Summer Intensives

Online and studio courses (transfer credit)

Tailored to college students and adult working professionals, RISD Continuing Education offers a selection of summer courses that are eligible for three (3) transfer credits.

Create your own experience at Rhode Island School of Design this summer with art and design courses for credit and creative advancement.

Whether you’re a student looking to earn college transfer credit, an adult looking for artistic advancement, or a professional looking to make a big change, summer is an extraordinary time to attend RISD.

Each summer, students from all over the world come to RISD to take part in group and individual critique, lectures and assignments, and work to create a substantial body of work in a short amount of time.

Browse in-person courses

Browse online courses

Students painting with acrylics in a studio classroom.

Register now for Summer 2026! Early registration pricing extended through March 15, 2026.*

Before registering, review important Summer Intensives information.

Questions? risdce@risd.edu or 401 454-6200

*Use code EARLYBIRDSU26. Offer expires 11:59 pm ET on 3/15/26 and is subject to change or cancellation without notice.

Summer 2026: June 22 – July 26

A student draws a large-scale portrait.

This summer, we will offer 5-week courses eligible for transfer credit (3) in a variety of formats:

  • In-Person, RISD Main Campus—NEW for 2026!
  • Online, Asynchronous
  • Online, Asynchronous with live sessions

Check course listings for course descriptions and dates/times, if applicable. Course subject areas include Liberal Arts, Illustration, Graphic Design, Architecture, Furniture Design, Printmaking, and Painting.

Important Information and Policies

General Information and Policies

Format and Instruction Methods

In-Person Summer Intensives

Online Summer Intensives

Academic Policies

Financial Policies

A student working on a laptop computer at a desk.

General Information and Policies

Summer Intensives courses follow RISD Continuing Education policies.

These intensive courses are offered to current college students looking to earn transfer credit and adults 18+ who have graduated from high school and are seeking personal enrichment or professional growth. Courses are designed to be accessible to a variety of skill levels.

Summer Intensives students are required to be 18 years of age or older, and high school graduates (or equivalent). Proficiency in English is a prerequisite for registration and applicants who speak English as a second language will be asked to upload a test score report (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo).

Students may take a maximum of 2 courses, and are responsible for checking the course schedules to make sure that any required meeting times do not conflict before registering.

RISD Students: All courses offer three transfer credits with pre-approval using the appropriate Prior Approval for Transfer Credit form.

Class sizes are limited, and registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Payment is due in full at the time of registration.

If your primary reason for registering for Summer Intensives is to earn college transfer credits, we recommend that you seek prior approval from your home institution before you register. See Academic Policies for additional details.

If applicable, you may need the following documents during registration:

    • Social Security Number (US citizens/permanent resident) or a copy of your Passport
    • Your RISD ID or other college student ID
    • Proof of high school graduation or equivalent
    • Proof of English proficiency

If you are missing any requirements, your application will be sent back to you with a request to provide missing details.

Timeline:

January 15, 2026: Summer Intensives applications open
April 30, 2026: Application deadline*

*After this date, registration will remain open for courses on a space-available basis until 2 business days prior to the start date. For best selection, we recommend registering prior to April 30.

RISD welcomes students from all over the world to participate in Summer Intensives. To be eligible to attend, you must have a high school diploma (or equivalent) and be 18 years or older. You must also:

  • Have knowledge of the English language and provide TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo results as proof of proficiency.
  • Have a valid visa if you do not hold US citizenship or US permanent residency status.

English Proficiency

Proficiency in English is a prerequisite for registration and applicants who speak English as a second language will be asked to upload a test score report from any one of these three options: TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or Duolingo* (an online English test). Since proficiency in English is a prerequisite for attendance, applicants must attain an acceptable score on their chosen test; RISD requires a minimum result of 93 on the TOEFL, a 6.5 on IELTS or a 115 on Duolingo.

*Applicants using Duolingo should select “Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Continuing Education” as the receiving institution.

Visas

If you do not hold US citizenship or US permanent residency, you must have or obtain an appropriate visa. For Summer Intensives, typically the most appropriate visa is the B-2 Tourist visa since it is a non-matriculating academic enrichment program. However, please refer to the Visitor Visa page of the travel.state.gov website for more information and to determine what is best for you.

If you have any questions, contact RISD International Student and Scholar Affairs or email issa@risd.edu. Please include “RISD CE Summer Intensives” in the subject line of any email inquiries.

Format and Instruction Methods

Summer Intensives are taught by RISD faculty. Courses are instructed in English and are offered in a variety of instructional formats: choose between our flexible online options, or immerse yourself in the classroom at RISD’s Providence campus. Courses are academically rigorous and students should expect to spend 27 hours per week engaging with course content.

Courses are offered in a variety of instructional formats to meet the needs of learners locally and globally. Choose between our flexible online options, or immerse yourself in the classroom at RISD’s Providence campus. Additional details about our on-campus experience will be posted before registration opens in January.

Online courses will follow one of two formats: Asynchronous Online Course or Asynchronous Online Course with Live Sessions.

Asynchronous online courses can be taken anywhere in the world and at any time of the day or night, as there are no required meeting times. Course content is delivered weekly through Canvas, our learning management system, where you will:

  • Learn from video demonstrations
  • Read through course material
  • Respond to discussion topics
  • Share in-process and finished work
  • Receive feedback from your instructors and classmates

Coursework is flexible and can be done on your own time, as long as it is completed within the assignment period. While this learning option offers great flexibility, the courses are not self-paced, and you will need to check in regularly to keep up with the workload.

See example (below) of a schedule for an asynchronous online course. When viewing the course information on our course registration system, you will see “Online, Asynchronous” listed under “Type”. Note that there are no scheduled meeting times.

Online asynchronous instruction format

Asynchronous online courses with live sessions are a blend of asynchronous (recorded) and synchronous (live) activities. You will interact with your instructor and classmates in two ways: through Canvas (explained above) and through live Zoom meeting times. This means:

  • Zoom meetings will be at a set date and time in Eastern Time. Meeting schedules are listed in the section details, and you are required to attend and participate in the scheduled live meeting times.
  • In addition to Zoom meetings, you will log into Canvas to post images of your work, participate in discussion boards, watch demos and tutorials and keep pace with assignments.
  • You’ll have access to the online course content any time of day or night.
  • The majority of class content, assignments, demonstrations and tutorials will be in Canvas.

See example (below) of a schedule for an asynchronous online course with live sessions. When viewing the course information on our course registration system, you will see both “Online, Asynchronous” and “Online, Live Sessions” listed under “Type”. Select “View Details” under “Schedule and Location” for a comprehensive schedule. The full online, asynchronous schedule of October 28–December 2 is supplemented with five online, live meeting times (Mondays, October 30, November 6, 13, 20 and 27, from 7–8 pm ET).

Online asynchronous with live sessions instruction format

Online asynchronous with live sessions instruction format

Whether you’re a student looking to earn college transfer credits, an adult looking for artistic advancement, or a professional looking to make a big change, summer is an extraordinary time to be on RISD’s campus. Students from all over the world come to RISD to take part in group and individual critique, lectures and assignments, and create a substantial body of work in a short amount of time. Whether you live in the residence halls or commute to campus, you’ll have access to exclusive resources, renowned faculty and the personalized instruction you need to get where you’re looking to go.

In-Person Summer Intensives (RISD Campus)

Our attendance policy requires you to attend all classes on time. Absences and tardiness are recorded on your student record and are taken into account by instructors when determining grades. If you must be absent, late or leave early, inform your instructor via Canvas.

Students are only able to access classroom/studio space during designated class or studio hours. There is no studio access outside of scheduled class time or open studio hours. Learn about on-campus and virtual academic resources (The RISD Museum, Nature Lab, Library, etc).

All students are required to provide current emergency contact information in their student profile. This information must be completed before participation in the program and is required for all students. Students should also ensure that their contact information is accurate in order to receive emergency notifications and instructions.

In the event of an on-campus emergency, RISD communicates critical safety information using its mass notification system, RISDAlerts. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in RISDAlerts by texting “RISDALERT” to 226787. Visit risd.edu/emergency for more information about RISDAlerts and emergency policies and procedures, as well as real-time updates in the event of a campus emergency.

All participants in our in-person Summer Intensives are required to maintain their own active medical insurance for the duration of the program. Proof of insurance may be requested at any time. International participants are strongly encouraged to secure comprehensive medical and travel insurance that provides coverage while in the United States, as they will be fully responsible for any medical costs incurred during the program.

RISD Health Services is available only to currently matriculated RISD students and does not provide medical care to visiting college students or adult professionals participating in Summer Intensives. RISD Public Safety officers, all of whom are EMT-trained, are on campus 24/7 and should be contacted first in the event of any medical incident at 401-454-6666. If additional medical care is needed, individuals will be transported or directed to a local urgent care center or hospital emergency department.

RISD Public Safety is staffed 24 hours a day and is the office to call for all emergencies on RISD’s Main Campus. From RISD phones, dial ext. 6666 or, from the outdoor blue emergency phones, pick up the receiver to be connected to Public Safety. In an emergency on campus, a call to 401 454-6666 initiates a faster response than a call to 911. In an emergency off campus only, dial 911. Public Safety’s non-emergency phone number is 401 454-6376.

RISD Public Safety
30 Waterman Street, Providence, RI
Emergency Services: 401 454-6666
Non-Emergency Line: 401 454-6376

Review the personal safety recommendations for CE students.

For an additional fee, housing is available in RISD’s residence halls, conveniently located in downtown Providence. Housing consists of single occupancy bedrooms that are part of 2, 3, & 4 Bedroom Suites. ​Each suite includes free campus wifi, air conditioning, a shared half bath and shower room, & a kitchenette with oven, cooktop, & full size refrigerator. Many suites also contain a shared living room. Bedrooms are furnished with a desk & chair, wardrobe, & a twin XL bed. While bedrooms are private and have locking doors, all housing options include shared common space. During the placement process, you will have the opportunity to indicate suitemate preferences and any other accommodations.

During the registration process, please indicate if you plan to apply for housing, and we will contact you with additional information. Housing rates are affordable and a quote will be provided upon request, as fees vary based on length of stay. While there is no official deadline to request housing, it is available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you require on-campus housing, we recommend inquiring early.

Summer Intensives visiting college students and adult non-college students will make their housing accommodations through RISD Conference & Event Services. A temporary ID will be provided by Conference & Event Services for dorm access, classroom swipe access, and optional meal plan activation. Individuals will sign a Housing Terms and Conditions Agreement contract and will be housed with other adults.

Visiting college students and adult non-college students will have access to a range of RISD resources, including Dining facilities, the RISD Museum, Fleet Library, the Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab, the RISD Store, and RISD Store 3D. Additional services will be accessible by Mail and Receiving Services, Disability Support Services (DSS), and RISD’s Department of Public Safety (DPS).

All participants in on-campus Summer Intensives are required to maintain active medical insurance for the duration of the program. RISD does not provide on-campus health services for visiting college students or adult non-college students, and proof of insurance may be requested at any time.

International participants are required to obtain comprehensive medical and travel insurance that provides coverage in the United States, as they are fully responsible for any medical costs incurred during the program.

2026 In-Person Course Listings

A hand touches squares of color.

COLOR & PAINT >

William Miller, Part Time Faculty, Painting
Instruction method: In-Person
RISD transfer credit: NMSE (Painting)

A woman sits cross-legged writing in a journal.

CONTEMPORARY POETRY PRACTICE >

Laura Marciano, Lecturer, Literary Arts and Studies
Instruction method: In-Person
RISD transfer credit: LAS

A person's hand holds a piece of wood.

DIGITAL DESIGN AND FABRICATION: WINDSOR STYLE STOOL >

Christopher Specce, Professor, Furniture Design
Instruction method: In-Person
RISD transfer credit: NMSE (Furniture Design)

A sketch for a comic strip.

EXPERIMENTAL COMICS >

Beatrix Urkowitz, Critic, Illustration
Instruction method: In-Person
RISD transfer credit: NMSE (Illustration)

A male student works on an architectural model.

MAKING SPACE: FOUNDATIONS OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN >

Trevor Herman Hilker, Critic, Architecture
Instruction method: In-Person
RISD transfer credit: NMSE (Architecture)

Some knitting samples sit on a table

ON WEAVING, KNITTING, OR MENDING: HISTORY, POWER, AND PRACTICE IN FIBER ARTS >

Amanda Thompson, Lecturer, Theory + History of Art + Design
Instruction method: In-Person
RISD transfer credit: THAD

A stack of colorful papers.

PAPERMAKING: EXPERIMENTATION IN FIBER, COLOR, AND FORMAT >

Oded Daniely, Part time faculty, Printmaking
Instruction method: In-Person
RISD transfer credit: NMSE (Printmaking)

Two people look at posters on a wall in a classroom.

POSTER DESIGN STUDIO >

Anther Kiley, Critic, Graphic Design
Instruction method: In-Person
RISD transfer credit: NMSE (Graphic Design)

Online Summer Intensives

Students should expect to log into the online learning portal a minimum of once per day and be prepared to actively engage in the course content, critiques and requirements. Our attendance policy requires students to attend any required live sessions regularly and punctually and actively participate in the course.

The essential elements for success in Summer Intensives are a passion to create, a willingness to try new ideas, being open to working differently and a strong work ethic. This is an intensive program and students may need additional academic support such as private tutors and/or other wellness resources not provided by the program. Each student will be assessed and graded on their engagement and performance, so it’s important to be prepared and limit competing priorities. Be sure to communicate with your instructor about any questions, concerns or understanding of the class expectations and assignments. For suggestions on how to engage with an online course, view our Online Student Guide.

2026 Online Course Listings

A male student inspects a book he is creating in a classroom

BOOKBINDING: UNEXPECTED FORMS AND DESIGN >

Lois Harada, Critic, Graphic Design
Instruction method: Asynchronous
RISD transfer credit: NMSE (Graphic Design)

A digital illustration of a woman in a hat walking toward a lighthouse.

DIGITAL TOOLS FOR ILLUSTRATORS >

Allison Cole, Critic, Illustration
Instruction method: Asynchronous
RISD transfer credit: NMSE (Illustration)

An hourglass sits on a wooden surface with sand running down.

HISTORY, HAUNTING, MEMORY: TO GHOST IS TO STAY >

Naimah Petigny, Schiller Family Assistant Professor, Literary Arts and Studies
Instruction method: Asynchronous with Live Sessions
RISD transfer credit: LAS

A tower, illustrated in a sci-fi fantasy style.

IMAGINE A WORLD: AN ART HISTORY OF SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY ART >

Michelle Charest, Senior Lecturer, Theory and History of Art and Design
Instruction method: Asynchronous
RISD transfer credit: THAD

A diverse range of paper cutouts symbolizing people

INEQUALITY: CLASS, RACE, GENDER & SEXUALITY >

Jameka Hartley, Schiller Family Assistant Professor, History, Philosophy and the Social Sciences
Instruction method: Asynchronous with Live Sessions
RISD transfer credit: HPSS

An illustration of two mushroom caps

MYCOLOGICAL ARTS >

Chloe Zimmerman, Critic in Digital+Media and Lecturer in Literary Arts and Studies
Instruction method: Asynchronous with Live Sessions
RISD transfer credit: LAEL

A group of people crouched on the floor painting a large mural-size paper.

POLITICS OF THE (ART) CLASSROOM >

Lilly Manycolors, Lecturer, Teaching + Learning in Art + Design
Instruction method: Asynchronous with Live Sessions
RISD transfer credit: TLAD/NMSE

An illustration of a woman with flowers growing from the top of her head, with two people caring for her with feeding and watering.

(SELF) CARE FOR ARTISTS: A PRACTICAL LABORATORY >

Elizabeth Maynard, Lecturer, Theory and History of Art and Design
Instruction method: Asynchronous
RISD transfer credit: THAD

A girl works on an illustration in watercolor on a table

STORIES FROM THE HEART: CREATING YOUR OWN PICTURE BOOK >

Kyung-Me, Critic, Illustration
Instruction method: Asynchronous with Live Sessions
RISD transfer credit: NMSE (Illustration)

Academic Policies

Admission to RISD CE Summer Intensives neither implies nor guarantees admission to a RISD degree program. Those students interested in admission to full-time RISD undergraduate or graduate degree programs must follow the procedures established by RISD Admissions.

Rhode Island School of Design Continuing Education (CE) offers courses that may be credit bearing with prior approval from your home institution*. While CE summer intensive courses are distinct from academic year credit courses offered in RISD degree programs, CE is in compliance with all relevant NECHE guidelines concerning the number of required contact hours mandated for three credit courses.

*See “RISD Matriculated Students” or “Students from institutions other than RISD” for recommendations on seeking prior approval from your home institution.

RISD Continuing Education (CE) credit is treated as transfer credit by RISD’s undergraduate degree programs. If approved, the course can be recorded in the student’s RISD transcript as transfer credit. Grades from transferred courses are not recorded on a student’s RISD transcript nor are they included in the calculation of the RISD GPA. Credits are transferable only for courses in which a grade of “C” or better is earned. Different policies apply regarding the transferring of RISD CE credit to RISD degree programs, depending on whether the student is an undergraduate or a graduate student, and on whether the course is an art and design course or a liberal arts course. Visit Transfer Credit Requirements for complete details.

RISD Undergraduate Students: RISD undergraduates may only transfer in up to 12-semester credits toward their degree from outside of the RISD degree program, including those from RISD CE Summer Intensives. RISD undergraduates interested in taking a CE Summer Intensive must obtain approval from their department head before enrolling in one of these courses:

  • For Liberal Arts courses: Use the Transfer Credit Prior Approval for Liberal Arts Credit form. Complete the electronic form in etrieve and then complete the online course registration.
  • For all other courses: Use the Transfer Credit Prior Approval for Major/Non-Major Credit form. Complete the electronic form in etrieve and then complete the online course registration.

Upon completion of the course and after grades have been processed, for RISD undergraduates who have obtained prior approval, Summer Intensive courses will be uploaded to your Workday Student record by the Registrar (a grade of “T”, for transfer credit, is assigned).

RISD Graduate Students: Credits from outside the RISD graduate degree programs—including RISD CE Summer Intensives—are not ordinarily accepted by RISD. Check with your graduate program director or department head or click here for more information.

Students seeking academic transfer credits are urged to contact their home institution to arrange prior approval before registering. Policies on transfer credit vary by institution and by program, and it is at the discretion of your home institution to determine what credits it will accept and how they might meet individual academic requirements.

Students who are not RISD matriculated may request an official transcript to transfer the credit following completion of the course. Students should also retain copies of all course syllabi to present to their home institution for assessment of course content for consideration of course waivers or acceptance as credit.

Summer Intensives are not included in the Brown-RISD cross-registration agreement. Brown students interested in RISD summer courses need to follow the transfer credit rules and procedures as indicated for students from institutions other than RISD.

Students receive a letter grade for each course. Grades are available via your Student Portal approximately two–three weeks after the end of the semester. You can view your grades and/or print an unofficial transcript by navigating to “My Enrollment History + Transcript.” Official transcripts will be made available via Parchment.

RISD Continuing Education uses Parchment to process official transcript requests. You may order paper transcripts or e-transcripts with this service. To place your online order, please visit the Parchment Transcript Request page. If you have requested transcripts via Parchment for RISD Continuing Education prior to August 1, 2018, you will be required to create a new username and password.

Unofficial transcripts are available in the Student Portal under the “My Enrollment History + Transcript” tab.

RI Department of Education Professional Development credits may be available for some courses. Teachers seeking such credits should contact Rhode Island Department of Education’s Office of Teacher Certification at 401-222-8893.

Financial Policies

RISD reserves the right to cancel courses, or to alter fees, scheduling or staffing of courses. If a particular program or course is canceled, students are informed of the course cancellation as far in advance as possible.

Our course registration system provides a self-service portal to make changes to enrollment when needed. Students can drop and withdraw from courses directly on the “My Enrollment History” tab of their Student Portal at cereg.risd.edu.

Students may choose to transfer to another available course by the transfer request deadline. If there is a difference in tuition students will be charged or refunded accordingly.

Students may drop a course any time prior to the established drop request deadline. Dropped courses will not appear on the student transcript. Depending on when you drop the course, you may be eligible for a partial or full refund, based on our refund policy (below). We will attempt to automatically process refunds as soon as you drop a class. Refunds will typically be processed in five business days.

After the drop request deadline, students will still have the option to withdraw from their course until the withdrawal request deadline. No refund is given and a withdrawal (WD) will appear on the student’s transcript. Failure to properly withdraw from a course results in a permanent grade of F on the student’s record with RISD Continuing Education.

Important: Simply notifying the instructor or failing to complete a course does not constitute an official withdrawal.

Refunds are based on tuition only, and are calculated according to the date the drop from a course is initiated. Failure to complete a course does not constitute an official drop or withdrawal, nor does notification of drop or withdrawal to the instructor. There is a $100 fee per course for all drops. Special fees are not refundable after the first class.

In some cases, an instructor may determine that a student has not successfully met prerequisites and recommend an alternative course of study. If notice of this recommended withdrawal is provided to the student in writing on the date of the first class session, the student should contact CE immediately to receive a full refund.

Refunds may take up to two weeks depending on the form of payment; most refunds are processed within five business days. Refunds of MasterCard or VISA charges are credited to the account that was charged. We do not retain credit card information; therefore, we may need to request your credit card information again in order to issue you a refund.

Drop initiated/notification received in the RISD CE Office:
14 or more days before the course start date: 100% refund, minus $100
7-13 days before the course start date: 50% refund, minus $100
Less than 7 days before the course start date: no refund

For summer 2026, Summer Intensives will offer a 10% early registration discount* for students who register by March 15, 2026.

RISD Summer Intensives are not eligible for promotions or discounts for other Continuing Education programs and offerings, such as Adult Extension and Youth programming, or for the CE tuition benefit.

*EXTENDED: Offer expires 11:59 pm ET on 3/15/26. Offer can be used for multiple class purchases for Summer Intensives courses. Offer does not apply to previous class purchases and cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice.

Questions

If you have any questions about whether Summer Intensive courses are right for you, contact RISD Continuing Education: risdce@risd.edu or 401 454-6200.

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