Art and Computation

Structure & Flexibility

Art & Computation gives you one of RISD's most flexible curricula. The major requires 51 credits combining core studios, a program sequence in computation, and lots of electives you choose.

This means room to:

• Combine with other majors
• Follow your interests as they develop
• Take risks and experiment
• Shape your own path through the department

Degree Requirements (120 total credits)

• First-Year Foundation: 18 credits
• Liberal Arts: 39 credits
• Non-Major Studio Electives: 12 credits (any department, including Brown)
• Major Credits: 51 credits total
  • CTC Core Studios: 21 credits
  • Art & Computation Sequence: 18 credits
  • Department Electives: 6 credits
  • Open Electives: 6 credits

Art & Computation Program Sequence (18 credits)

Sophomore Year

• Introduction to Computation (3 credits)
• Introduction to Physical Computation (3 credits)
• Seminar: Histories and Futures of Computational Art & Design (3 credits)

Junior Year

• Materializing Code (3 credits)
• Human-Machine Interactions (3 credits)
• Seminar: Critical Issues in Technology (3 credits)

These courses teach programming, physical computing, computer vision, generative systems, and more—always threaded with critical and cultural context.

CTC Core Studios (21 credits)

• CTC Core Studio 1 (Sophomore Fall, 3 credits)
• CTC Core Studio 2 (Sophomore Spring, 3 credits)
• CTC Core Studio 3 (Junior Fall, 3 credits)
• CTC Core Studio 4 (Junior Spring, 3 credits)
• CTC Core Studio 5 (Senior Fall, 3 credits)
• Degree Project (Senior Spring, 6 credits)

Core studios bring together students across Art & Computation and Sound, creating interdisciplinary studio culture and collaborative work.

Electives (24 credits total across categories)

This is where you shape your own education:

• Department Electives (6 credits in CTC)
• Open Electives (6 credits anywhere—CTC or other departments)
• Non-Major Electives (12 credits outside CTC, including Brown University)

Use electives to:

• Deepen computational skills
• Combine with design, sculpture, film, illustration, anything
• Pursue Brown courses in CS, philosophy, critical theory
• Build your own hybrid practice

Sample Four-Year Path

Sophomore - Core studios, intro computation courses, begin exploring electives

Junior - Core studios, advanced computation courses (materializing code, human-machine interaction), more electives to shape your focus

Senior - Final core studio, degree project, electives to complete your path

But this is just one path. The structure flexes to accommodate different interests and timelines.

No Prerequisites Required

You don't need programming experience. We teach from first principles. What you need is curiosity about computational systems and willingness to learn through making.