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MFA.JM.2YR - MFA in Jewelry + Metalsmithing (2yr)

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2025 - 2026 | Curriculum | 2-year program

RISD's graduate program in Jewelry + Metalsmithing cultivates individual excellence by emphasizing rigorous research, material experimentation and creative practice. Graduate students produce meaningful work by being encouraged to question and investigate the forces that motivate them and to engage in critical discourse with the creative community within and beyond the department.

Learning outcomes

Graduates of the MFA program are prepared to:

  • be conversant with research precedents and conditions to establish premises for original work.

  • articulate and defend the positioning of original work in light of historical, theoretical and conceptual influences.

  • understand the distinctions between and benefits of visual and verbal modes of communication in studio practice by both creating and describing original work.

  • situate one's work in contemporary contexts and advance the broader conversation in the field.

First year

FALL

WINTERSESSION

SPRING

JM 441G - Graduate Studio 1

3

non-major studio elective

3

JM 442G - Graduate Studio 2

3

JM 453G - Graduate Jewelry 1

3

JM 454G - Graduate Jewelry 2

3

JM 447G - Graduate Jewelry Seminar 1

3

JM 448G - Graduate Jewelry Seminar 2

3

graduate seminar

3

graduate seminar

3

non-major studio elective

3

non-major studio elective

3

total credits

15

total credits

3

total credits

15

Second year

FALL

WINTERSESSION

SPRING

JM 443G - Graduate Studio 3

3

non-major studio elective

3

JM 444G - Graduate J+M Thesis

9

JM 455G - Graduate Jewelry 3

3

JM 452G - Graduate Jewelry 1

3

JM 451G - Graduate Jewelry Seminar 3

3

non-major studio elective

3

graduate seminar

3

non-major studio elective

3

total credits

12 or 15

total credits

3

total credits

15

notes:

  • Graduate Education Seminar: 3 credits minimum.

  • All graduate students must participate in Wintersession for a minimum of 3-credits each year.