Metalsmithing and Jewelry

Student working with blow torch in metals studio

B.A. or B.F.A. in Studio Art with Concentration in Metalsmithing and Jewelry

When you pursue a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, you may opt to concentrate in metalsmithing and jewelry.

Artistic Flexibility in a Supportive Environment

Whether you’re drawn to traditional goldsmithing or compelled to investigate the unconventional, metalsmithing and jewelry design offers the:

  • individual attention
  • guided support
  • and well-equipped studios

needed to fine-tune your own artistic voice. You will explore working with a wide range of metals and techniques to execute your ideas with skill and ingenuity. Critical analysis, targeted readings, visiting artists, and lively group discussions help you to explore the intriguing field of art jewelry and the metal arts.

Credits Toward your Required Art Electives

The metalsmithing and jewelry concentration also includes an optional course that will count for one of the required art electives: ART 339: Evolution of the Functional Object. This course explores the important questions and dialogues in the current craft field and seeks to understand how they came about with perspectives from early industrial revolution to present-day.

Diverse Career Paths

Graduates of the metalsmithing and jewelry program work in professions including design, model making, and as self supporting artists. Many students have gone on to be employed by major companies as goldsmiths and silversmiths. Others have furthered their education in leading MFA Programs and are teachers, both as adjunct and full-time faculty at the college-level.

Program Details

The following Rhode Maps list required courses and sample plans of study: 

B. A. in Studio Art with Concentration in Metalsmithing & Jewelry RhodeMap

B. F. A. in Studio Art with Concentration in Metalsmithing & Jewelry RhodeMap

Other Concentrations and Program Options

If you don't have an interest in metalsmithing and jewelry, the Studio Art B.A. and B.F.A. programs offer many other areas of concentration:

Or, if you are already part of a different degree program, you may opt to minor in studio art:

Information on the Minor in Studio Art