |
838 |
|
Students enrolled in a double major |
11.5% |
| Male students* | 241 |
| Female students* | 393 |
*Excludes global locations.
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
| Student-to-faculty ratio — 5:1 | |
|---|---|
| Faculty | 163 |
| Students* | 855 |
*Includes all majors, double majors, graduate students, and liberal arts exploration students.
Enrollment by School and Program
| School of English and Communication — Total: 104 | |
|---|---|
| Advertising and Public Relations BS | 34 |
| Communication BS | 22 |
| Communication MS | 14 |
| English BS | 34 |
|
School of Humanities, Language, and Social Sciences — Total: 97 |
|
| Applied Modern Languages and Cultures BS | 26 |
| History BS | 17 |
| Museum Studies BS | 33 |
| Sociology and Anthropology BS | 21 |
|
School of Psychology and Cognitive Science — Total: 291 |
|
| Artificial Intelligence MS* | 62 |
| Experimental Psychology MS | 26 |
| Neuroscience BS* | 65 |
| Psychology BS | 130 |
| Cognitive Science Ph.D. | 8 |
| Engineering Psychology Advanced Certificate | 0 |
|
School of Performing Arts |
|
| Music Performance, Minor | 16 |
| Music and Technology Minor | 87 |
| Music, Immersion | 445 |
| Theatre Arts, Minor and Immersion | 89 |
|
School of Public Affairs — Total: 135 |
|
| Criminal Justice BS | 61 |
| Economics BS | 22 |
| Philosophy BS | 5 |
| Political Science BS | 35 |
| Science, Technology and Public Policy MS | 12 |
|
Institute for Interdisciplinary Innovation — Total: 96 |
|
| Global Futures (formerly International and Global Studies) BS | 16 |
| Humanities, Computing, and Design BS | 78 |
| Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies BS | 2 |
|
Other |
|
| Liberal Arts Exploration BS | 17 |
| 3+3 Law | — |
*For jointly offered programs, 2026–27 enrollment numbers are shown.
College of Liberal Arts Faculty and Staff
| Full-time faculty | 163 |
|---|---|
| Full-time faculty includes tenure-track, non-tenure-track, and visiting faculty. | |
|
Staff |
32 |
| Staff total includes some full-time research staff supporting laboratories. |
Sponsored Research Funding
| Sponsored research funding | $21M |
|---|---|
|
Five-year total (2021–2026) Obligated research funding for the College of Liberal Arts during 2021–2026. |
$21,811,209.60 |
Alumni
| CLA alumni | 6,104 |
|---|---|
| Total number of alumni who have earned degrees from the RIT College of Liberal Arts. | |
Key Facts
$21.8M
In sponsored research
$21,811,209.60 obligated research funding for the College of Liberal Arts in the last five years (2021–2026).
4+1
Accelerated Degrees
Earn both a BS and an MS in a combined accelerated plan with liberal arts options that include:
- Advertising and Public Relations BS + Communication MS
- Communication BS + Communication MS
- Communication BS + Sustainable Systems MS
- Economics BS + Artificial Intelligence MS
- Economics BS + Finance MS
- Economics BS + Science, Technology, and Public Policy MS
- Economics BS + Sustainable Systems MS
- Global Futures BS + Science, Technology, and Public Policy MS
- History BS + Sustainable Systems MS
- Philosophy BS + Sustainable Systems MS
- Political Science BS + Science, Technology, and Public Policy MS
- Political Science BS + Sustainable Systems MS
- Psychology BS + Experimental Psychology MS
- Psychology BS + Artificial Intelligence MS
- Psychology BS + Sustainable Systems MS
- Sociology and Anthropology BS + Communication MS
- Sociology and Anthropology BS + Hospitality Business Management MS
- Sociology and Anthropology BS + Science, Technology, and Public Policy MS
- Sociology and Anthropology BS + Sustainable Systems MS
- Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies BS + Communication MS
- Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies BS + Science, Technology, and Public Policy MS
- 4+1 Teaching and Education Partnership Programs
- 3+3 Law
204
Double Major Students
200+ RIT students whose primary majors are with other RIT colleges double major in undergraduate programs offered by the College of Liberal Arts.
11.5%
Double major
Most programs in the College of Liberal Arts can be paired to create a double major without extra time-to-graduation.