Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Performance

at Roger Williams University - Bristol Campus USA

A degree in Educational Studies from RWU opens the door to a variety of rewarding teaching careers outside of the classroom, such as family and child services, program development, community outreach and educational publishing. Through coursework, internships and service projects, you’ll examine the roles that teaching, learning, education policy and community organizations play in our society and culture.

In the Educational Studies major, students are prepared for productive careers and future study in a field committed to serving the larger community. Students in the Educational Studies major have a wide range of career and advanced education options in non-profit, corporate, as well as educational settings. An exciting element of the Educational Studies major is the opportunity it provides students to combine strong content background through required coursework and a core concentration with flexibility in participation in community service and internships, research, and intercultural exploration through education and other electives. For example, a student may choose the Modern Language and Culture Concentration which affords him or her immersion in global and multicultural perspectives. The student may also choose among electives in educational research, content, pedagogy, and service that draw from a range of interdisciplinary areas. Students are not prepared for a teaching certificate in this major.

Biology majors investigate the interconnected processes that shape the living world. Since the life sciences are increasingly interdisciplinary, Biology majors choose a wide range of courses in cell and molecular biology; microbiology and virology; anatomy and physiology; neurobiology and developmental biology; and animal behavior and ecology.

Housed in RWU’s Marine and Natural Sciences Building, the interdisciplinary Environmental Science program integrates biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics into an understanding of the natural world. Through research and an array of electives in fields like earth sciences, resource management and law, you’ll discover how humans affect nature and learn how to protect the environment in your career as a scientist, policymaker or educator.

Research Opportunities

The Environmental Science major at Roger Williams is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide students with an understanding of environmental processes and issues and an awareness of our role as humans within the environment. Undergraduate research is integrated into the Environmental Science curriculum, with opportunities for students to earn academic credit for doing research, to develop proposals and compete for small grants to fund their projects, and to present their findings at regional, national and international conferences.

Dive headfirst into the study of oceanography, marine ecology, fisheries biology and more with a degree in Marine Biology. Situated on Mount Hope Bay in RWU’s state-of-the-art Marine and Natural Sciences Building -- home to an aquatic animal diagnostic lab and the state’s only shellfish hatchery -- the Marine Biology program teaches students to discover the aquatic world through lectures, labs, fieldwork and independent research in preparation for careers as scientists and educators.

Research Opportunities

Marine Biology majors explore the unique challenges faced by organisms living in the marine environment and the methods by which they meet these challenges. Students begin the programs by obtaining a broad understanding of oceanographic principles, and through subsequent lectures, laboratories and field work, build on this knowledge for a more complete appreciation of the aquatic world. Undergraduate research is integrated into the Marine Biology curriculum, with opportunities for students to earn academic credit for doing research, to develop proposals and compete for small grants to fund their projects, and to present their findings at regional, national and international conferences.

A degree in Mathematics from RWU is an excellent foundation for graduate study and a wealth of careers in fields such as science, computers, engineering and business. Our program blends a rigorous study of math theory with flexible electives and research conducted with faculty. You’ll learn how to interpret data and use mathematical reasoning to analyze and solve problems.

The Mathematics program at Roger Williams University provides preparation for graduate study and for a variety of careers in industry and government. There is enough flexibility in the program to allow a large choice of electives, and the program, when combined with further study in a second area, can provide an excellent foundation for graduate or professional study in the physical sciences, computer science, engineering or business. Our best students have opportunities for undergraduate research, while others write theses, present at national conferences and co-author journal articles with our faculty.

Several factors distinguish Roger Williams University from the competition. For starters, small class size means more personalized attention from our faculty members. Our Math major is made up of only 10 courses, leaving plenty of room for a double major, or to experience a wide variety of electives. Our students are involved on campus—as math tutors and as members of the Mathematics Honor Society. Unlike at other institutions, our talented students get to co-author math publications with our faculty. In fact, our students are currently working on the Numerical Solution of the Helmholtz Equation for the Pseudosphere, and Foundations of General Relativity and some speculations on the Einstein-Grossmann Collaboration. Recently, one of our students was awarded the top prize in the MAA Student Essay in History of Mathematics.

The Visual Arts department at Roger Williams University prepares students for future careers in the arts with an interdisciplinary spirit and a global perspective. The Visual Arts faculty consists of active artists who share their experience with students through lively and challenging discussions and critiques. Media exploration is encouraged throughout the program and culminates in the creation of a cohesive body of work that reflects the individual student’s interests.

The major brings together students of diverse backgrounds who explore their creative interests through a range of media experiences. Emphasis of study is placed on historical as well as contemporary theories in the arts so that students may better place their own artwork within a larger context. Students in the program balance craft and conceptual agility and new and traditional media to engage in an increasingly interdisciplinary world. The interdisciplinary nature of the program allows students to explore multiple areas of interest that informs their creative work and gives students a broader skill-set than most arts programs. Our strength is the amount of attention given to each individual student-artist as they develop in the program preparing them for a future career in the arts.

The Digital Systems Specialization is only for students majoring in Computer Science, B.S. This specialization is well suited to those computer science majors who enjoy working with control systems or with the interaction of software and electronic devices.

A degree in Architecture combines rigorous professional training in design, history, planning and technology with a broad liberal arts education. Our students have the opportunity to study Architecture in Europe and get their work critiqued by accomplished professionals through RWU’s one-of-a-kind Teaching Firm in Residence Program. When you complete this accredited program, you’ll be prepared to take the next step toward becoming a professional architect.

The four-year Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree serves both as a non-professional liberal arts degree, and as preparation for further graduate study in architecture and related fields. Students completing a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree may apply to professional Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture and Doctor of Architecture professional degree programs in order to fulfill their educational requirements toward professional registration in architecture.

At RWU, Web Development majors don’t just design, develop and deploy state-of-the-art websites. They work on multi-disciplinary teams to solve problems for real-world clients. In the Web Development Center, you'll meet your first three clients in your sophomore year. As you begin to work with real clients, you'll quickly discover that web development isn't just about technology. On the Web, "content is king." So we encourage you to reinforce your web development education by picking up a second major or a couple of minors in fields like Marketing, Graphic Design, User Experience (UX), Journalism, Communication, Public Relations, Writing, Visual Arts, Cybersecurity and Business. In four short years, you'll graduate ready to meet the growing demand for web developers.

Learning Outcomes

• You will be able to effectively apply the technologies used to create 80% of professional websites.
• You will be able to work with a client to help clarify the goal and objectives for their digital presence.
• You will be able to create and select content and design-elements that deliver a clear message that reflects the client’s goal.
• You will be able to identify and apply technology that will effectively convey the client’s message on a spectrum of digital devices, while ensuring that it facilitates the client's ability to update the site and keep it “fresh.”
• You will be able to employ and interpret analytics to determine where your audience is engaging, and where they aren’t.
• You will be able to create websites and other digital products in an ethically responsible manner that does not disadvantage those with disabilities, those with older or inexpensive technology, or those with slower networks.
•  You will be able to function effectively as a member or leader of a multidisciplinary team.

The Visual Arts department at Roger Williams University prepares students for future careers in the arts with an interdisciplinary spirit and a global perspective. The Visual Arts faculty consists of active artists who share their experience with students through lively and challenging discussions and critiques. Media exploration is encouraged throughout the program and culminates in the creation of a cohesive body of work that reflects the individual student’s interests.

The major brings together students of diverse backgrounds who explore their creative interests through a range of media experiences. Emphasis of study is placed on historical as well as contemporary theories in the arts so that students may better place their own artwork within a larger context. Students in the program balance craft and conceptual agility and new and traditional media to engage in an increasingly interdisciplinary world. The interdisciplinary nature of the program allows students to explore multiple areas of interest that informs their creative work and gives students a broader skill-set than most arts programs. Our strength is the amount of attention given to each individual student-artist as they develop in the program preparing them for a future career in the arts.