Majors and Concentrations

Undergraduate Degrees and Concentrations

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.

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.

Graduate Degrees and Concentrations

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.