School of Arts and Sciences

SPRING 2021 UPDATE: The Dean for the School of Arts & Sciences will provide assistance to all constituents remotely, Monday-Friday from 8am -5pm, for the Spring 2021 semester. To make either a remote or an in-person appointment with the dean, please contact Sue Guartafierro at sguartaf@fitchburgstate.edu or by phone 978.665.3655.

A Welcome from the Dean of Arts & Sciences

Our talented and dedicated faculty is committed to helping students achieve their greatest potential in programs that encompass the fine and performing arts, humanities, social sciences, and interdisciplinary studies.

With ten undergraduate majors, more than thirty concentrations and minors, and numerous master’s and graduate certificate programs, arts and sciences engage our students in transformative learning experiences that prepare them for specific professional and academic careers while also enabling them to understand and shape the complex and changing world in which they live.

Through Fitchburg State’s foundation in the liberal arts, our students are challenged to think critically and creatively, to solve problems imaginatively, to value diverse perspectives, and engage the world ethically. A distinctive feature of our educational programs is the focus on the application of learning in public settings, through student/faculty collaborative research and publication, hands-on community-based projects, and professional internships.

It’s an exciting time to be a member of the Fitchburg State community. I encourage you to explore our website and discover the wide range of quality programs offered by the School of Arts & Sciences!

Franca Barricelli, Ph.D
Dean of Arts and Sciences

Explore the academic departments located in the School of Arts and Sciences.

Behavioral Sciences Department

Offering Sociology, Human Services, Criminal Justice, and the 4 +1 Police Program, we're proud of our interdisciplinary structure that allows you to interact and study with a highly regarded and diverse faculty.

Communications Media Department

Includes graphic design, game design, film/television production, photography, and professional communication and communication studies.

Professor helping students at a laptop in a classroom

Economics, History & Political Science Department

Choose a major in Economics, History, Political Science, or Teacher Education and be provided with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a wide range of careers.

English Studies Department

Concentrations in Literature, Teacher Education, and Professional Writing. Students from all tracks take core courses in literature and writing, as well as the capstone course, the culminating experience for all our majors.

Humanities Department

Art, Music, Philosophy, and World Languages, encourages inquiry and self-reflection by offering a practical and innovative curriculum that recognizes the increasingly porous boundaries between disciplines.

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School of Arts & Sciences Mission

The School of Arts and Sciences merges scholarship and professional practice in a wide range of innovative programs. Our faculty inspire students to think and communicate clearly, to recognize and value diverse perspectives, and to act creatively when addressing complex problems in their communities and beyond. We prepare students to navigate a world of rapid change, while developing a foundation for a meaningful life.