The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES, ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (HASS) provides an imaginative and distinctive approach to Rensselaer’s 200-year old founding mission "to apply science to the common purposes of life." HASS is home to five academic departments—Arts; Cognitive Science; Economics; Communication and Media; and Science and Technology Studies (STS)—each of which combines a unique breadth and depth of scholarly expertise to create innovative educational programs and pursue interdisciplinary research. HASS offers majors and minors in Economics, Cognitive Science, Communications, Electronic Arts, Philosophy, and Psychology, as well as innovative interdisciplinary programs like Electronic Media, Arts and Communication (EMAC); Design, Innovation, and Society (DIS); Electronic Arts (eARTS); and Games & Simulation Arts and Sciences (GSAS)—all designed to equip you with the practical skills and cultural understanding you’ll need to succeed in a technologically centered global economy.
Message from the Dean
"What is the role of the Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences in the 21stCentury technological research university? The answer is simple: We are seekers. We seek to understand the very nature of our humanity. We seek to improve the quality of life. We seek to preserve our world. We seek truth through artistic innovation..."