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Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Continuing Education
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John H. McCray Jr., Vice Provost for Urban Programs
Edmund J. Ferszt, Associate Dean
The Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Continuing Education offers courses and degree programs designed for adults whose family or work responsibilities may have caused an interruption in their formal post-high-school education. Adult students’ unique needs are met through our ASFCCE dedicated staff, a flexible class schedule, and a supportive environment. Others find the campus’ downtown location and offerings provide the convenience they need. The Feinstein Providence Campus offers the following academic programs:
Bachelor of Arts Degree
English
History
Psychology
Bachelor of Science Degree
Clinical laboratory sciences (specialty in Biotechnology Manufacturing)
General business administration
Human development and family studies
Industrial and manufacturing engineering
Bachelor of General Studies Degree
Applied communications
Business institutions
Health services administration
Human studies
Graduate-Level Programs
Adult education (M.A.)
Business administration (M.B.A.)
Clinical laboratory science (M.S.)
Communication studies (M.A.)
Labor and industrial relations (M.S.)
Library and information studies (M.L.I.S.)
Marine affairs (M.M.A.)
Public administration (M.P.A.)
In addition, the campus offers advanced and graduate-level courses in computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and applied mechanics.
Information on the college’s B.G.S. degree follows. For curriculum requirements on any of the other programs listed above, see the index to find the appropriate section of this catalog.
LEAP (Learning Enhancement for Adults Program), which helps students build confidence and skills in math, reading, and writing is available to interested returning adult students. Also, students may qualify for scholarships offered exclusively to ASFCCE students.
ASFCCE also offers for-credit certificate programs in applied behavioral psychology, psychology, alcohol and drug counseling, and thanatology, as well as non-credit certificate programs. Individual credit and noncredit Continuing Education Unit (CEU) courses are offered in addition to institutes and special courses planned for business, industry, labor, and government agencies.
Courses are offered on weekday mornings, afternoons, evenings, and Saturdays. The college also offers distance learning courses through interactive video, the Internet, and by email. Students enrolling in a degree program may attend at times most convenient for them.
Bachelor of General Studies
The Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) program is designed for adults who have been out of school for five or more years. It is a good choice both for people who have never been to college and for students who attended college in the past but did not complete a degree. For the latter, the B.G.S. program makes it possible to apply their previous educational experience toward a degree program. The admissions process should begin with an interview with a B.G.S. advisor in the Providence Campus’ Admissions and Advising Office.
Qualified applicants interested in other programs at ASFCCE may also be interested in the college’s performance based admission policy; see page 78 for details.
The B.G.S. program consists of the following required sections: 1) Pro-Seminar (BGS 100), 2) Traditions and Transformations (URI 101B), 3) general education, 4) major curriculum, 5) electives, and 6) Senior Project (BGS 399).
A total of 118 credits is required for the Bachelor of General Studies degree.
Pro-Seminar for Returning Students (3 credits). This is the required entry course that introduces returning students to the college’s academic environment. The BGS 100 course helps students identify their scholastic strengths and interests, and assists adults in building the self-confidence to pursue a degree plan. The Pro-Seminar is limited to 16 students and opens the door to the University by helping returning students adjust to academic life. The instructors are carefully chosen and all have prior experience in teaching adults.
While enrolled in the Pro-Seminar, B.G.S. students are encouraged to take one or more College Level Examinations Program (CLEP) tests to measure academic knowledge acquired through prior experience. Credits gained through these tests are applied to the general education requirements. (See page 32 for information on the CLEP tests.)
Traditions and Transformations (1 credit). URI 101B is a University-wide seminar to introduce new students to the academic culture of higher education and to significant issues that bear on the development of each student’s goals for the undergraduate years. Students enroll concurrently in URI 101B and the Pro-Seminar (BGS 100).
General Education Requirements (39 credits). Students in the B.G.S. program must meet the University’s general education requirements as explained on pages 34-35, including the URI 101 requirement. (Note: Health services administration majors must take MTH 107 or STA 220 as the math requirement.) B.G.S. students use Senior Seminars BGS 390, 391, 392 to fulfill general education requirements. Students should consult frequently with their B.G.S. advisor to be sure all general education requirements are met.
Senior Seminars (18 credits). The Senior Seminars are a distinctive feature of the B.G.S. program. These three six-credit seminars are interdisciplinary in nature and enable students to integrate and synthesize their educational experiences. These seminars are normally begun when students have completed their other general education courses and most of the courses required for their major.
BGS 390 Social Science Seminar (6 credits)
BGS 391 Natural Science Seminar (6 credits)
BGS 392 Humanities Seminar (6 credits)
Major Curriculum (45 credits). B.G.S. students can choose from the following majors: applied communications, business institutions, health services administration, and human studies. These majors allow students to take courses in several disciplines to meet their educational goals in a nontraditional way. A major may be made up of a carefully prescribed set of courses or it may be flexible in its requirements, allowing students to work creatively with an advisor to design an individualized program that meets both the student’s needs and the general goals of the B.G.S. program.
Electives (27 credits). Electives permit students to complete the B.G.S. degree in a number of creative ways, through course work, carefully designed work experience internships, or previous but relevant educational experience. Up to 15 credits may be taken in URI’s Internships and Experiential Education program, or students may choose to take courses to fulfill this requirement. BGS 390, 391, and 392 may be counted as electives if they are not used to fulfill general education requirements.
Senior Project (3 credits). All B.G.S. students must complete the BGS 399 Senior Project or a department-directed study. This capstone experience for B.G.S. students provides a structure that enables the student to integrate knowledge and skills from coursework and related experiences with a research project or field experience. The project must be designed so that it allows the student to demonstrate the relationship of subject matter, theory and practice. Students are required to meet with the B.G.S. coordinator to plan a project proposal. This written proposal must meet with the approval of both the coordinator and an appropriate faculty advisor before the student can register for BGS 399.
APPLIED COMMUNICATIONS MAJOR
Students interested in the broad field of applied communications will be interested in this major. It allows a student, working with an advisor, to design an individual program that must then be approved by the program coordinator.
Communications Core (24 credits). These courses, all at or above the 200 level, must be chosen from communication studies, journalism, and writing (or ENG 205 or 305), with 12 credits from one department and six credits from each of the other two. Prerequisite communications courses are COM 100 and WRT 105.
Methodology Course (3 credits). Students may select COM 206, 381,382, 383, HDF 202, PSY 300, or STA 308.
Major Seminar (BGS 398 [capstone]) (3 credits). Students take this course near the end of their degree program, as it gives them an opportunity to review and evaluate the skills and knowledge they have acquired through their major.
Area of Emphasis (15 credits). With the help of an advisor, students select 15 credits that will comprise an area of emphasis, which may be used either to further develop skills in communications or for study in related areas. This area of emphasis must be approved by an advisor and the program coordinator by the beginning of the student’s junior year.
BUSINESS INSTITUTIONS MAJOR
Students interested in the broad field of business will be interested in this major. This is a fully prescribed program with a specific list of required courses:
BUS 110 Business Computing Applications (BAC 110) or CSC 101, Computing Concepts
BUS 111 Introduction to Business Analysis and Applications (BAC 120) or MTH 131, Applied Calculus I
BUS 201 Financial Accounting (ACC 201)
BUS 202 Managerial Accounting (ACC 202)
BUS 210 Managerial Statistics I (BAC 201) or STA 308, Introductory Satistics)
BUS 315 Legal and Ethical Environment of Business I (BSL 333)
BUS 320 Financial Management (FIN 301)
BUS 340 Organization and Management Theory I (MGT 301)
BUS 355 Operations and Supply Chain Management (MSI 309)
BUS 365 Marketing Principles (MKT 301)
ECN 201 Principles of Economics: Microeconomics
ECN 202 Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics
WRT 227 Business Communications
Business Elective (3 credits)
In addition to the courses above, students must elect one liberal elective course offered by a department outside their major. Most courses that fulfill these major requirements are available in Providence in the evening.
HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION MAJOR
This interdisciplinary major offers students a broad overview of the health care system, while allowing them to focus on a specific area of interest. The program provides strong preparation for entry or midlevel managerial and supervisory positions in organizations such as skilled nursing facilities, adult day care centers, home health care agencies, hospitals, clinics, laboratories, physician’s offices, governmental and regulatory agencies, and health plans. This course of study may also be applied in industries related to the health field, such as research and development, pharmaceuticals, and the insurance or computer industry. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Rhode Island exam for nursing home licensure, through courses taken in the area of emphasis.
This major is appropriate for students who have no previous exposure to this field, and for those who may already be employed in the field and are looking for a degree to give them the skills and knowledge to assume more significant responsibilities.
This major is also appropriate for students with 2-year allied health degrees who wish to continue their undergraduate studies. In most cases, a substantial portion of credits earned in the 2-year program will transfer toward the bachelor’s degree.
Major Courses (30 credits)
BUS 201 Financial Accounting (ACC 201)
ECN 201 Principles of Economics: Micro
ECN 360 Health Economics
HDF 202 Research Perspectives in Human Development & Family Studies
HDF 357 Family and Community Health
HSA 360 Health Services Administration
HSA 380 Introductory Health Services Practicum
PHL 314 Ethical Problems in Society and Medicine
PSC 481 Political Science Seminar: Health Care Policy and Politics
SOC 224 Health, Illness, and Medical Care
Areas of Emphasis within the Health Services Administration Major (18 credits): Students fulfill the area of emphasis requirement by choosing from existing minors (see page 36), or by designing an area of emphasis to fit the student’s experience and career interests.
HUMAN STUDIES MAJOR
Students interested in the wide range of human studies or human services will be attracted to this major. It permits the student, working with an advisor, to design a major that will meet both personal and career goals. All human studies majors must have their program design approved in advance by an academic advisor and the program coordinator. It must include the following four parts:
Social Science Core (24 credits). Students are required to select 24 credits from three of the following departments in the College of Arts and Sciences: economics, history, political science, psychology, and sociology and anthropology; or coastal and marine policy in the College of the Environment and Life Sciences. These departments determine which of their courses are suitable for the B.G.S. major.
The 24 credits must be distributed as follows: four courses from one department, two courses from a second department, and two courses from a third. Only two prerequisite or introductory-level courses are allowed in the major. Students should meet with an advisor for more information regarding these courses.
Methodology Course (3 credits). Students are strongly advised to fulfill this requirement by taking HDF 202. In exceptional cases, students may be allowed to meet the methods requirement by taking HIS 495, PSY 300, SOC 301, or STA 220.
Major Seminar (BGS 397 [capstone], 3 credits). Students take this course near the end of their degree program. It will give them an opportunity to review and evaluate the skills and knowledge they have acquired through their major.
Area of Emphasis (15 credits). The area of emphasis provides the student with an opportunity to select a group of courses that focus on a particular problem or population of interest. Once a particular focus is identified, students select 15 credits from the following list. All 15 credits must be at or above the 300 level.
African and African-American studies
Business law*
Coastal and marine policy
Communication studies
Community planning
Computer science
Consumer affairs
Economics
Education*
Food science and nutrition*
Health*
History
Human development and family studies
Human science and services
Journalism
Languages (French, Portuguese, Spanish)
Management*
Marketing*
Nursing*
Political science
Psychology
Sociology and anthropology
Women’s studies
*In these departments, only certain courses are appropriate for the human studies major. See an advisor for details.
Registration and Admission
Students must enroll in courses prior to the beginning of each semester. Being enrolled in a course is not the same as being admitted to the University. To apply for admission to an undergraduate degree program, a student must follow the application procedure (description follows). However, credits earned through successful completion of courses may eventually be applied toward a degree program after a student is accepted as a degree candidate.
Beginning students who have been away from school for some time with little or no course work beyond high school are encouraged to register in the Pro-Seminar (BGS 100), and Traditions and Transformations (URI 101B), (see online course descriptions at uri.edu/catalog).
Any adult may enroll as a nonmatriculated student in ASFCCE. All courses at the University are open to nonmatriculated students; however, day courses at the Kingston Campus are open only on a space-available basis.
All information and forms necessary for registration are included in the semester course schedule printed before each term begins. The schedule contains up-to-date course offerings and fees, and is available during the registration periods; you may also contact ASFCCE for one at 80 Washington Street, Providence, RI 02903; 401-277-5000; or uri.edu/prov.
Application Procedure. A student wishing to enroll in an undergraduate degree program at ASFCCE does so through the Advising and Admissions Office. An initial interview is recommended so that program options may be explored as well as the student’s capabilities. A student then files an application for an undergraduate degree and provides this office with official transcripts.
Students admitted to undergraduate degree programs should consult with the appropriate faculty coordinator concerning their major. A worksheet of courses is prepared and maintained as a checklist toward graduation requirements. It is the strict responsibility of the student to file an Intent to Graduate form with the Advising and Admissions Office three semesters in advance of the contemplated date.
Performance Based Admission. Performance Based Admissions (PBA) represents an opportunity to pursue a college degree for applicants who do not possess recent evidence of academic success, but whose potential suggests the ability to successfully complete college-level work. PBA is available to applicants possessing a high school (or equivalency) diploma whose last educational experience occurred at least three years ago. It is limited to students applying to an undergraduate degree program at ASFCCE.
Students must complete 15 credits before moving to fully matriculated status, and must meet with an advisor each semester prior to course registration until the 15 credits have been successfully completed. For more information, contact an ASFCCE academic advisor in room 245. Phone: 401-277-5160.
Services for Students
The ASFCCE provides a number of services for students, including free academic advising, peer counseling, health education, and, at minimal cost, a testing service. Advisors are available to answer questions about registration, admissions, degree programs, the College Level Examination Program, and prior learning assessment. The peer counseling service provides students with the opportunity to meet with other adult students who have been trained to help in problem solving, including issues of minority groups and those with disabilities. In testing services, a staff of certified psychologists administers a number of psychological tests and evaluations to individuals and groups to help them make personal or career decisions.
The Providence Campus also has a bookstore and library, plus a comfortable student center where students and faculty can meet, talk, and relax.
Fees and Finances
Tuition and fees for Continuing Education students are given on page 20 of this catalog. They may also be found in the course schedules for the current term. The registration fee is not refundable except when URI cancels or closes a course. The Student Services Fee supports a student government, career services, and various lectures and cultural events determined by an activities board of elected continuing education students. Fees for Special Programs courses vary (consult the course schedule or contact the Special Programs Office). For information on refunds, refer to page 23 of this catalog.
Financial Aid. Only matriculated students enrolled on at least a half-time basis (six credits) may be considered for an award. Student Financial Assistance determines eligibility for all grants, loans, and employment, which are awarded on an academic-year basis. Financial aid will be awarded only after a student has applied for a Pell Grant and has submitted a Pell Student Eligibility Report to this office.
A limited number of scholarships are available to students matriculating at ASFCCE. Students are required to complete a FAFSA application to be considered. For a brochure, call 401-277-5000.
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