History, Philosophy, and the Social Sciences
A multidisciplinary 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 American studies, anthropology, Black studies, history, Indigenous studies, philosophy, political science, psychology, religious studies, sociology, and women’s and gender studies help you broaden your knowledge while developing stronger critical thinking, reading and writing skills.
In (and out of) the classroom
HPSS faculty have offered a range of interdisciplinary courses such as The Art of Scientific Communication (with Illustration), The Witness Tree Project (with Furniture Design) and Rethinking Green Urbanism (with Architecture).
The department also offers a growing curriculum of science courses available as Liberal Arts electives. Courses are developed for art and design students interested in a wide range of science disciplines, with a general emphasis on science literacy that 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
Students in an interdisciplinary fall course learn to observe the living world in search of design strategies grounded in planetary health.
The new hires round out RISD’s Architecture & Design, Experimental and Foundation Studies, Fine Arts and Liberal Arts divisions.
A team of science educators encourages students to see themselves as integral parts of the natural world.