• Home
• Handbook
  • I. Purpose of the Program
  • II. Description of the Program
  • III. Admission
  • IV. Program Planning + Advising
  • V. Registration + Enrollment
  • VI. Campus Life
  • VII. Financial Information - Tuition, Fees, Financial Aid, Billing
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Brown/RISD Dual Degree Program Handbook

Download the handbook as a PDF document.

V. Registration + Enrollment

During Year One of the Program, students will ordinarily take all 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.

In Year Two, students will register for their Semester I courses at Brown according to the process observed by first-year students: they will provide tentative course selections over the summer and then, after meeting with their academic advisor(s), commit to selections via online registration the day before classes begin.  In October they will register for Semester II courses, 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’s registration process and course schedule, please check the web site for the Office of the Registrar of each school.

A. Course Selection + 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/departments/default.asp?department=Registrar's_Office

B. Academic Policies + 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/departments/default.asp?department=Registrar's_Office

C. Student Records + 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 share information 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/departments/default.asp?department=Registrar's_Office

D. GPA + Honors

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 from each school in each student’s respective major/concentration will advise on this project, and a review committee with membership from both schools will evaluate this 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/departments/default.asp?department=Registrar's_Office

E. Leaves of Absence, Withdrawal + 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 Oversight Committee.

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 completion of a degree at the selected institution.

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/departments/default.asp?department=Registrar's_Office

Leaves of Absence + Financial Aid

Aided students who are considering taking a leave are strongly encouraged to meet with a counselor at Brown’s Office of Financial Aid to discuss the financial consequences of taking a leave upon a financial aid package.  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.

http://financialaid.brown.edu/Cmx_Content.aspx?contentId=70&mode=0&cpid=70#loa