Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education Degrees
A tech-infused approach to learning the humanities is essential in a digital world.
We focus on empowering you to be an agent, a player, a driver of change by giving you the tools to make a difference. At RIT, our social science majors are always fostering fearless change-makers.
98th
“National Universities”
U.S. News & World Report, 2024
41st
“Most Innovative Schools”
U.S. News & World Report, 2023
Total Outcomes Rate: 90.4%
Outstanding Hiring Partners
Graduates in the humanities and liberal arts find themselves working for top companies and organizations around the world. Here’s a sampling of where you might find yourself making a difference:
- AmeriCorps
- Amnesty International
- BlueCross BlueShield
- BOSE
- Fitbit
- Honeywell
- Internal Revenue Service
- National Geographic
- New York Public Library
- Nickelodeon
- Nike
- Peace Corps
- Smithsonian Institute
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- The Walt Disney Company
- The World Bank
Advance Your Education
RIT graduates have continued their education at top-tier universities in a wide range of liberal arts and humanities disciplines. A sampling of schools where RIT students have earned an advanced degree includes:
- Boston University
- Case Western Reserve University
- Harvard University
- London School of Economics
- Pace University
- Penn State University
- Stony Brook University
- Syracuse University
- Rutgers University
- University at Buffalo
- University of Ottawa
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Rochester
- University of Toronto
Volunteering or Military Service
Champions of Change Ask, “What if?”
This curiosity, coupled with opportunities to be bold, dynamic, and inventive, enables you to become a creator, a thinker, a doer, a solver. It all starts with a captivating, future-focused major that empowers you to say: “I will."
The Curtain is Rising
And so are your aspirations in the performing arts.
RIT is becoming the leading performing arts program in the nation for non-majors, and it's your ticket to integrated, accessible, and diverse experiences in music, theater, and dance. When you pursue performing arts at RIT, you’ll enjoy performance as it is and push the boundaries of what it can be.
2050
Performing Arts Scholars
RIT’s Performing Arts Scholarship supports your love and talent for singing, acting, dancing, or playing music, and encourages your continued participation in the performing arts.
Students who received scholarships to continue their passion for dance, music, and theater.
54
Performing Arts Courses
You won't just study music, theater, and dance, you'll live it. Our performing arts courses range from theory to practice, and everything in between.
8
Performing Arts Minors
American arts, ASL performance, dance, film studies, music and technology, music performance, theater arts, theater design and stagecraft
6
Performing Arts Immersions
American arts, dance, film studies, music, theater arts, theater design and stagecraft
2 Is Always Greater Than 1
Get more out of your academic investment when you double major, accelerate your studies into a master’s degree, or join a partnership program with one of our partner institutions.
Double Majors
Double majors allow you to pursue two different fields of study in a single bachelor’s degree. Majors in the College of Liberal Arts can accommodate most double majors, while still allowing you to complete co-op and internships, undergraduate study, study abroad, and more—all while you graduate on time. Get details on double majors and how to put together a pathway.
Accelerated Bachelor’s + Master’s Degrees
RIT’s Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees are dual degrees that enable you to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in approximately five years of study. They’re designed for exceptional undergraduate students with outstanding academic records. You’ll earn two degrees in less time and with a cost savings while still taking advantage of cooperative education experiences, internships, research, study abroad, and more. Find out if an accelerated program is right for you.
Accelerated Bachelor’s + Master’s Degrees
Earn both your bachelor's and your master's in less time and with a cost savings, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.
Conditional early acceptance offered to outstanding first-year applicants
| Bachelor’s Degree | Master’s Degree(s) |
|---|---|
| Advertising and Public Relations BS | Communication MS |
| Communication BS |
Sustainable Systems MS |
| Criminal Justice BS | Criminal Justice MS |
| Economics BS |
Artificial Intelligence MS Science, Technology and Public Policy MS Sustainable Systems MS |
| History BS | Sustainable Systems MS |
| International and Global Studies BS | Science, Technology, and Public Policy MS |
| Philosophy BS | Sustainable Systems MS |
| Political Science BS | Sustainable Systems MS |
| Psychology BS |
Artificial Intelligence MS Sustainable Systems MS |
| Sociology and Anthropology BS |
Communication MS Hospitality Business Management MS Science, Technology, and Public Policy MS Sustainable Systems MS |
Learn more about RIT’s accelerated programs
3+3 Accelerated BS/JD Programs
RIT has partnered with Syracuse University’s College of Law and University at Buffalo School of Law to offer accelerated 3+3 BS/JD options for highly capable students. These programs provide a fast track to law school where you can earn a bachelor’s degree at RIT and a Juris Doctorate degree at Syracuse University or University at Buffalo in six years.
Learn more about Accelerated Law 3+3 Programs
6th
RIT Ranked Among Top Schools for Co-ops and Internships
U.S. News & World Report, 2025
Preparing For the Real World in the Real World
RIT is world renowned for its cooperative education and internship program, which provides exposure—early and often—to a variety of industries and environments.
Intentional and purposeful, these opportunities are designed for you to apply your skills in real-world settings, interact with industry experts, and explore professional work environments.
Our proven track record means that employers know that they’ve hired a solid, experienced candidate who has meaningful, relevant experience.
Learn more about RIT’s internship and co-op opportunities.
The Power of
Hands-On Learning
Turn knowledge into know-how with opportunities outside the classroom to innovate, play, explore, and grow.
Get involved in projects you’re passionate about. With RIT’s centers, labs, community outreach programs, and Grand Challenges Program you’ll put into action the skills that can make a difference.
Social Science Research Exploration
Driven By You
At RIT, undergraduate research is hands-on, and can start as early as day one. You’ll work alongside top faculty researchers on a range of research topics and carry out experiments, collect data, analyze and interpret data, and present your findings.
Seneca Park Zoo Society Research Partnership
RIT and the Seneca Park Zoo collaborate on projects and research in animal cognition and perception, visitor engagement and education, and marketing and social media management. A direct result of the partnership is The Center for Biodiversity Exploration, an interactive experience for zoo guests to learn more about biodiversity and environmental health.
Museums Studies NEH Grant
Most research libraries and museums hold unique or rare items on which historically significant text is no longer legible due to deterioration or erasure. With support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, faculty and students developed a low-cost spectral imaging system that recovers obscured and illegible text in historical materials.
Computational Linguistics/AI Research
Researchers are working to make smarter AI that is representative and inclusive of the people who will be using and interacting with it. Research in this area examines underserved populations at risk of being marginalized with the present focus on big data AI and educating AI professionals with critical thinking skills that can positively impact human data collection that is fair, attuned to bias, and representative of the diverse fabric of the general population.
Genesee Country Village & Museum
This unique partnership provides opportunities for you to combine historic and 21st-century techniques to innovate and enrich visitor experiences at one of the country’s preeminent living history museums. Students have assisted the museum with marketing, social media strategy/analysis, event-driven tourism, interactive digital content, designing exhibitions and curating galleries, and preparing STEM-focused educational activities.
An Education
That Knows No Boundaries
In our global world, living, learning, and studying in a culture different from your town prepares you to become a global citizen. You’ll gain that perspective through RIT Study Abroad programs designed to fit into your academic plans.
You can choose from spending a semester studying at one of RIT’s global campuses, joining a five-week faculty-led program, or spending a semester or a full year in a study abroad program.
4
Global RIT Campuses
Located in China, Croatia, Dubai, and Kosovo
600+
Study abroad programs
in 60+ countries
At RIT, you’re
Always onto something
In the College of Liberal Arts you’ll graduate with the skills, education, and experience that will make a difference in your local and global communities—as well as in ways that influence profound change.
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