College of Humanities and Social Sciences

In 2004, Bryant College changed its name to Bryant University. Along with the name change, two colleges were created, the College of Arts & Sciences and the College of Business. The College of Arts & Sciences offered a diverse selection of academic programs that enabled students to explore individual intellectual interests.

All liberal arts students completed a business administration minor, which uniquely prepared them for any career. Liberal arts students were challenged to expand critical thinking skills and global perspective, build intellectual capabilities, and enhance practical skills.

The faculty and students of the College of Arts & Sciences shared the commitment to advancing the study and practice of the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and the natural and applied sciences. They fulfilled that commitment through teaching, scholarship, creative work, and outreach.

In the Fall of 2023, several departments in the College of Arts & Sciences changed names. The Communication and Modern Languages Departments became the Communications and Language Studies Department. The Economics and Mathematics Departments became the Mathematics and Economics Department. The English and Cultural Studies and the History and Social Sciences Departments became the History, Literature, and the Arts Department and the Politics, Law, and Society Department. The Applied Psychology and Sciences and Technology Departments became the Psychology Department and the Biological and Medical Sciences Department and became a part of the School of Health and Behavioral Sciences.

On January 23, 2026, at the Board of Trustees’ retreat, members voted unanimously to approve a change to Bryant University’s academic structure. The College of Arts & Sciences was renamed to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, effective July 1, 2026. This change reflected a more precise alignment between the College’s identity and the academic disciplines it houses. The new title offers clearer representation of its intellectual focus, emphasizing the humanities and social sciences as its core scholarly domains. By adopting a name that more accurately conveys its mission and strengths, the College is better positioned to communicate its academic programs to prospective students, faculty, and external partners. The updated designation also reinforces the breadth and depth of its contributions to critical inquiry, cultural understanding, and the study of social structures and human behavior.