Academics
Curriculum
The Pre-College curriculum is modeled on RISD’s Experimental and Foundation Studies program for first-year undergraduates. As a shared basis of study for all Pre-College students, these courses encourage you to take risks, test theories, challenge thoughts, and go beyond your initial ideas.
During most weeks, you’ll balance two six-hour days of foundation studies with two full days of work in your chosen major, and a two-hour Critical Studies in Art class. An hour each day is reserved for lunch.
Evenings and weekends are reserved for homework, trips, and activities. Here’s a look at what a typical week might look like:
Monday
9 am–4 pm: Major course
4 pm–on: Homework and activities
Tuesday
9 am–4 pm: Drawing Foundations
4 pm–on: Homework and activities
Wednesday
11:30 am–1:30 pm: Critical Studies in Art
1:30 pm–on: Homework, activities, and rest
Thursday
9 am–4 pm: Design Foundations
4 pm–on: Homework and activities
Friday
9 am–4:30 pm: Major course
4:30 pm–on: Homework and activities
Saturday and Sunday: Homework, activities, and rest
Foundation courses
These three required courses ask you to move beyond the expected, helping you to develop a new visual vocabulary and speak confidently about art and design.
Drawing Foundations
Drawing skills are an essential component of a college admissions portfolio. You will develop your attention to detail, and strengthen your ability to think visually and express your ideas on paper. Sharpen your observational skills by drawing from the figure, landscapes, interiors, and still life setups. Use traditional and nontraditional materials to develop key drawing competencies (line, value, and form) that allow you to investigate expressive and conceptual possibilities in your work.
Design Foundations
Design is the ability to organize and map out visual elements into dynamic expression, and thoughtful design choices are an essential component of a portfolio. This course will introduce you to the formal elements and principles of design, such as balance, shape, color, pattern, and space. Projects may include both two- and three-dimensional design concepts.
Critical Studies in Art
The ability to articulate creative ideas helps artists engage viewers and curators on a meaningful level. Study art in its historical and cultural contexts to gain language and techniques for communicating the intent behind your work. At the RISD Museum, you will practice visual thinking while examining and interpreting original works. Connect with and learn from your peers through discussions, writing, and collaborative exercises. You will find real-world value in these skills when you prepare college applications and artist statements.
Majors and program schedule
Build on your foundation work by choosing one of our 20+ majors, which will allow you to focus on a particular field of design or art.
See the dates for this year's Pre-College on-campus program, including check-in, final exhibitions, and move-out dates.
Classroom experience
On a typical day, you’ll be in-studio for six hours with a one-hour lunch break. In class you’ll participate in group and individual critiques, lectures, and demonstrations. Outside of the classroom is where you will do most of your work, researching ideas, developing concepts, and completing artwork.
Your education will extend outside of the classroom and across campus, with open access to nearly 100,000 objects housed at the RISD Museum, the Edna Lawrence Nature Lab collection of natural history specimens, microscope lab and living plants and animals, and Fleet Library and its extensive art and design book collection and Visual and Material Resource Center.
Critique
A cornerstone of the RISD experience is the studio critique (or, affectionately, “crit”). That’s because all visual artists and designers, at every stage in their career, need the advice and perspective of others. In Pre-College, you’ll learn to present your work to your peers and instructors, receive constructive criticism, and analyze your classmates’ work.
The human figure
Courses that include figure drawing use anatomical images of the human figure. These images portray nude bodies to build an understanding of kinesthetics and anatomy of the human form. Some courses may involve figure drawing sessions that feature a nude or lightly clothed model. Figure drawing sessions typically last a few hours, with a mix of short and long poses. Photography of models is not permitted. Students who have religious restrictions may request an alternate activity when nude models are involved.
Homework/intensity
Homework for all courses is substantial. In total, students can expect to spend 40 hours per week on their coursework, which includes class time and homework.
Students who have competing commitments over the summer tend to struggle. Pre-College is your dedicated time to develop your skills and college application portfolio. We strongly advise clearing your schedule during the time you are here so that you can give the program 100% of your attention. Activities such as sports, AP coursework and SAT prep are usually not possible while attending Pre-College.
Final critiques
The last week of class consists of final critiques and presentations to your class and instructors. Final crits are equal in importance and intensity to final exams in other subject areas. Attendance at final classes and participation for final projects account for a major portion of your final grade. Absence on the final day of any class may result in a failing grade for that class.
Final exhibitions
At the end of the program you will exhibit your work for friends, family, and the general public, to give them a view into your experience.
Foundations Exhibition
For each foundations class, instructors will select exemplary work by a few students to be shown in the final Foundations Exhibition. Participation is limited.
Majors Exhibition
Every student will have one piece made in their major displayed in the final Majors Exhibition. Share your work with a new audience and see what your peers spent their summer making. Fashion, Film, and Animation will have separate showcases.
Fashion Show
All fashion majors participate in the Pre-College Fashion Show. You’ll develop meaningful concepts and learn methods of construction that help you develop a fully realized final garment. You and your classmates will be involved in all aspects of the show, including model selection, styling, accessories, and runway performance. Fashion students may model their own work or invite another student to model their garment.
Film and Animation Screening
Film and Animation majors learn how to develop concepts, characters, and stories that result in your final project. Instructors will work together to sequence your work so that students, family, and friends will get to experience the work on the big screen.
Transcripts
Students will receive their final grades via the Student Portal at cereg.risd.edu (not Canvas) about four weeks after the end of the semester. View your grades and/or print an unofficial transcript by navigating to “My Enrollment History + Transcript.” Grades cannot be sent by email or provided over the phone.
Students can request a transcript for your own use or to share with an institution by visiting our Transcript Request page. There is a fee to process each request.
Alumni from August 2018 and before who request a transcript will need to create a login for our new platform.
Portfolio review
Pre-College participants are invited to have their portfolios reviewed virtually by a RISD representative, coordinated through RISD Admissions. Receive direct feedback on what’s successful in your work, and what to develop further for your college applications.
These live, online portfolio reviews are 15 minutes long. Enrolled students will receive an invitation to register as well as information on how the session will work and how to prepare for it.