RISD is committed to providing information to current and prospective students, parents, faculty, staff and the general public in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA). For more information, contact Institutional Research.

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Academic Programs

  • Where can I find information on the academic programs offered?
    RISD offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in 19 disciplines. For more information, visit risd.edu/Academics.
  • How is RISD accredited?
    RISD is accredited by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges and the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD).

    In addition, several programs are accredited by specific boards: Landscape Architecture is accredited by the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB); Architecture by the National Architectural Accrediting Board; and Teaching + Learning in Art + Design by the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
  • How is transfer credit evaluated? Does RISD have a list of schools with which it has articulation agreements?
    Transfer students entering RISD may transfer credits for liberal arts, mathematics, science and foreign languages courses taken at other accredited colleges and universities for which they earned an acceptable grade. The Division of Liberal Arts determines whether each course is eligible for transfer credit. The School does not have any articulation agreements with other schools. For more information visit the Liberal Arts page on transfer, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate credit.
  • How does RISD define a credit hour?
    RISD follows the credit hour assignment standard of its national accrediting body, NASAD.  Normally, for undergraduate courses as well as most graduate courses, a semester hour of credit represents at least three hours of work each week (60 minute hours), on average, for the entire semester. In lecture/discussion courses requiring outside preparation, one hour of credit represents one hour of work each week of the term in class, and two hours of work outside class. In studio/laboratory courses, one hour of credit represents three hours of studio/laboratory time and space each week of the term: normally, studio classes led by an instructor meet in-class for 5 hours per week for the usual three credit class; the remaining time is for studio/laboratory class preparation. Some Foundation studio classes meet for a duration of 7.5 hours.

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More information

RISD Institutional Research
Jennifer L. Dunseath
jdunseat@risd.edu
401 454-6386

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Furniture Design students walk along the riverfront, carrying their projects to class.