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 certificate is also issued along with the diploma.

RISD offers graduate degrees at the Master Degree level, including the Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Master of Architecture (M.ARCH), 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 Teaching (MAT), Master of Arts in Art + Design Education (MA), Master of Arts in Global Arts and Culture (MA) and Master of Arts in Nature-Culture-Sustainability Studies (MA), as well as a joint degree with Brown University, Masters of Arts in Design Engineering.

The Theory & History of Art & Design Department offers the opportunity to enhance advanced degree studies with a graduate concentration in this area. This concentration is 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. 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.

General eligibility requirements are listed in the Graduation Requirements for Undergraduates and Graduation Requirements for Graduate Students pages. See the relevant department curricular pages for specific course and degree requirements.

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, 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 a formal Admissions application procedure.