4 Unique Majors at RIT You Didn’t Know About

RIT is known for its wide range of degree programs. RIT offers multiple different degree paths with a plethora of subject matters. You can take exclusively online courses–a dynamic model of both online and in-person classes, certificate programs, and so much more. 

With so much available to you–if you are looking at RIT, you may not know what to apply for or what options you have. Of course, RIT has the basics, but let’s find out some more “niche” degree programs that RIT offers.

Here you will find some deep-dive degrees offered here at RIT, both undergraduate and graduate so everyone can get a chance to learn something new! 

Medical Illustration 

Does Medical Illustration ring any bells in your mind? No? Me neither. So, what is Medical illustration? Well, it’s actually super interesting; Medical illustration involves creating illustrations–usually in a multitude of different dimensions–to accurately depict various things in the medical world including: cells and molecules for biology, organs and internal anatomy, and relationships within the body like tendons and ligaments. 

This means not only can you look forward to art and illustration, but you also get experience with biology, human anatomy, and physiology. Talk about well-rounded, this program offers an intensive experience in a variety of fields that opens doors to a multitude of different careers. 

Medical illustration helps to depict the things that are not visible to professionals and assists in helping to explain how our bodies function with ease and visuals. This program requires studio art experience, and you spend your first year on the technical drawing side before diving into the medical applications.

This unique pathway allows you to mix art and illustration with human anatomy and biology. Here at RIT, this program is offered as a Bachelor in Fine Arts, but they also have a Masters program as well. 

One of the awesomely grotesque features of this is a human gross anatomy course that features an intensive dissection within a cadaver lab here at RIT–you have to learn the anatomy somehow! 

Museum Studies

Never heard of Museum Studies being offered as a major? Well, that’s because it is the first and only Bachelor of Science program for museum studies offered in the U.S.! Exciting, right? 

In this interesting major you can look forward to real-world experiences in museums, archives, and libraries. Since RIT is a tech school, it takes a traditional curriculum and applies a technology background to prepare its graduates for future careers in museums, archives, and classrooms!

Wait, classrooms? What does that have to do with museum studies? Well, RIT features two distinctive teaching partnership programs for this option. These programs make the future possible as you plan to finish out your bachelor’s here and then continue on with a master’s at an affiliated school. 

Some local and interesting co-op internships associated with this pathway are at; Rochester Public Library, The National Museum of Play, The Baseball Hall of Fame, National Geographic, and many more. 

Color Science

Color Science is a master’s degree program at RIT, which is the only university in the nation offering this program.

Color science is relatively what it sounds like: it’s studying color and how it's created–but it's also studying the sources of illumination, human perception of color, image quality, and color management. 

After diving into this field of research you can look forward to a career as either an Imaging engineer or Color scientist. Doesn’t a color scientist just sound so cool? 

This program offers opportunities for extensive research in this field with state-of-the-art labs and facilities like the Munsell Color Lab. 

Furniture Design

Furniture Design is an amazing program that starts early with college preparation workshops. The opportunity to participate in the pre-college portfolio preparation workshop is an amazing chance to start early and figure out what you want to do!

Furniture design is an option within the Studio Arts BFA program; which also has a ton of other niche options so you can focus on what you really want to. 

Now furniture design isn’t just making couches and tables–even if you might actually do that; RIT focuses on collaborating with other segments of the Studio Arts BFA program like ceramics and glass. So just because you’ve chosen one doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on all the rest!

With this unique option at RIT, you can have the chance to get creative and explore a new world of art-making with craftsmanship and innovative designs using art.