Is RISD a trade school?
No, it’s not. While students graduate with a clear expertise in a specific field, RISD’s approach to education goes far beyond the purely practical training associated with trade schools. RISD offers an exceptional education in the fine art and design disciplines, complemented by a wide range of liberal arts courses. After completing the first-year Foundation Studies program, undergraduates choose a major field of study and graduate with a well-rounded education that emphasizes critical thinking and creative problem-solving. Completion of a studio major demands intense hands-on making and a high level of craftsmanship, but to ground studio work in a larger cultural context, students also complete a third of the credits required for graduation in such liberal arts areas as art history, visual culture, English, philosophy and the social sciences.
