Office of the Dean

As a community of scholars, the College engages in innovative research and professional activities in a spirit of collaboration across disciplines, in order to advance knowledge and solve real-world problems. It fosters and mentors student research to support the next generation of informed and articulate scholars, thinkers, and public intellectuals. College faculty lead national and global academic communities and demonstrate their commitment to the public good through scholarship and creative work.

As a community of educated citizens, the College responds to the Jesuit call to be women and men for others by seeking to instill in its students a habit of service and a life-long commitment to social justice in their personal and professional lives.

We undertake this journey together -- exploring the complexities of the human condition, experiencing the wonders of artistic creation, investigating the intricacies of the universe, and reflecting on the mysteries of the sacred -- so that we may all do our part to promote a just and peaceful world. In all that we do, the College of Arts and Sciences affirms the enduring importance of a liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition.

CAS is a community of caring, engaged, and student-focused faculty and staff dedicated to invention, discovery, and the prospect of producing knowledge in the service of others. In addition to being the oldest of the University’s five schools, we are also the home to Fairfield’s Core Curriculum, the intellectual foundation of a Fairfield education anchored in the liberal arts and deeply informed by Jesuit values of academic excellence and service. We create authentic learning opportunities for students that allow for "exploring the complexities of the human condition, experiencing the wonders of artistic creation, investigating the intricacies of the universe, and reflecting on the mysteries of the sacred – so that we may all do our part to promote a just and peaceful world."

With 15 departments and 18 programs, CAS values inspired teaching and innovative faculty research that makes Fairfield unique. With majors, minors, and interdisciplinary programs spanning a wide variety of subjects and areas of academic inquiry, the opportunities to explore are limitless and uniquely position our students for success in an increasingly competitive job market where key skills such as critical thinking and clear communication are highly valued. From taking the stage in a theater production to studying the impact of pollution on marine life, the College of Arts and Sciences provides the space to explore your passions. Within easy reach of major metropolitan centers and countless companies and service organizations, our internship program allows our students to put theory into practice in the real world as part of their studies in the College.

We are confident that your time with us will not only prepare you for a rewarding career but an inspired life of service. As the philosopher John Dewey observed, "Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." It is our desire that you live and learn fully during your time at the College and that you are fully engaged. But, always remember your responsibility to lead by sharing what you have learned with others. In the immortal words of Ignatius of Loyola, "Go forth and set the world on fire."

– Dr. Richard Greenwald
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences