Brown/RISD Dual Degree Program Handbook
Download the handbook as a PDF document.
Registration and Enrollment
During year one of the program, students will ordinarily take most of their classes at RISD. They will be pre-registered into their fall-semester courses over the summer and into their spring-semester studio classes in late December. In late October or early November, students will register for RISD Wintersession electives; and in January,students will choose their remaining liberal arts or elective courses according to the RISD registration process.
All students will have the opportunity to enroll in one First Year Seminar at Brown (depending on availability) and may petition to take a second course in consultation with their faculty advisors at Brown and their Foundation Studies advisors at RISD. In April of year one, after consulting with their faculty advisors at Brown, students will preregister online for their Semester I courses at Brown.
In early November of year two, they will preregister for Semester II courses at Brown, again in consultation with appropriate advisors.
In all subsequent years, students will choose courses at both institutions and will follow the registration procedures for the institution offering each course taken. For information on each institution’sregistration process and course schedule, please check the Web site for the Office of the Registrar of each school.
Course Selection and Registration Procedures
BROWN UNIVERSITY: Office of the Registrar
J. Walter Wilson Hall, Box K
401 863-2500
http://www.brown.edu/Administration/Registrar/
RISD: Office of the Registrar
401 454-6151
http://intranet.risd.edu/SiteMap/Default.aspx (see Registrar’s Office)
Academic Policies and Standing
Students must complete all relevant work for both degrees in order to remain in good academic standing at both institutions. Courses may be added or dropped based upon the standard practices at each institution.
BROWN:
http://brown.edu/Administration/Dean_of_the_College/academic_standing/
RISD:
http://intranet.risd.edu/SiteMap/Default.aspx (see Registrar’s Office)
Student Records and Transcripts
Each institution will keep a separate record of student academic progress and completion in accordance with its standard practices and procedures. Brown and RISD will shareinformation concerning the registration of their Dual Degree students, and notations may be made on one transcript based upon information from the other. Institutional honors will be unique to each school. Students must order a transcript from both schools, since each school’s degree will appear on the transcript of only that school.
BROWN:
http://brown.edu/Administration/Registrar/guidelines/records/index.html#ordering
RISD:
http://intranet.risd.edu/SiteMap/Default.aspx (see Registrar’sOffice)
GPA and Honors
The grade-point average (GPA) is calculated by RISD, but not by Brown. Semester honors and graduation honors will be awarded in accordance with the standard practices of each institution.
Students are required to complete a capstone project that draws upon their experience at both institutions. A faculty member in the student’s major/concentration from each school will advise on this project, and a review committee with membership from both schools will evaluate the completed project. Dual Degree honors may be awarded by the review committee in exceptional circumstances. Dual Degree honors citations will occur independently of any honors awarded within a concentration at Brown or a degree program at RISD.
BROWN:
http://brown.edu/Administration/Dean_of_the_College/degree_reqs/ (honors)
http://brown.edu/Administration/Dean_of_the_College/advising/capstone.php (capstone)
RISD:
http://intranet.risd.edu/SiteMap/Default.aspx (see Registrar’s Office)
Leaves of Absence, Withdrawal, and Other Forms of Separation from the Program
A separation of active enrollment status at either institution, including leaves of absence, suspension, or dismissal, will be treated as a separation from the program at both institutions. This includes separation from either school for failure to meet financial obligations or any academic or non-academic reason. The process for readmission to the program involves application to the Academic OversightCommittee, as well as to the Committee on Academic Standing at Brown.
A student may choose to withdraw from the program but remain enrolled in one or the other of the institutions, provided he/she meets the selected institution’s requirements for continuing eligibility. A student considering such withdrawal should consult with his/her advisor to ensure the viability of degree completion at the selected institution and must obtain approval of the advising coordinator at Brown.
BROWN:
http://brown.edu/Administration/Dean_of_the_College/academic_standing/cas.php
http://brown.edu/Administration/Financial_Services/Bursar/Information/refund_policy.html
RISD:
http://intranet.risd.edu/SiteMap/Default.aspx (see Registrar’s Office)
LEAVES OF ABSENCE AND FINANCIAL AID
Aided students who areconsidering taking a leave arestrongly encouraged to meet with a counselor at Brown’s Office of Financial Aid to discuss the financial consequences on a financial aid package of taking a leave. Brown’s tuition refund policy and institutional refund calculation will apply for any period of leave. Students seeking financial aid upon their approved return as an active student must meet published deadlines. Visit Brown Financial Aid Office's website.