What is the Brown|RISD Dual Degree Program?

Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) offer a combined five-year dual degree program for students who wish to integrate studies in the liberal arts with concentrated work in the fine arts.

Students will choose a concentration at Brown and a major at RISD. Within a period of five years they will earn an A.B. or an Sc.B. from Brown and a B.F.A. from RISD.

What kinds of students would be attracted to the Brown|RISD Dual Degree program?

Students interested in combining film and video with screen or playwriting, photography with anthropology or urban studies, sculpture with music or performance, art and design with the sciences, theater with glass, and many other unique combinations.

Please note that not all combinations of majors at RISD and Brown may be possible because of the rigorous demands of the Dual Degree program. Currently, Dual Degree students are unable to declare a major in Architecture at RISD.

What is the application process?

Interested students must submit separate applications to both Brown and RISD, which are both member schools of the Common Application.  Additionally, students must indicate on both applications that they wish to be considered for the Dual Degree Program. Only first-year applicants are eligible to apply.

Only students who have been admitted to both Brown and RISD will be considered for the dual degree program.

Please note: Some concentration programs at Brown are not open to dual degree candidates, such as Engineering, Visual Arts, and the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME).

• Each admission office will conduct a separate evaluation before joint consideration for the Dual Degree Program. Consequently, it is possible that a student could be admitted to RISD only, to Brown only, or to both Brown and RISD but not to the Dual Degree program.
• Supplementary Essay – In addition to applying to both Brown and RISD separately, students who are interested in the Brown|RISD Dual Degree program must also complete a separate application supplement for the program itself. All applicants must respond to the following question:

“The Brown|RISD Dual Degree program provides an opportunity to explore your interests and prepare for the future in two distinct learning environments. Considering your understanding of both academic programs, describe how and why the specific combination of the art/design-focused curriculum of RISD and the wide-ranging courses and curricula of Brown could constitute an optimal undergraduate education for you.”

What is RISD Portfolio submission requirement?

Your portfolio should show a selection of 12–20 examples of your best recent artwork. We suggest that the work reflect the full range of your ideas, interests, experience and abilities in the arts to date. Work presented can be in any medium (including film or video), in finished or sketch form, and the result of an assigned project or a self-directed exploration. We strongly recommend that you include a few pages from your journal or sketchbook to indicate your process of research, thinking and investigation.

Portfolios must be submitted through SlideRoom, an online portfolio service (which requires an additional $10 fee).

What are the first year applicant requirements for RISD?

http://www.risd.edu/Admissions/Apply/Freshmen/

What are the first year applicant requirements for Brown University?

https://www.brown.edu/admission/undergraduate/apply/first-year-applicants

What is the application deadline?

For deadlines, please consult Brown Admission and RISD Admissions.

How many Dual Degree program students will be admitted?

The number of dual degree students admitted is strictly limited. Generally they seek to enroll a class of 15 students each year.

Contact Details for Admission Queries:

• General inquiries about the Dual Degree program can be directed to the Dual Degree Advisor and Program Coordinator at cassie_bower@brown.edu or cbower@risd.edu or by calling 401-863-9836.
• For questions about the Brown admission process, please contact Brown Admissions at 401-863-2378, or admission@brown.edu.
• If you have questions about the RISD application, please contact the RISD Admissions Office, 401 454-6300 or 800 364-RISD (364-7473), or admissions@risd.edu.

 What major Combinations are available to me if I opt for the Brown-RISD Dual Degree Program?

http://risd.brown.edu/handbook/BRDD%20Student%20Handbook%201617.pdf

The Brown/RISD Dual Degree Program is a five-year program in which students earn a degree at each institution. The specific degrees available through the Dual Degree Program are as follows:

The Brown degree earned by students in the Program will ordinarily be a Bachelor of Arts (AB) degree. In some cases, earning a Bachelor of Science (ScB) degree may be possible, though the feasibility of doing so will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

List of Degree programs at Brown:

https://www.brown.edu/academics/degree-granting

A.B. Degree Programs in Engineering Concentration include:

• Engineering
• Engineering with a focus on Environmental Studies
• Business, Entrepreneurship and Organizations

Please note: Some concentration programs at Brown are not open to dual degree candidates, such as Engineering, Visual Arts, and the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME).

The RISD degree earned by students in the Program will in all cases be a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree. The five-year RISD degree in Architecture is excluded from the program.

List of Degree programs at RISD:

 http://www.risd.edu/academics/

Examples: BRDD candidates have combined majors in such disciplines as Apparel Design and Environmental Studies, Furniture Design and Mechanical Engineering, Painting and Literary Arts, and Film/Animation/Video and Physics, among many other combinations. Prospective students must apply and be accepted to both institutions, and then be approved for admission to the BRDD.

Author: Kalpana Dang