BFA IN JEWELRY + METALSMITHING
2023-2024 | Curriculum | 4-year program
Sophomores enter the program after RISD's required year of Experimental and Foundation Studies and are introduced to fundamental design principles, the history of adornment and the traditional skills of the gold/metalsmith. Students also begin to develop their own design process for jewelry. Juniors continue to refine their technical skills by delving further into a personal approach to design and content, while learning fundamental computer design skills, formal rendering techniques and the basics of enameling, casting and alternative materials usage.
FOUNDATION YEAR | ||||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 | 3 | 15 | ||||||
SOPHOMORE | ||||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | ||||||
Sophomore Jewelry 1 | 3 | Non-major Studio Elective [a] | 3 | Sophomore Jewelry 2 | 3 | |||
Sophomore Metalsmithing | 3 | Sophomore Smithing and Jewelry | 3 | |||||
Sophomore History of Adornment | 3 | Sophomore Jewelry Design: Technology and Making | 3 | |||||
Liberal Arts [a] | 3 | |||||||
Total CREDITS | 15 | TOTAL CREDITS | 3 | TOTAL CREDITS | 15 | |||
JUNIOR | ||||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | ||||||
Color as Content | 3 | Non-major Studio Elective [a] | 3 | Junior Jewelry 1 | 3 | |||
Digital 3D Modeling and Rendering | 3 | From CAD to CAM | 3 | |||||
Metal Forming and Casting | 3 | Junior Seminar | 3 | |||||
Liberal Arts or Non-major Studio Elective [a] | 3 or 6 | Liberal Arts or Non-major Studio Elective [3] | 3 or 6 | |||||
Total CREDITS | 12/15 | TOTAL CREDITS | 3 | TOTAL CREDITS | 12/15 | |||
SENIOR | ||||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | ||||||
Senior Studio | 3 | Non-major Studio Elective [a] | 3 | Senior Seminar | 3 | |||
Senior Jewelry | 3 | Degree Project | 6 | |||||
Professional Practices | 3 | Liberal Arts or Non-major Studio Elective [3] | 3 or 6 | |||||
Liberal Arts or Non-major Studio Elective [a] | 3 or 6 | |||||||
total CREDITS | 12/15 | TOTAL CREDITS | 3 | TOTAL CREDITS | 12/15 | |||
Total Credits: 126 | ||||||||
Notes:
[a] Choose a Liberal Arts, Major or Non-Major Studio Elective, depending on unfulfilled degree requirements and class availability.
Students who follow this curriculum exactly will end up with a total of 132 credits. The Liberal Arts requirement is 42 credits and the non-major elective requirement is 12 credits. Elective courses are to be selected in consultation with your Academic Advisor. The Liberal Arts and Non-major Studio Elective degree requirements must be satisfied to earn the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Six credits of Liberal Arts and Non-major Studio Electives in the Fall and Spring semester shown above, may be fulfilled by taking 3-credits of each, or by taking 6-credits of Liberal Arts, or 6-credits of Non-major Studio Electives. Although Liberal Arts are listed in Fall or Spring, they may be taken in Wintersession. Similarly, Non-major Electives shown in Wintersession may be taken in Fall or Spring. Wintersession offers the most opportunities for Non-major Studio Electives, as scheduling and interest permits. Consult your Academic Advisor, the Liberal Arts Office or the Registrar for additional information.
Students may opt to take 12 credits in the Fall and/or Spring of the Senior year by taking 3-credits of Liberal Arts or Non-Major Electives in the Fall and/or Spring, depending on unfulfilled degree requirements.