Rhode Island College Degree Programs: A Comprehensive Overview

Rhode Island College (RIC), founded in 1854, is a public institution committed to providing accessible and quality education. Ranked among the top regional universities in the North, RIC offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs designed to meet the evolving needs of its students and the wider community. With a suburban setting and a student-faculty ratio of 14:1, RIC provides a supportive learning environment for a diverse student body.

Undergraduate Programs

RIC offers a wide array of bachelor's degree programs across various disciplines, catering to different interests and career aspirations. These programs are designed to provide students with a strong foundation in their chosen field, along with critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Programs

Accounting: RIC's Bachelor of Science in Accounting equips students with the skills necessary for entry-level accounting positions and prepares them for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination. The program covers financial reporting, auditing, tax, and cost accounting.
Artificial Intelligence: This program focuses on the latest game-changing technology and industry-relevant skills.
Behavioral Health Studies: This program prepares students to transform lives by changing behaviors.
Other Science Programs: RIC offers programs in Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Communicative Disorders, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Dietetics, Early Childhood Education, Electrical Engineering, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, Environmental Education, Environmental Science and Management, Geology and Geological Oceanography, Health Sciences, and more.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Programs

Africana Studies: The Africana Studies bachelor's degree provides an interdisciplinary exploration of the worldwide diaspora, encouraging students to shift paradigms and create new ways of seeing and knowing.
Anthropology: RIC's Anthropology bachelor's degree examines human societies from both scientific and values/beliefs viewpoints, allowing students to unpack what it means to be human in time, space, and biology.
Art Education: The Art Education bachelor's degree combines an art foundation with teacher preparation.
Other Arts and Humanities Programs: RIC offers programs in Art, Art History, Business Studies, Chinese, Communication Studies, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Economics, Elementary Education, English, Film Media, French, Gender and Women's Studies, German, Global Language and Area Studies, and more.

Adult Degree Completion Program

RIC's Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) program is designed for adult students balancing work, family, and other responsibilities. The program offers flexibility and affordability to help students complete their degrees.

Graduate Programs

RIC offers a range of graduate programs designed to provide advanced knowledge and skills in various fields. These programs are suitable for individuals seeking to enhance their careers or pursue further research.

Master of Education (M.Ed.) Programs

Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning: This program elevates the knowledge base and practices of current professional educators.
Health Education: This program equips students to design, implement, and evaluate health education and promotion initiatives, addressing health needs and supporting healthy outcomes with an emphasis on health equity.

Master of Arts (M.A.) Programs

Art Education: This program equips students to inspire the next generation of artists.
Biology: This program enables students to broaden and deepen their knowledge of biology and engage in independent research and data analysis.
English: This program allows students to focus on advanced instruction in literature, theory, and writing, preparing them for a range of careers.

Master of Science (M.S.) Programs

Clinical Mental Health Counseling: This program prepares students to become Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC).

Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAC)

Accountancy: This program prepares students for certification and provides comprehensive knowledge in all aspects of financial planning.

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

Elementary Education: This program prepares students for elementary level teacher certification.

Additional Opportunities

Credit for Prior Learning

Rhode Island College acknowledges college-level learning that has taken place outside of formal college classrooms. The college has a procedure for granting undergraduate credit for prior college-level learning achieved through experience, such as workplace learning or armed service-sponsored training, community service, self-education, law enforcement training, relevant work assignments or artistic development. Credit will be granted only for documented learning that is clearly germane to the student’s degree program, not for experience per se. Undergraduate credit may also be earned via exam through testing programs such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or AP credit from high school. Students with military experience may be awarded additional college level credit for training and educational opportunities. The college accepts ACE credits documented in Joint Services Transcripts (JTS) and other related military documents classified as upper level baccalaureate. Students applying to the technology education program who have completed a NOCTI Workplace Competency Credential will be awarded 23 elective credits.

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Hope Scholarship Program

The Rhode Island Hope Scholarship program allows eligible Rhode Island residents to attend RIC for their junior and senior years free of tuition and mandatory fees. These are costs and fees that every RIC student is required to pay to enroll in classes. Hope Scholarship funding is available to eligible students regardless of family income. Hope Scholarship funds are applied after all other sources of federal aid (e.g., Pell Grants, Supplementary Educational Opportunity Grants, etc.), scholarships, and any additional financial aid funding are applied to the student’s cost of attendance. Hope Scholarship will cover intersession courses during both the junior and senior years, as well as summer classes taken between a student’s junior and senior years. However, Hope Scholarship funds are not available after the completion of the eighth (8th) spring or fall semester, regardless of whether the student has graduated. In addition, the Hope Scholarship will also cover any credits taken in excess of eighteen (18) credits per semester during the student’s time of eligibility for the award.

Continuing Education

Rhode Island College offers a wide range of continuing education options in cooperation with campus and community partners. The continuing education offices provide partners with assistance to develop and deliver programs and with identifying college resources that support personal enrichment and professional development activities. Rhode Island College has a long history of providing such assistance to business and industry and of assisting public and private schools and agencies.

National Student Exchange Program

The National Student Exchange Program enables undergraduate students to study for up to one academic year at one of up to 200 colleges or universities in another part of the United States and its territories.

RITE Program

Students who hold a baccalaureate degree and who have majored in or completed a substantial amount of coursework in an appropriate academic area may pursue the Secondary Education teaching certificate or for languages the PK-12 World Languages teaching certificate in that area through the RITE program. This is not a degree program and courses taken in this program cannot be used in any graduate degree program at Rhode Island College.

ROTC Program

Participation in the Army Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) program is available to Rhode Island College students through the ROTC program at Providence College.

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Study Abroad Opportunities

Rhode Island College students, no matter what their majors, may study and/or intern abroad for course credit at institutions in other countries. Rhode Island College is affiliated with eleven study abroad program providers and international schools that offer discounted tuition for RIC students. However, students are not limited to these affiliates and may study with many other programs and universities around the world.

Summer Sessions

Summer Sessions provides degree and nondegree undergraduate and graduate students access to a comprehensive cross section of courses in two six-week sessions each summer.

Recent Program Discontinuations

In recent years, Rhode Island College has faced challenges related to low enrollment in certain academic programs. In response, the college has made the difficult decision to discontinue some programs, a process that has sparked debate among students, faculty, and lawmakers.

Rationale for Program Cuts

Under statewide policy, programs that haven’t awarded at least 11 associate or bachelor’s degrees, six master’s, or four doctorates over a three-year period are subject to elimination, merging with other programs, or continued review. The majority of the affected RIC programs have awarded fewer than five degrees in each year since 2021.

Concerns and Criticisms

Students and faculty have raised concerns about transparency and equity in the process of discontinuing programs. Some have argued that the process was inconsistent with the college’s internal policies and lacked sufficient outreach efforts to connect with potential students.

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Impact on Students and Faculty

Students in affected programs are allowed to complete their studies, and courses and minors in the affected topics will still be offered. However, no new students can enroll as majors in these programs.

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