RISD Undergraduate Degrees

Dedicated to furthering the development of glass in contemporary art, RISD's Glass Department is widely regarded as a leader in preparing artists for careers in this field. As practicing professionals, the department's faculty considers glass to be both an artist's material, having remarkable and complex expressive range, as well as a studio discipline with infinite potential and a unique history that incorporates sculpture, architecture, design, craft and decorative art.

As a Glass major, you will immerse yourself in a media-specific program that melds a rich and diverse heritage with a limitless investigation of the material and processes involved. Through regular critiques with your professors, peers and a wide range of visiting artists and critics, you will maximize your conceptual and aesthetic assets as you learn to master the medium.

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• Glass IA Studio (fall)
• Glass IB Studio (spring)
• Beginning Glassworking (fall)
• Glass Casting and Moldmaking (spring)
• Glass Coldworking (fall)
• Liberal Arts electives (fall/spring)
• Wintersession course (winter)

Sophomores
In the first year of the program, you will develop conceptual problem solving skills by making work in response to specific assignments and through participation in a Glass Degree Program Workshop. You will also gain a technical foundation in glass blowing, cold working, mold making and casting.

• Glass IIA Studio (fall)
• Glass IIB Studio (spring)
• Glass Degree Program Workshop (fall/spring)
• Intermediate Glassblowing (fall)
• Non-major electives (fall/spring)
• History of Glass (spring)
• Wintersession course (winter)

Juniors
As a junior, you continue to develop your conceptual and critical vocabulary through studio work. An intermediate glass blowing studio and a history course help refine and strengthen your understanding of the medium and its origins.

• Glass IIIA Studio (fall)
• Glass IIIB Degree Project (spring)
• Glass Degree Program Workshop (fall/spring)
• Liberal Arts electives (fall/spring)
• Wintersession course (winter)

Seniors
During senior year, you work on self-directed projects and create a significant body of work to be presented in the Glass Department Thesis Exhibition as well as in an independent thesis exhibition.