An arts education at Rhode Island College provides students with both the foundational skills to bring their creative expressions to life and the practical experiences to build a career in the Performing & Fine Arts. Our studio art programs are rooted in an interdisciplinary curriculum and collaborative environment that nurtures emerging talent. Our music, theatre and dance programs combine studio and stage time and offer students the opportunity to work side-by-side with professional performers. Unlock your potential and develop your artistic abilities in the Creative Capital of New England.
You will have the opportunity to learn from faculty who have mastered their skills in music, theatre, dance and the visual arts. You will also have access to a number of venues that support and advance their work. Rhode Island College is located in the state’s vibrant capital city of Providence, often called the “Creative Capital,” where the performing and visual arts are woven into the very fabric of the community.
Dive into the wonderful (and sometimes weird) with an Art History major. You will learn about the famous and infamous, the sacred and profane, the celebrated and silenced. Learn about artists, artworks, architects, and monuments from around the world and throughout time, while developing keen analytical skills to examine an object and how it was created, seen, appreciated, and perhaps misunderstood. Gain experience in internships, assistantships, and study abroad programs.
At Rhode Island College, small class sizes encourage you to follow your interests and make contributions to the field. Courses cultivate critical thinking through art making, discussion, research, and writing in the classroom, studio, library, archive, gallery, and museum. Gain practical and professional experience by joining student organizations, curating an exhibition, competing for a talent award, presenting and publishing research, working in the Bannister Gallery, internships, and student assistantships on and off campus. Art history graduates find careers in museums, galleries, auction houses, teaching, publishing, law, and marketing.
Dig into the studio. Get hands-on. Get digital. Design your way through a degree in Visual Art. Our Foundations Program builds vital skills while supporting your unique expression, paving the way for you to dig deeper into aesthetic problem solving as you explore media and develop your distinctive voice in the studio. As an art student, you will be eligible for awards throughout your time at RIC and your work could be exhibited in one or both of RIC’s two art galleries.
At Rhode Island College, your artistic voice is nurtured. Starting with the basics of drawing, design, and digital media prepares students for building a portfolio and displaying individual talents in one or more of eight media. Outside of class there are numerous opportunities to join student clubs, take field trips to museums, gain professional experience in internships and student assistantships, showcase your work in exhibitions, and sell your work in pop-up shops.
In this program you will be exposed to dance in all its forms. From pedagogy, historical content, and daily technique, to learning repertoire from celebrated choreographers from around the country, our dance majors' readiness for the professional world is our priority. Dancers have the opportunity to network and perform with established professionals in the field. This not only makes for a well-rounded dancer, but also allows for individual growth. Post-graduation, our dance students continue to graduate school, studio ownership, teaching, professional choreography, and dancing on cruise ships, regional theaters, companies, and even Broadway.
At Rhode Island College, we know that not one mold fits all. Our dance company members have the opportunity to work in costuming, social media, and leadership positions. From company management and budgeting expenses, students expand their knowledge while discovering new skills. Most notably, our dance program easily allows students to double major. Our experienced faculty works hard to meet students’ individual needs.
The Bachelor of Arts in Music offers foundational preparation for a career of music making and scholarship. Music study includes concentration in solo performance on a primary instrument, participation in chamber and concert performing ensembles, and coursework in musicianship and history. Initiatives in historical and cultural contexts of musical masterworks are critical aspects of the program.
RIC offers a personalized education with prominent performers, scholars, educators, and conductors, including private study with some of the finest artists/teachers in the country. This is a notably low-cost program offering a balance between skill development, content knowledge, and music pedagogy. Centrally located in southeastern New England, between music hubs like New York and Boston, RIC is foremost a community of musicians who care and want you to succeed.
The Bachelor of Music in Performance offers foundational preparation for a career of professional music making and scholarship. Study includes concentration in solo performance on a primary instrument, performance masterclasses, extensive participation in chamber and concert performing ensembles, and coursework in musicianship and history. Initiatives in historical and cultural contexts of musical masterworks are critical aspects to the program. Junior and senior solo recitals are essential components of this degree.
RIC offers a personalized education with prominent performers, scholars, educators, and conductors, including private study with some of the finest artists/teachers in the country. This is a notably low-cost program offering a balance between skill development, content knowledge, and music pedagogy. Centrally located in southeastern New England, between music hubs like New York and Boston, RIC is foremost a community of musicians who care and want you to succeed.
As a Theatre major, you will get to grow as a performer and artist while developing your resume. From the moment you begin your program at Rhode Island College, will have the opportunity to direct, write, and perform while enrolling in a variety of courses with small class sizes of 12-15 students. With four unique concentrations to choose from, ranging from performance to design, you’re sure to find the perfect fit to follow your dreams.
Students have the opportunity to participate in the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival. Students also have the opportunity to apply for scholarships every semester, including the Miranda Scholarship sponsored by the family of Lin-Manuel Miranda. Many Rhode Island College graduates have found professional performing opportunities on Broadway, in national touring companies, Hollywood, cruise industries, and more. Theatre graduates also have the opportunity to find careers in theatre production and management, teaching, and arts administration.