College Credits
Transfer students entering RISD may transfer credits for liberal arts courses taken at other accredited colleges and universities. Credits are transferred in three-credit units only and are acceptable exclusively for courses for which a grade of C or better (or a P in a pass/fail system) has been earned. In order to grant transfer credit, the Liberal Arts office must receive official transcripts from each school attended. Students with bachelor's degrees from accredited institutions transferring to RISD as undergraduates are considered to have fulfilled their requirements in Liberal Arts, with the exception of the two-semester requirement of Art and Architectural History. That requirement is waived for students who have taken equivalent courses elsewhere. Students with degrees from institutions in non-English speaking countries may also be required to take certain courses in English language and literature.

After matriculation students may transfer up to 12 credits only for courses taken elsewhere and passed with a grade of C or better (or a P in a pass/fail system). Any credits transferred are not calculated in a student's grade point average.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Credit
Advanced Placement (AP) exams administered by the College Board during high school are accepted by RISD towards the fulfillment of liberal arts requirements. Exams in art history, english, foreign languages, humanities, mathematics, and the natural and social sciences will be accepted provided that they are passed with a score of 4 or higher. A maximum of nine credits will be accepted for transfer.

If you satisfactorily pass the art history exam, you will receive three credits and be waived from the required Art and Architectural History I and II. If you satisfactorily pass the English Literature and Composition (ENG/LIT/COMP) examination, you will receive three credits and be waived from the required English Composition and Literature.

Please note that credit is not granted for participation in English Language and Composition (ENG LANG/COMP) or Computer Science.

RISD accepts international Baccalaureate (IB) certificates with scores of 5, 6, or 7 and Oxford A-level exams with grades of C or better. A maximum of nine credits will be accepted for transfer. The Liberal Arts Division will evaluate your transcripts for courses applicable to liberal arts requirements.