Degree Programs and Concentrations for Undergraduate Students

Rhode Island School of Design offers undergraduate students the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree, which is usually completed in four years of study. Also offered is a professional Bachelor of Architecture (B.ARCH) degree, usually completed in five years of study.

In addition to pursuing a major, students may also choose a concentration (like a minor). Concentrations may only be pursued concurrently with the degree.

Liberal Arts Concentrations:

• Theory and History of Art and Design

• History, Philosophy, and the Social Sciences

• Literary Arts and Studies

Interdisciplinary Concentrations:

• Computation, Technology, and Culture

• Drawing

• Nature-Culture-Sustainability Studies

Students pursuing concentrations are reminded that concentrations may not be declared in order to extend their anticipated graduation date. Students that have completed all degree requirements are not eligible to remain enrolled in order to fulfill concentration requirements. Concentrations that remain incomplete at the time of graduation will be removed from the student record. Upon graduation, successful completion of a concentration is noted on the student’s official transcript, and a physical certificate is also issued along with the diploma.

Declaration of Majors

First-year students must declare a major before entering their sophomore program. While first-years may request any major, there may be limits imposed by physical space, equipment, and staffing that make it impossible for a department to enroll all students declaring the major. Such limits will be considered only to ensure and maintain the quality of education for all students in the department.

Change of Major

Undergraduate students who elect to change their major should fill out the Change of Major form. Chances of switching out of one major and into another are increased if requested after first-year declarations in late February/early March and before new transfer students are accepted through Admissions in mid-April. International students on an F-1 Visa must report a major change within ten days of the change to the Office of International Student Services.

Incoming transfer students may not transfer from the department to which they were admitted into another department during their first year. Thereafter, an internal transfer is subject to review and space limitations.

Graduate students are admitted into a specific department and degree program, unlike undergraduate students, who are admitted into the College. Hence, graduate students are not permitted to change degree programs via the Change of Major route as an internal transfer.  A graduate student who desires entry into another RISD program must go through the formal Admissions application procedure.

Credit Distribution for Undergraduate Students

All major programs and their specific requirements are listed alphabetically in this catalog. Resources for these curricula are available in several ways:

• Automated self-service program evaluations are available to all students via Academic Progress in Workday. The evaluation allows a student to monitor their progress toward the degree.

• Academic advising is available from the student’s major advisor or department head, as well as from their Liberal Arts advisor. First-year students are advised by their advisor in Experimental & Foundation Studies. Brown | RISD Dual-Degree Students (BRDD) also have a BRDD Program Advisor.

The chart below outlines the credit requirements for all undergraduate programs.

Students who enter RISD as First-year students in Fall 2024 and beyond should complete 30 credits per academic year and will earn a 120-credit BFA or 150-credit B.Arch degree.

Students entering RISD prior to Fall 2024 and some transfer students should complete 30-33 credits per academic year and will earn a 126-credit BFA 156-credit B.Arch degree.

Assistance with producing and reading program evaluations is available from the Office of the Registrar.

Double Major/Secondary Major

A double major is different from a double degree. A double major represents the completion of work in two academic majors, but for one degree. For example, a student majoring in Graphic Design and Industrial Design will receive only one BFA degree/diploma.

It is rare for a student to double major at RISD due to the amount of extra work involved, requiring at least one additional year of study or more. The minimum credit requirement for a double major is and 159 credits for two 120-credit majors and 168 credits for two 126-credit majors. This cannot be completed in four years.

To pursue a secondary (double) major, students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be considered. First-year students are not eligible for a double major since they have not started a specific major. Students interested in pursuing two majors should first consult with their academic advisor in their current department, and, with their advisor or Department Head's assistance, develop a proposal that includes a rationale for pursuit of a double major. The student must then meet with both major Department Heads to create a detailed plan for meeting degree requirements in both departments throughout their academic career at RISD.  Students are also required to submit a 'Secondary Major Request' form, available on the Registrar's Office website.

Both Department Heads and Division Dean(s) must approve the Secondary Major Request, which must include the student's proposed plan. The approval process may begin as early as the first semester of sophomore year, once the student has started courses in their major, and cannot begin after the first semester of junior year. Students who have declared a major but have not officially started coursework in the department are ineligible to apply for a double major.

One major will be designated “primary” and the other “secondary.” Students generally pursue both majors simultaneously rather than sequentially, hence the intention to double major must be declared by the middle of the junior year. Both majors must be completed before the degree can be earned unless the student formally withdraws their double major declaration by written notice to the Registrar’s Office.

See below for an example of a double-major schedule (this is a general schedule only and will vary depending on which combinations of majors are being pursued):

Students who receive financial aid must seek counseling from Student Financial Services prior to pursuing a secondary major, particularly in regard to aid eligibility in the fifth-year and beyond.

All Non-Major Studio Electives requirements are waived for students pursuing a double major.

Upon graduation, both majors will appear on the official transcript (though only one degree is conferred).

Degrees and Concentrations for Graduate Students

RISD offers graduate degrees at the Master's Degree level, including the Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Master of Architecture (MArch), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Master of Industrial Design (MID), Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA), Master of Design in Interior Studies (MDes), Master of Arts in Interior Architecture (MA), Master of Arts in Global Arts and Culture (MA), Master of Arts in Art + Design Education (MA), and Master of Arts as well as a joint degree with Brown University, Master of Arts (MA) in Design Engineering.

Two graduate concentrations are available to enhance advanced degree studies in the Theory and History of Art and Design and in Nature–Culture–Sustainability Studies. These concentrations are described in the Concentrations section.

Additionally, RISD’s Teaching + Learning in Art + Design department offers a certificate in Collegiate Teaching in Art & Design for students interested in developing a reflective teaching practice. Students may pursue the Collegiate Teaching Certificate with or without Instructor Teaching Experience. More information is available on the department’s page.

Students are governed by college-wide and departmental graduation policies in place and published when they enter RISD. Reinstated students who have been away from RISD for four years or more will be required to satisfy graduation requirements that are in effect at the time of their reinstatement/request to complete degree requirements.