Assessment of Prior Learning
Rhode Island College makes every effort to acknowledge 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. The basis for granting credit will be a portfolio of documentation prepared by the student with the guidance of the college.
Credit will be granted only for documented learning that is clearly germane to the student’s degree program, not for experience per se. The basis for granting credit will be a portfolio of documentation prepared by the student with the guidance of the college.
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. Contact the undergraduate admissions office for additional information.
Students applying to the technology education program who have completed a NOCTI Workplace Competency Credential will be awarded 23 elective credits. Contact the undergraduate admissions office.
Continuing Education
Rhode Island College offers a wide range of continuing education options in cooperation with campus and community partners. Programs serve adult students; children, families and community members; working professionals in the private and public sectors and candidates for undergraduate and graduate CE degrees and certificates.
Workforce development programs are available through Outreach Programs and the Office of Professional Studies and Continuing Education offers credit and non-credit academic and enrichment courses and programs.
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. For more information, contact the director of professional studies and continuing education.
For returning adult students, a schedule of college course offerings, which includes information on registration and fees, is available online at www.ric.edu. For formal admission to an undergraduate program and for information on possible transfer credit, applicants should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Applicants interested in pursuing graduate work should contact the appropriate dean. Individuals with teacher certification questions or those seeking to complete professional teaching requirements should contact the dean of the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development
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. In addition to the academic opportunities made possible by studying on another campus, the program offers social and cultural experiences to further self-exploration and the enrichment of educational objectives.
In order to qualify for participation, a student should (1) be a full-time student at Rhode Island College, (2) be in their sophomore or junior year during the exchange, and (3) have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 at the time their application is submitted.
Rhode Island Teacher Education (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 (see appropriate academic areas below) 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 will appear on the transcript as a CUS; Certificate of Undergraduate Study, as the courses taken are undergraduate offerings.) This is not a degree program and courses taken in this program cannot be used in any graduate degree program at Rhode Island College. This program is designed so that successful applicants can, in most cases, complete the required course work within three consecutive semesters.
Appropriate academic areas are:
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• Biology
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• Mathematics
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• Chemistry
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• Physics
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• English
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• Portuguese
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• French
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• Social Studies
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• General Science
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• Spanish
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• History
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RITE Admission Requirements
1. A baccalaureate degree with a major equivalent to an undergraduate major at Rhode Island College in an appropriate academic area listed above.
2. A completed application submitted to the dean of the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, including complete transcripts from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university.
3. A minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 in all previous undergraduate course work.
4. This requirement was removed last year
5. The minimum G.P.A. required in the academic major. Requirements for G.P.A.s in specific majors are available from the Department of Educational Studies.
6. Two Disposition Reference Forms from an instructor of a college course in the applicant’s academic major, or from a professional who can document the applicant’s experience with youth, or from a work supervisor.
7. A Statement of Education Philosophy.
8. A résumé outlining educational and work experience.
9. A personal interview with the RITE program major advisor.
10. A complete plan of study approved by the RITE program advisor, the chair of the Department of Educational Studies and the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development associate dean.
ROTC
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. For more information and a complete program description, contact the program director at Providence College, (401) 865-2471.
Specialization in Adapted Physical Education
See Physical Education.
Study Abroad
Rhode Island College students, no matter what their majors, may study and/or intern abroad for course credit at institutions in other countries. They may study for a semester, an academic year, the summer or during the early spring term.
While studying abroad, students do not pay RIC tuition and may apply their financial aid to program costs, including tuition, at the host institution and toward travel expenses.
The choice of program and specific location depend upon the student’s interests. The Study Abroad Office provides information about the study abroad process, guides students in the selection of their program according to their estimated budget and their study roadmap at RIC, oversees their stay abroad in accordance with safety guidelines,and facilitates transfer of credits.
Rhode Island College is affiliated with eleven study abroad program providers and international schools that offer discounted tuition for RIC students: Academic Programs International, the American Institute for Foreign Study, the Center for International Studies, the Education Abroad Network, CAPA International Education, the International Studies Institute (Florence, Italy), Study In Portugal Network, SIT Study Abroad,University of Pavia (Pavia, Italy),University of Perugia (Perugia, Italy), KCP International (Tokyo, Japan). RIC has also engaged in international student exchange programs with the Institute of Technology (Sligo, Ireland) and the University of Neuchatel (Neuchatel, Switzerland). These providers and schools can be found on the Web. However, students are not limited to these affiliates and may study with many other programs and universities around the world. Also, individual faculty members may lead RIC courses abroad from time to time.
Students interested in studying abroad are encouraged to review the information available on the RIC Study Abroad website at ric.edu/studyabroad and to meet with the director of Study Abroad soon as they matriculate at RIC.
Certificate of Undergraduate Study (C.U.S.)
Certificate programs of undergraduate study are offered in the following areas:
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. Traditional and intensive courses are offered to accelerate and maximize college study and many courses are designed specifically for personal enrichment or professional advancement.