Rhode Island College, founded in 1854, is the comprehensive public institution of higher education in the State of Rhode Island. Its primary mission is to make its academic programs available to any qualified resident of Rhode Island who can benefit from its educational services. The College fulfills its educational mission by offering undergraduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences and in a variety of professional fields. It also offers a range of selected graduate programs in the arts and sciences, and in areas of social, public, and community service. The education provided is premised on a commitment to the complementary relationship between liberal and professional education and has as its objectives preparation for advancement in professional areas, and breadth of perspective and knowledge for enlightened and constructive citizenship. The College is supported by the State of Rhode Island as its only comprehensive college, and as part of the system of public higher education which includes the Community College and the University with which articulation agreements exist for student transfer within the system. As a comprehensive institution of higher education, Rhode Island College offers programs of study in that array of disciplines traditionally considered as the liberal arts, including humanities, social sciences, sciences, and fine arts, and a broad array of professional offerings in the health and helping professions, education, management, and technology. Selected curricula are offered at the graduate level within the liberal arts and in applied and practitioner oriented fields within the service sector.