Research
Research
As a student in the College of Liberal Arts, you can get involved in undergraduate research in an ever-expanding variety of topics such as work in computational linguistics that produces voice-enabled technologies; studying perception and cognition in animals that aids in conservation efforts of endangered species; examining energy consumption of video game consoles and how to make them more efficient; and more.
With initiatives in areas that integrate traditional research in the social sciences and humanities with new interdisciplinary fields in health, computing, science, and engineering, you can easily find something that suits your interests. Interdisciplinary research and an emphasis on community engagement and global perspectives represent defining characteristics of the college’s research portfolio.
How to Get Involved
While building a network of connections with professors at RIT, you are encouraged to find people who are performing research in an area of your interest. You may have the opportunity to be hired as a research assistant, gaining experience, earning a paycheck, and potentially fulfilling your program’s co-op/experiential learning requirement. Each year, students in the College of Liberal Arts co-author research that is published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at professional conferences. Most degree programs also include a senior thesis or capstone project where you’ll dive into a topic of personal interest.
Find an Expert
College of Liberal Arts faculty are experts in a variety of topics within their academic fields. Whether you’re looking for a professor whose research interests align with your own, or you need an authority explanation on a point of curiosity, you’ll be sure to find someone who can help you dig deeper in your search for answers.
Faculty Scholarship
An ever-growing body of research is produced by the College of Liberal Arts faculty at RIT, in a wide range of fields and formats. Their professional accomplishments include books, and articles, national and international presentations, exhibitions and original works, and more. Through these diverse types of media, we demonstrate our commitment to academic excellence and contribute to RIT's reputation as a scholarship leader.
Latest News
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March 20, 2025
![Woman in a navy blazer and headwrap works on a laptop at a modern, well-lit indoor space with large windows overlooking a campus.]()
Celebrating Women’s History Month through interdisciplinary research
The inaugural Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies symposium, hosted on March 28, will feature original work by individuals from across the RIT community.
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March 5, 2025
![Two young women stand side by side on a college campus, smiling at the camera. One wears a black lace top, while the other wears a black turtleneck and jeans, holding a book in her hand.]()
Students use AI to aid United Nations in Ukrainian refugee response
Natalie Crowell and Olivia Croteau, both third-year humanities, computing, and design majors, are developing an AI tool that analyzes publicly available social media data, specifically from chat groups where refugees discuss needs related to housing, food, and other resources.
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February 28, 2025
![A row of boats of various colors and types sitting on a relatively still surface of water, likely at a dock. There are three ducks floating in the water on the right side of the image, and the boats are lined up on the left.]()
Coastal economies rely on NOAA, from Maine to Florida, Texas and Alaska – even if they don’t realize it
The Conversation published an article by Christine Keiner, chair of the Department of Science, Technology, and Society, about the importance and impact of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Share News about Your Research
Share news about your research and shine a light on the innovative and impactful work RIT College of Liberal Arts students, alumni, faculty, and staff are doing.
- Collaborate to create a Featured Work, Featured Profiles, and News content blocks on a College of Liberal Arts Web page: Contact Kim Walters, College of Liberal Arts marketing and communications director, to collaborate on publishing a content block. These profile intake templates can help give you a head start:
Student self-reported spotlight template
Alumni self-reported spotlight template
Faculty researcher spotlight template
- Add content to your RIT faculty or staff directory profile. Here's a "How to" doc that explains the process.
- Submit a Newsmaker. Newsmakers are a quick and easy way to acknowledge the professional and academic accomplishments of RIT students, faculty, and staff, such as publishing an article in a scholarly journal, presenting research at a conference, serving on a panel discussion, earning a scholarship, or winning an award. Newsmakers appear in News and Events as well as the "In the News" section on faculty/staff directory profile pages.
- Submit to Faculty Scholarship.
- Publish your work at RIT Scholar Works. For example, works by students who received the 2023 College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Writing Awards are published here.