Learn by Doing
Learn by Doing
At the RIT College of Liberal Arts, exciting real-world experiences equip grads for careers of impact.
On the journey to a meaningful career and life, there’s always more than one path to follow. That’s why we believe your education at RIT should be multidimensional and rich with experiences that lead to new discovery and possibilities, for you and your world.
Internships and co-ops, field experiences, research, study abroad, student club participation, community service—the ways to build transferable and in-demand skills are limited only by your imagination.
"Connecting with people actively working in the industry feels like a step forward that is so valuable. When you get that opportunity, you have to latch on and make the most of it."
— Marica Joseph, double major English and Film Animation.
A connection with RIT grad Chris Wairegi ’14 (cinematography and photography), the Brooklyn based founder of a nonprofit organization called 600 Black Women, led to an amazing workshop and learning experience plus connection to a new network of supportive professionals.
More about Marica's experience
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“Collaborating with the community, having access to resources, amazing professors and fellow students who work together, and working alongside an expert data analyst at RPD has been great."
— Hayder Alhafedhi, criminal justice
As a research assistant and student, Hayder partnered with the Rochester Police Department to analyze Rochester crime data and develop a Crime Harm Index, a method for measuring the seriousness of crimes by assigning a numerical weight based on their harm. Change-making research like Hayder’s is a cornerstone of RIT’s Criminal Justice Department, with many collaborative projects and initiatives managed by the RIT Center of Public Safety Initiatives.
More about Hayder's experience
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"This internship solidified everything and validated that this is legitimately something I want to do. It also gave me a lot of hands-on experience."
—Anna Pasquantonio, sociology/anthropology + museum studies double major
Read more about Anna's internship with National Geographic in Washington, D.C.
"This kind of collaboration not only replicates some of the work that I will actually be doing beyond graduation, it’s also a really good opportunity for networking."
—Rose Khoobyar, psychology BS + experimental psychology MS
Third-year RIT Honors Program student Rose (photo right) had planned to pursue psychology as a pre-law degree, but getting involved with research in RIT’s Comparative Cognition and Perception Lab inspired her to pivot and pursue a research-based career. She worked as a lab manager for a summer and continued to participate in the lab through the fall semester. The opportunity to be part of a big team science project was a major perk.
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"It sounds like a fantastical idea from a movie like National Treasure. But once people see it, they realize they can do it, too. It’s like lifting the veil to show our magician secrets.”
— Izzy Moyer, museum studies
Museum studies grad Izzy Moyer was part of an RIT team that launched the Multispectral Imaging System for Historic Artifacts (MISHA), a relatively low-cost system that makes cultural heritage imaging methods more accessible. She received a Fulbright Scholarship to continue MISHA outreach with the State Archive in Dubrovnik, Croatia, and helped coordinate its inaugural Cultural Imaging and Innovation Conference.
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"Success in this new era requires a growth mindset where collaboration, empathy, and analytical thinking allow us to bridge the gap between what technology can do and what humanity needs. We need people who can problem-solve across disciplines and remain flexible as the tools we use change every single day."
— Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft (Reflecting on workforce transformation in 2025/2026)
"It’s invigorating to use AI to an ethical end. This is about more than just tech—it’s about serving communities in need.”
—Olivia Croteau (photo right), humanities, computing, and design
Humanities, computing, and design majors Natalie Crowell (left) and Olivia Croteau (right) developed an artificial intelligence tool to better support refugees. By analyzing publicly available social media data, specifically from chat groups where refugees discuss needs related to housing, food, and other resources, it synthesizes data for insights that help humanitarian organizations focus efforts and respond quickly. They later wrote and presented a paper about their project at the IEEE Global Humanitarian Conference.
More about Natalie and Olivia's experience
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“[My] internship showed me the wonderful world of museums. I really enjoyed balancing research, public engagement, and creative problem-solving.”
— Nathaniel Bartsch (photo right), a history and film production double major who did a summer internship at the Seward House Museum in Auburn, NY.
Project management and collaboration with staff, research and digital mapping with Tableau Public, creative problem-solving, and public speaking are just a few of the transferable job skills he honed while interning. The experience also reaffirmed his passion for a career in collections, interpretation, or museum operations. Additionally, Nathaniel is an undergraduate research assistant in RIT’s history department, a member of the College of Liberal Arts Student Advisory Board, a University Advancement Ambassador, and the current head of the alumni relations and president of Phi Kappa Psi.
More about Nathaniel's experience
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"Making connections with all these legends was so fulfilling. It felt like a great way to jump into the industry."
— Paige McKenna (photo left), RIT in L.A. program participant and humanities, computing, and design major
On a warm Saturday in November, Paige went surfing at Venice Beach with Jeff Ho, founder of the Z-Boys and a surfing and skateboarding legend. Earlier that week, she was at Shepard Fairey’s studio documenting new artwork featuring another skateboarding icon Greyson Fletcher. An internship at Juice Magazine and participation in the RIT in L.A. program made opportunities like this possible for Paige, an avid skater aiming for a career in action sports marketing.
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"If more people took the time and expanded their degrees to include liberal arts, we could really start to make the world a better, more accessible place for everyone."
— Ellie Warren, applied modern language and cultures Spanish and biomedical sciences double major
She had always been interested in a medical career, but an experience helping Spanish-speaking students who immigrated to the U.S. practice conversational English gave Ellie new focus. When one of the students encountered a medical issue, she reached out to her for help. “She couldn’t even get past the calling stage because so many hospitals, urgent cares, and emergency rooms didn’t have a Spanish option when you called, so I started calling for her,” said Ellie. “It really gave me a view into the stark reality of what it means to be a non-native English speaker in the U.S.” Now fluent in English, American Sign Language, and Spanish, she aims to use her skills to better serve non-English speaking patients seeking care as she continues to pursue a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.). Also, fun fact: While at RIT, Ellie served as the president of the RIT Beekeeping Club.
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Ready to experience it for yourself?
Future RIT students:
- Request a meeting with the College of Liberal Arts to learn more.
By zoom or in person, we're happy to answer your questions and excited to get you started on the path to amazing experiences.