History, Philosophy and the Social Sciences
An interdisciplinary liberal arts department, History, Philosophy and the Social Sciences (HPSS) offers a wide variety of courses on the nature of human life—past and present—in its psychological, social, political, intellectual, philosophical and cultural contexts and manifestations.
Courses in world history, philosophy, psychology, anthropology, political science, sociology, religion and American and cultural studies help you broaden your knowledge while developing stronger critical thinking, reading and writing skills.
In (and out of) the classroom
HPSS runs an ever-evolving array of interdisciplinary courses such as The Art of Scientific Communication (with Illustration), The Witness Tree Project (with Furniture Design), Aqua Incognita (with Photography), Representing the “Real” (with FAV) and Producing Meaning: Theories of Technology Since 1850 (with Architecture).
The department also offers a growing curriculum of science electives. Developed specifically for art and design students, each course emphasizes science literacy and encourages connections to studio work.
As an HPSS concentrator you support your degree studies with liberal arts coursework in one of nine tracks, with focuses including environmental studies, belief systems, gender, sexuality and race, and more.
Featured stories
Undergraduate students Pei-Yu Hung and Andres Guevara organize a wide-ranging storytelling series for a Collaborative Study Project focused on Indigenous oral traditions.
A Wintersession global studies course led by Lucy Spelman and Andrea Dezsö considers the important role that artists and designers can play in environmental conservation.
SEI Research Fellow Nichole Rustin engages RISD students in contemporary political questions and develops their skills as liberal arts scholars.