GENERAL INFORMATION | PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS | CERTIFICATE PROGRAM CODES

GENERAL INFORMATION [return to top]

Certificate Program Handbook
>> download a the Certificate Programs Handbook (.pdf)

Preparing for Careers
Although any course may be taken for personal or professional enrichment, many may also be taken as part of a certificate program. Most RISD|CE certificate programs encompass a specific body of knowledge and practice that prepares candidates for rewarding positions in art and design fields. A background in art and design is helpful but not necessary for any of these programs. Complete program information, curriculum charts and policies may be found in the Certificate Programs Handbook.

For Young Artists
Click here for information about our certificate programs for young artists in Animation, Art School Preparation,Cartooning and Animation, Comic Art, Fashion Design, Game Design and Photography.

Who May Enroll
Courses are open to anyone interested in pursuing certificate subject matter for professional or personal growth. Certificate programs address specific professional training needs of adult students, many of whom have college and professional experience but want to upgrade their skills or make a career change. Certificate program courses prepare students for work in their chosen fields, and part-time evening study allows people with career or family commitments to come back to school. Non-certificate students may take certificate courses provided they meet applicable prerequisites.

How to Enroll
Read the Certificate Programs Handbook to learn about program objectives, requirements and prerequisites, and then submit the Application for Candidacy at any time during the academic year. Courses taken prior to declaration may be applied toward a certificate within a one-year grace period, but only with retroactive payment of applicable fees.

Academic Advising
Should you have questions not answered in the Certificate Programs Handbook, please contact an academic advisor at 401 454-6200. Students interested in our certificate programs for young adults should call 401 454-6201 for more information (see also Certificate Programs for Young Adults).

Graduation
Candidates expecting to graduate in June of any given year should petition to graduate by the end of the previous November. Call 401 454-6201 to request a Petition to Graduate form.

A Note about Electives
Courses other than those listed here or in the Certificate Programs Handbook may qualify as electives with permission of the certificate advisor. Students who have very specific professional needs should also discuss their requirements with the relevant advisor.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS [return to top]
Click here for information on RISD’s Certificate Programs for Young Adults.

Advertising Design
(formerly Advertising Design for Print, Broadcast + the Internet)
Students in this program develop the creative, conceptual and technical skills necessary to enter or advance in the field of advertising, whether for print, broadcast or electronic media. Read more...

Appraisal Studies in Arts + Antiques
RISD|CE and the American Society of Appraisers combine their resources to provide students with the theoretical skills needed to build a career in the appraisal of personal property and to develop a more thorough appreciation of collecting fine art, decorative art and antiques. Read more...

Children’s Book Illustration
Here is an opportunity for aspiring illustrators to learn how to create top-notch children’s book illustrations. Read more...

Comic + Sequential Art
The Comic + Sequential Art program presents students with the opportunity to learn the techniques and strategies involved in the craft of telling stories visually. Read more...

Computer Animation
The Computer Animation Certificate Program provides students with the expertise needed to create two- and three-dimensional animations for the web, TV, movies or digital media, using state-of-the-art software. Read more...

Digital Photography
Designed to meet the needs of anyone interested in fine art photography, portraiture, product advertising, and anything in between, this program provides a foundation for further work in digital media, including video, animation, three-dimensional imaging and website development. Read more...

Digital Video Production
(formerly Video Editing for Digital Postproduction)
This program prepares students to enter the field and to keep pace with the industry’s recent dynamic technological advances. The curriculum emphasizes both technical proficiency and aesthetic sensibility while addressing the artist’s need to communicate visually. Read more...

Drawing + Painting Studies
This program is designed to guide students in the development of critical skills in drawing and painting while exploring the intimate relationship between the two. Read more...

Historic Preservation
The certificate program in Historic Preservation focuses on the architecture of New England and examines the preservation movement in the US, using Providence and the surrounding areas as a living laboratory. Read more...

Interior Design
The Interior Design Certificate Program equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to create and implement all phases of an interior design. Read more...

Natural Science Illustration
Natural Science Illustration certificate candidates learn to render scientific drawings effectively and to communicate a variety of scientific information in visual form. Read more...

Print Design Process + Production
To translate design concepts into print effectively, one must understand the principles and conventions of graphic design and be familiar with the digital technology used to create a finished product. This certificate program focuses on pragmatic problem-solving concepts while emphasizing the design process. Read more...

Web Design + Development
This certificate program prepares students to enter and/or stay current with what is a complex and continually evolving field. Read more...

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM CODES [return to top]
Courses that apply to one or more of RISD|CE’s certificate programs are noted with the following codes. Please consult the Certificate Programs Handbook for each program’s prerequisites. Please note: The codes below may differ from those used in the RISD degree programs. Contact hours are given for elective courses only.

Programs with * are no longer open for new enrollments; students currently in these programs may complete them, or may choose to transfer to a new or revised program.

Adult Programs
Advertising Design code: AD
Appraisal Studies in Arts + Antiques code: AS
Computer Animation code: AN
Children’s Book Illustration code: CB
Comic + Sequential Art code: SA
Computer Animation code: AN
Decorative Painting* code: DP
Digital Photography code: DI
Digital Video Production code: VE
Drawing + Painting Studies code: DP
Historic Preservation code: HP
Interior Design code: ID
Natural Science Illustration code: NS
Print Design Process + Production code: PD
Web Design + Development code: WE
Required course code: -R
Elective code: -E

Young Adult Programs
Animation code: YA
Art School Preparation code: AT
Cartooning + Animation* code: CA
Comic Art code: YC
Fashion Design code: YG
Game Design code: YG
Photography code: PH