MFA.FD.3YR - MFA in Furniture Design (3yr)
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2025 - 2026 | Curriculum | 3-year program
On occasion, we offer a limited number of qualified students a three-year course of study path, where they attend RISD as a graduate student in a preparatory year utilizing a range of undergraduate and graduate courses in preparation for the two-year MFA curriculum and thesis work. Faculty are able to advise during the interview stage on the most appropriate track for applicants.
Learning outcomes
Graduates of the MFA program are prepared to:
effectively use a combination of two- and three-dimensional concept development skills to complete full-size human-scale design prototypes for furniture and related objects.
critique and communicate contextual, conceptual and technical content through visual, written and spoken means.
communicate specific designs in detail to allow for manufacture by others.
relate design concepts and physical prototypes to a defined context and make an individual contribution to the discipline of furniture design.
First year | ||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | ||||
studio | 6 | elective | 3 | Studio | 6 | |
elective or graduate seminars | 6 | elective or graduate seminars | 9 | |||
total credits | 12 | total credits | 3 | total credits | 15 | |
Second year | ||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | ||||
FD 243G - Materials and Processes | 3 | elective | 3 | FD 245G - Graduate Furniture Design II | 9 | |
FD 244G - Graduate Furniture Design I | 6 | FD 247G - Graduate Furniture Design Seminar | 3 | |||
graduate seminar | 3 | Liberal Arts or elective | 3 | |||
Liberal Arts or elective | 3 | |||||
total credits | 15 | total credits | 3 | total credits | 15 | |
Third year | ||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | ||||
FD 246G - Graduate Furniture Design III | 9 | elective | 3 | FD 248G - Graduate Furniture Design Thesis Seminar | 3 | |
graduate seminar | 3 | FD 249G - Graduate Furniture Design Thesis | 9 | |||
Liberal Arts or elective | 3 | Liberal Arts or elective | 3 | |||
total credits | 15 | total credits | 3 | total credits | 15 | |
notes:
Graduate students entering the Department of Furniture Design have the option of participating in the Academic Laptop Program.