General information about Rhode Island School of Design (www.risd.edu)

The College
Rhode Island School of Design (also known as RISD) is the leading college of art and design in the United States. Approximately 2,300 students from the US and abroad are enrolled in full-time study at RISD, where our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs balance studies in a choice of 19 majors with a firm grounding in the liberal arts (art history, literature, philosophy, the social sciences).

As professional artists and designers themselves, RISD faculty members approach art education in an exceptionally effective manner. They build relationships of deep trust and inspire students to push beyond their own expectations — to redefine problems and question traditional methods as they learn to see and think in new ways. RISD professors emphasize the creative process through rigorous studio courses; as part of this process, they offer critical feedback that motivates students to create innovative work of strong conceptual value. As students learn to master materials, they develop their own artistic voices and also gain indispensable problem-solving skills. As a result, more than 17,000 alumni have gone on to break new ground in their fields and distinguish themselves internationally through satisfying careers in:

· architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture;
· product, graphic and exhibition design;
· the fashion and textiles industries;
· entertainment, filmmaking, publishing;
· studio art, teaching and a variety of other fields.

Founded in 1877, RISD is located in Providence, Rhode Island — on the east coast of the US, a three-hour drive north of New York City and 45 minutes south of Boston. Providence stands out as a small New England city that prides itself on its active arts community, riverside parks, comfortable scale and multicultural neighborhoods. It is home to four colleges and universities, including RISD’s Ivy League neighbor, Brown University, where RISD students may take classes at no additional cost. This arrangement expands curricular offerings and the range of viewpoints in classroom discussions, enhancing the learning experience.

The RISD Museum of Art
One of RISD’s most important resources, The RISD Museum of Art houses an amazing selection of art and design from virtually every culture, period and genre. It is a great asset to students and faculty, as well as to the general public, attracting approximately 90,000 visitors each year.

With 85,000 works of fine art, decorative arts, costume and furniture in its permanent collection, The RISD Museum exhibits everything from Ancient Egyptian and Grecian sculpture to the latest in contemporary art. It offers an average of 25 changing exhibitions each year, along with permanent installations of objects ranging from a monumental 12th-century Japanese Buddha to a prized collection of historic furniture in Pendleton House, a wing devoted to showcasing American decorative arts.

The RISD Museum offers tours, lectures, family programs, workshops and classroom materials for teachers. Through innovative educational programming, it reaches out to members of the regional community, encouraging use of its collection to explore the wonders of world culture.

Opportunities at RISD
At RISD learning is largely about opportunity — about having access to exceptional resources, faculty and facilities. As a community we believe in equal opportunity for all and are committed to strong multicultural representation in our admissions and hiring practices. RISD welcomes applications from prospective students and employees who speak English as a second language; as part of the admissions process, students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score 580 or higher on the paper version or 237 or higher on the electronic test.

Our Office of International Programs is ready to assist students from abroad with the application process and with questions that arise about life in the US. Please contact Claudia Ford at cford@risd.edu or call 401 454-6725.