Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

at Roger Williams University - Bristol Campus USA

Engineering at RWU is unique in its structure: a broad, liberal arts-infused foundation of math, science and engineering layered with an in-depth specialization in civil, computer, electrical or mechanical engineering or a customized study. Through this accredited program, you’ll develop the creativity and flexibility to solve practical problems that benefit humanity in our complex and rapidly changing world.

At RWU, our rigorous interdisciplinary Forensic Science program pairs legal courses with a strong scientific background in either biology or chemistry to teach you about the crucial role forensic science plays in criminal justice. You’ll learn how to examine, analyze and testify about physical evidence, which will prepare you for a career as a forensic science technician in a laboratory, hospital, university, medical examiner’s office or police department.

Engineering at RWU is unique in its structure: a broad, liberal arts-infused foundation of math, science and engineering layered with an in-depth specialization in civil, computer, electrical or mechanical engineering or a customized study. Through this accredited program, you’ll develop the creativity and flexibility to solve practical problems that benefit humanity in our complex and rapidly changing world.

The Custom Program Specialization is only for students majoring in Engineering, B.S. Students specializing in Custom Program must complete all of the requirements for the Engineering, B.S. degree.

Our unique Anthropology + Sociology program combines the ideas and methods of these two social sciences into an integrated study of social change, diversity and cultural awareness, both locally and globally. You’ll build strong hands-on research skills to prepare you for a career in community and social service or an advanced degree in law, education, social work or public policy.

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.

When you study Economics, you’ll learn the essential economic theories, systems and models that build critical and analytical thinking skills you can apply to any field -- including business, government, law, healthcare and social and community service. At RWU, you can pursue either a B.A. (liberal arts track) or a B.S. (business track), which both offer opportunities for student-faculty research and publishing that can pave the way to graduate studies.

As a Management major, you’ll learn how to lead organizations through complex decisions such as budgeting, negotiating, planning and directing. Because these decisions have broad impacts throughout an organization, RWU’s curriculum encourages you to think about dynamics like diversity, ethics and politics in the workplace. Combined with hands-on internship experience, you’ll gain the management skills for a successful career in human resources, purchasing, administrative services, health services, or your own entrepreneurial venture.

The Custom Specialization is only for students majoring in Computer Science. This specialization is well suited to those computer science majors who wish as broad an educational experience as possible. It is also well suited to those who may wish to focus their electives to pursue a minor in the network security field.

As one of the oldest programs of its kind in America, Historic Preservation at RWU couples multidisciplinary coursework in subjects like history, architecture, law and economics with rigorous field-based professional workshops and internships. Because preservation is as much about people and place as it is about history, you’ll study historic buildings, landscapes and communities both here in New England and abroad in Florence, Italy.

A major in history at Roger Williams University will explore the past with an eye toward the future. Budding historians will pursue the truth through a variety of lenses and /or approaches. Students will engage in experiential learning by interacting with the local community. Classes will take part in gaming exercises; students will explore film through an analytical lens and study history in the public sphere. A history student will discover the importance of storytelling, will participate in role play and debate, will interact with the surrounding environs through courses designed to pique their interest and hone critical thinking skills.

Students will walk the path of Roger Williams, hold meaningful dialogue with scholars, study the plight of immigrants past and present, share in the history of indigenous cultures, uncover the lived experiences of those who have remained silent or marginalized in history, enter the world of fantasy, and graduate with the tools necessary to make a difference in the world.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Locate, analyze, and interpret a variety of primary and secondary sources with logic, clarity, and persuasiveness.
• Develop an understanding of historiography, historical methodology, and research.
• Demonstrate historical literacy related to historical time periods and area studies.
• Exhibit a sophisticated appreciation of the complexities and ambiguities in history and culture.
• Address the historical impacts of transnational exchanges.
• Critique how histories are produced by and reimagined in the face of systems of power.