The Fairfield College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest schools within Fairfield University

Fairfield University

Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...

 located in Fairfield, Connecticut

Fairfield, Connecticut

Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...

. The College is host to 15 departments and 19 programs, led by roughly 150 full-time faculty and serving approximately 2,000 students. The College is also the home of the core curriculum that unifies the education of all Fairfield undergraduates.

History

• 1942: Fairfield College of St. Robert Bellarmine, Inc. purchased two adjoining estates in Fairfield
• 1945: Fairfield University was chartered by the State of Connecticut to grant degrees
• 1947: First class of 303 male students was admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences
• 1949: College of Arts and Sciences was accredited by the State of Connecticut
• 1949: First summer session of undergraduate courses was held
• 1953: Fairfield University was admitted to fully accredited membership in the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools
• 1970: Women were admitted to all undergraduate programs
• 1995: Accepted into Phi Beta Kappa
• 2008 Introduced low residency
  Low-residency program
  A low-residency program is a form of education, normally at the university level, which involves some amount of distance education and brief one to two week on-campus residencies...
  
   Master of Fine Arts
  Master of Fine Arts
  A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
  
   in Creative Writing
  Creative writing
  Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
  
   Program including residency portion at Enders Island
  Enders Island
  Enders Island an inhabited island located in Stonington, Connecticut and used as a Catholic retreat center, owned and operated by the Society of Saint Edmund...
  
  .

Academic programs

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...  in American Studies American studies American studies or American civilization is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the United States. It traditionally incorporates the study of history, literature, and critical theory, but also includes fields as diverse as law, art, the media, film, religious studies, urban... Applied Ethics Applied ethics Applied ethics is, in the words of Brenda Almond, co-founder of the Society for Applied Philosophy, "the philosophical examination, from a moral standpoint, of particular issues in private and public life that are matters of moral judgment"... Asian Studies Asian studies Asian studies, a term used usually in the United States for Oriental studies and is concerned with the Asian peoples, their cultures, languages, history and politics... Black Studies: Africa and the Diaspora African diaspora The African diaspora was the movement of Africans and their descendants to places throughout the world—predominantly to the Americas also to Europe, the Middle East and other places around the globe... Catholic Studies Catholicism Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole.... Classical Studies Classics Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or... Communication Communication studies Communication Studies is an academic field that deals with processes of communication, commonly defined as the sharing of symbols over distances in space and time. Hence, communication studies encompasses a wide range of topics and contexts ranging from face-to-face conversation to speeches to mass... Economics Economics Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"... Education Education Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts... English English studies English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,... History History History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians... International Studies International studies International Studies generally refers to the specific University Degrees and courses which are concerned with the study of ‘the major political, economic, social, cultural and sacral issues that dominate the international agenda’... Irish Studies Irish people The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha... Italian Studies Italian people The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people... Judaic Studies Latin American and Caribbean Caribbean The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...  Studies Modern Languages and Literatures History of modern literature The history of literature in the Modern period in Europe begins with the Age of Enlightenment and the conclusion of the Baroque period in the 18th century, succeeding the Renaissance and Early Modern periods.... Peace and Justice Studies Peace and conflict studies Peace and conflict studies is a social science field that identifies and analyses violent and nonviolent behaviours as well as the structural mechanisms attending social conflicts with a view towards understanding those processes which lead to a more desirable human condition... Philosophy Philosophy Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational... Politics Political science Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...

Psychology Psychology Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society... Religious Studies Religious studies Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to... Russian Russians The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....  and East European Studies Sociology Sociology Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...  and Anthropology Anthropology Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German... Visual Visual arts The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...  & Performing Arts Performing arts The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object... Art History Art history Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style... Music Music Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture... New Media New media New media is a broad term in media studies that emerged in the latter part of the 20th century. For example, new media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community... : Film Film A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects... , Television Television Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound... , and Radio Radio Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space... Studio Art Studio art Studio art is made of art and studio, and the term has several implications depending on the context used. The term encompasses all art forms, be they performing or visual.-Definition:... Theatre Theatre Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance... Women's Studies Women's studies Women's studies, also known as feminist studies, is an interdisciplinary academic field which explores politics, society and history from an intersectional, multicultural women's perspective... Pre-Professional, Interdisciplinary, and Specialized Programs Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Science A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...  in Biology Biology Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines... Chemistry Chemistry Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....  & Biochemistry Biochemistry Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes... Environmental Studies Environmental studies Environmental studies is the academic field which systematically studies human interaction with the environment. It is a broad interdisciplinary field of study that includes the natural environment, built environment, and the sets of relationships between them... Marine Science Math & Computer Science Computer science Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems... Physics Physics Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...

Graduate Programs Master of Arts Master of Arts (postgraduate) A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...  in American Studies American studies American studies or American civilization is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the United States. It traditionally incorporates the study of history, literature, and critical theory, but also includes fields as diverse as law, art, the media, film, religious studies, urban... Master of Arts Master of Arts (postgraduate) A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...  in Communication Communication Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast... Master of Fine Arts Master of Fine Arts A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...  in Creative Writing Creative writing Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems... Master of Science Master of Science A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...  in Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...

Joint Programs 5-Year Integrated B.A./M.A. Teacher Certification Program in Secondary education Secondary education in the United States In most jurisdictions, secondary education in the United States refers to the last six or seven years of statutory formal education. Secondary education is generally split between junior high school or middle school, usually beginning with sixth or seventh grade , and high school, beginning with... Elementary education Primary education in the United States Primary education in the United States typically refers to the first six years of formal education in most jurisdictions. Primary education may also be referred to as elementary education and most schools offering these programs are referred to as elementary schools... TESOL Education

Notable faculty

• Betsy Bowen, Professor of English, 2010 Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Connecticut Professor of the Year
• Kim Bridgford - Professor of English, award-winning poet; 1994 Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Connecticut Professor of the Year
• Edward Deak
  Edward Deak
  Dr. Edward Deak is the Roger M. Lynch Professor of Economics and Chair of the Department of Economics at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. Dr. Deak is also a Board Member and the Connecticut Forecast Manager for the New England Economic Partnership.In 2007, Connecticut Governor M....
  
   - Roger M. Lynch Professor of Economics and highly regarded State of Connecticut economist
• David L. Downie
  David L. Downie
  David Leonard Downie is an American scholar focusing on international environmental politics and policy and currently serves as Director of the Program on the Environment and Associate Professor of Political Science at Fairfield University.-Research and writings:Downie has written extensively on...
  
   - Director of Environmental Studies; former Director of the Global Roundtable on Climate Change
  Global Roundtable on Climate Change
  The Global Roundtable on Climate Change, convened by the Earth Institute at Columbia University is a group of representatives from corporations, research institutions, and government organizations to discuss the scientific consensus, economics, technology, and public policy issues associated with...
  
   at The Earth Institute
  The Earth Institute
  The Earth Institute was established at Columbia University in 1995. The research institute's stated mission is to address complex issues facing the planet and its inhabitants, with particular focus on sustainable development and the needs of the world's poor...
  
  
• Paul Lakeland
  Paul Lakeland
  Dr. Paul Lakeland is the Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Professor of Catholic Studies and Chair of the Center for Catholic Studies at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and was the 2005 Fairfield University Teacher of the Year.Dr...
  
   - Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Professor of Catholic Studies and award-winning author
• R. James Long
  R. James Long
  Raymond James Long, Ph.D., is a professor of philosophy at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. He is also faculty member at St. John Fisher Seminary Residence in Stamford, Connecticut. Long was the president of the Society for Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy...
  
   - Professor of Philosophy
• Laura Nash - Director of Music Program; 2009 Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Connecticut Professor of the Year; and 2008 Connecticut Music Educator of the Year
• John Orman
  John Orman
  John Orman was a politics professor at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. He was the 1984 Democratic Party nominee for the U.S. Congress seat in Connecticut's fourth district, and briefly challenged Senator Joseph Lieberman for the 2006 Democratic Senate nomination...
  
   - Professor of Politics and well-known political activist
• Nicholas Rinaldi
  Nicholas Rinaldi
  Nicholas Rinaldi is an American poet and novelist. Rinaldi is the author of three novels and three collections of poetry...
  
   - Professor of Creative Writing and award-winning novelist and poet
• Richard Ryscavage
  Richard Ryscavage
  Richard Ryscavage S.J., a nationally-known expert on immigration and refugee policy and issues, is director of the Center for Faith and Public Life and a professor of sociology and international studies at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut....
  
   S.J., Professor of Sociology and International Studies, nationally known expert on immigation and refugees
• Kurt C. Schlichting
  Kurt C. Schlichting
  Dr. Kurt C. Schlichting is the E. Gerald Corrigan Endowed Chair in the Humanities and Social Sciences and professor of sociology and anthropology at Fairfield University in the United States. He was a recipient of a Fairfield University Distinguished Faculty/Administrator Award in 2003.Dr...
  
   - E. Gerald Corrigan Endowed Chair in the Humanities and Social Sciences and award-winning author
• James Simon - Professor of English and Head of Journalism Program
• Brian Q. Torff
  Brian Q. Torff
  Brian Q. Torff is a US jazz double-bassist and composer. He is currently a music program director at Fairfield University in Connecticut. The Fairfield Arts Council named Torff its 2008 Artist of the Year.-Teacher:...
  
   - Director of Jazz and Popular Music and renowned bassist and composer
• Ellen Umansky
  Ellen Umansky
  Dr. Ellen Umansky is the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Professor of Judaic Studies and Director of the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies at Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut....
  
   - Carl and Dorothy Bennett Professor of Judaic Studies
• David R. Winn - Chairman of the Physics Department; developed quartz fiber calorimeter
  Calorimeter
  A calorimeter is a device used for calorimetry, the science of measuring the heat of chemical reactions or physical changes as well as heat capacity. Differential scanning calorimeters, isothermal microcalorimeters, titration calorimeters and accelerated rate calorimeters are among the most common...
  
   for the Large Hadron Collider
  Large Hadron Collider
  The Large Hadron Collider is the world's largest and highest-energy particle accelerator. It is expected to address some of the most fundamental questions of physics, advancing the understanding of the deepest laws of nature....
  
  

External links

• Fairfield College of Arts and Sciences Site