During a time where students could study zoology as a minor and the University of Rhode Island called itself Rhode Island State College, the College of Arts and Sciences was born. This was 75 years ago, and the college now serves roughly 4,000 students.
The College of Arts and Sciences was established in 1948 in a post-war period, preparing for the baby boom with quonset huts in order to accommodate the increased population on campus, according to Professor Catherine DeCesare in the department of history. Students studied and slept in metal, military-style shelters that resembled greenhouses. ROTC training was required as a part of the curriculum for first-year men, whereas women took physical education courses.
Prior to the College of Arts and Sciences, Rhode Island State College stood as a technical agriculture school and, without any liberal arts courses, could not yet be deemed a university. Upon its establishment, however, RISC soon became the University of Rhode Island, according to URI’s website.
“Arts and sciences was like the heart and soul of a lot of the university and it was really popular from the get go and enrollment really skyrocketed,” DeCesare said.
Today, the College of Arts and Sciences now offers 58 different majors in areas such as fine arts, humanities, communications and media, social sciences and STEM, and offers interdisciplinary programs as well.
“There’s going to be jobs in your lifetime that don’t exist today so we’re really focused on the critical thinking and problem solving, communication, both written and oral, being able to work in a diverse environment,” said the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Jeannette Riley.
Riley encourages students to take advantage of their opportunities in the college, to theorize and build skills in the classroom and apply them in the field through abroad programs, internships and fellowships.
With so many general education requirements that exist in the College of Arts and Sciences, students gain experience in the more interdisciplinary areas while exploring other options.
“I think that arts and sciences offers an opportunity for students to touch with their passion, and their interest,” Assistant Dean Kamilah A’Vant said. “There’s opportunities to double major in interdisciplinary, so you can focus on something that you really love in addition to developing your interest in research and focusing on those next-generational jobs.”
In order to wish a happy anniversary to the college, there will be a tent on the Quadrangle on Oct. 5 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with alumni to celebrate. Three students, Katie Boss, Kaitlan Machado and Ricky Mather, will also be presenting four posters of the college’s history after researching in URI’s archives over the summer.
Dean Riley has much in store for the students, as the college just landed a grant for quantum workforce development and the computer science program was renewed for an economic development grant to diversify the workforce. The Center for Humanities will continue with their lecture series this year as well, focusing on storytelling and innovation.
“I think we’re shouting more loudly now,” said Riley. This series, while for everybody on campus, will also involve getting out to alumni and the larger Rhode Island community itself.