| Welcome to RIT's 175th Anniversary website. The University celebrated the anniversary during the 2004-05 academic year. This website is no longer active and will no longer be updated. The site remains active, however, to preserve the history of both RIT and the anniversary year. |
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College of Liberal Arts
Timeline |
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| 1829 |
Founding of the Athenaeum. | |
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| 1839-1840 |
The Young Men’s Association, founded in 1837 and merged with the Athenaeum in 1838, listed on its schedule of lectures the following topics: American history, human physiology, the phenomenon of chemistry, architecture, ancient empires, Scottish history, “Geology as illustrative of Natural Theology,” and political economy. | |
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| 1847 | The Athenaeum merged with the Mechanics Literary Association to become the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Association. Speakers included Oliver Wendell Homes, James Russell Lowell, and Ralph Waldo Emerson as well as scientific lectures and demonstrations. |
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| 1891 |
The Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Association merged with the Mechanics Institute, founded in 1885, to form the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute. | |
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| 1901 | the Institute published a small booklet to advertise a new class in the teaching of English. The goal of the class was “to teach the pupils. . . not only to have an idea, but be able to express that idea in correct, clear, forcible English.” | |
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| 1901– 1917 | Formal courses in the humanities and social science appeared early in the Institute’s curriculum. Prior to the First World War courses were offered in English, sociology, psychology, history of education, public speaking, educational sociology, and pedagogy. | |
| 1924 |
Calvin Thomason appointed supervisor of the Liberal Studies Component of the curriculum to direct the development of liberal arts courses for student in the industrial arts. There were four courses taught in the Liberal Arts Component: economics, psychology, management, and human relations. | |
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| 1926 |
Mark Ellingson, later president of the Institute, hired to assist Calvin Thomason. | |
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| 1950 |
Calvin Thomason retires. |
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| 1961 |
College of General Studies formed, and Dr. James Wilson appointed first dean. | |
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| 1967 |
Dr. Paul Bernstein appointed
Dean of the College of General Studies.
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| 1971 | Social Work Degree begins. | |
| 1972 | Curriculum Revision undertaken. | |
| 1972 | Criminal Justice Degree program begins. | |
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| 1974-1975 |
Academic Year -- College of General Studies faculty numbers sixty. | |
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| 1976 |
Caroline Warner Gannett Professorship in the Humanities established. |
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| 1977 | Professor Dane Gordon appointed Acting Dean, Dr. Paul Bernstein appointed Graduate Dean. | |
| 1978 | Dr. Mary Sullivan appointed Dean of the College of General Studies. | |
| 1979-1981 |
College of General Studies engages in a major curriculum revision, with new curriculum implemented in 1981. Humanities and Social Science courses (Liberal Arts Curriculum) consist of 54 hours for the majority of RIT undergraduate programs. Upper division concentrations introduced. | |
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| 1981 | Technical Liberal Studies Option (now called the RIT Exploration Program) established for students who had not decided on a RIT major. | |
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| 1982 |
College of General Studies renamed the College of Liberal Arts. | |
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| 1984 | Economics degree established. | |
| 1985 |
Professional and Technical Communication degree established. | |
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| 1986 |
Graduate School Psychology degree established, the College’s first graduate degree. | |
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| 1987 |
Dean Mary Sullivan resigns to return to teaching. Dr. Stanley McKenzie named Acting Dean. |
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| 1988 | Dr. William J. Daniels, from Union College, named Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. | |
| 1988 | Gosnell Professorship in Economics established. | |
| 1989 | Ezra Hale Professorship in Ethics established. | |
| 1995 |
Curriculum Review began. | |
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| 1997 | Psychology degree established. | |
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| 1998 | Dean William J. Daniels resigns to return to teaching. Dr. Diane Hope named Interim Dean. | |
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| 1999 | Minors introduced. | |
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| 1999 | Dr. Andrew M. T. Moore, Associate Dean of the Graduate School at Yale University, assumes Deanship of Liberal Arts. | |
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| 2000 | Dean’s office area and Student Services area remodeled. | |
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| 2001 | Communication & Media Technologies, graduate degree in Communication established. | |
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| 2001 | Public Policy bachelor and master degrees established. | |
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| 2001 | Review of curriculum begins. | |
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| 2003- 2004 |
Academic year -- The College of Liberal Arts faculty reaches 136 members. | |
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| 2003 | Foreign Language Technology Center established. | |
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