Rhode Island School of Design
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Academics at RISD are based on a number of variables, two being what major you choose and whether you decide to “concentrate” in a liberal-arts field. The differences in majors have to do with departmental budgets and resources, individual faculty members, and overall departmental philosophy. Each major has a different number of required major credits, with some allowing students to take more classes outside their major and others almost taking up a student’s entire studio course load. Regardless of major, studio classes are almost always challenging and enriching, and they demand all of a student’s resources to complete them successfully.

The faculty is the driving force behind RISD’s strenuous and exciting classes. It is safe to say that while there may be the odd professor that does not meet what the high-standard students expect from their faculty, professors at RISD are professional, knowledgeable, and dedicated to their students and their field. When it comes to liberal arts, students may “concentrate,” which is similar to having a minor, in English, art history, or HPSS (history, philosophy,and social science). These concentrators, which put more effort into their liberal-arts experience, tend to produce students who come away more satisfied with their classes because their academic study interacts more with their studio study, bringing it to a higher level. While it’s true that some liberal-arts courses may not be as rigorous, nearly all seminar courses, among others, are just as challenging as an equivalent class at almost any liberal arts university.

RISD Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Academics at Rhode Island School of Design

mosio

Graphic Design '13

5.0

A+

Graphic Design Major

My school is known for having the highest workload of any college in the United States, and my major doesn't disappoint. There are many all nighters, and the teachers give a lot of homework. What is great about the major is that it teaches many fundamentals of the newest technology, and stresses the intensive understanding of Graphic Design basics such as Typography, layout and informational hierarchy. Each Junior and Senior gets their own studio space, and jobs sand internships are readily available for those who utilize the campus network.

Jul 05, 2011

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Academics at Rhode Island School of Design

jlozada

Architecture '11

5.0

A+

Great School With Focus on Self-Discovery

RISD teaches from the perspective of students learning the most through self-discovery and student teaching. We are expected to work very hard after hours into the morning and teach each other outside of class. By the time I finished school I was very confident in myself. Nothing was handed to me, it was all hard work and exploration.

Jun 25, 2011

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Academics at Rhode Island School of Design

swylde

Interior Architecture '11

4.6

A

Interior Architecture

The program is based on the study of sustainability and adaptive reuse in the architectural design, using concept, green design and. The undergraduate program prepares students with an in depth understanding of the reuse of the building in this day in age with courses in structure, human factors and other areas to prepare the student with the understanding of design to both work with the artistic approach and the effect on the user.

Oct 27, 2010

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Photos of Rhode Island School of Design's Academics

Studio

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Studio This is a drawing studio on campus.

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Fleet Library

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Fleet Library Another look at Fleet Library.

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Fleet Library

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Fleet Library A look at Fleet Library.

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