Academy of Art University offers degrees, online awards of
completion and individual classes online for aspiring artists and
designers. Established in 1929, Academy of Art University, the
nation's largest private art and design school, provides aspiring
artists and designers with career preparation, combined with
academic excellence. As a leader in online art and design courses
and degrees, all instructors are working professionals, and
online students create portfolios and receive instruction on par
with on-campus students.
You can now complete a degree online; full-time or part-time,
whenever and wherever it is convenient to you. You can also
complete an Online Award of Completion program for continuing art
education, with the option of taking Academy of Art University
classes in person or via the web. The online degree programs at
the Academy of Art University are accredited. All online
Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts
(excluding Architecture) programs are accredited by the National
Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the
Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).
Additionally, all online Academy programs are accredited by the
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
The online School of Advertising currently offers Master of Fine
Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Associate of Arts degree
programs, as well as an online award of completion program. Our
program is designed to provide students with expertise in
directing a full advertising campaign from concept to finish,
including market research, strategy, copywriting, art direction
and presentation. As art directors, copywriters, production or
freelance artists for print, websites, TV and radio, our
graduates focus on establishing themselves as creative
communicators capable of formulating carefully planned strategies
and concepts expressed in traditional and new media.
The Advertising curriculum reflects the professional aspects of
the industry by integrating technology with visual communication.
The curriculum encourages individual focus, culminating in a
competitive portfolio that demonstrates a mastery of advertising
principles.
Animation & Visual Effects - Certificate, AA, BFA & MFA
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Our School of Animation & Visual Effects merges illustration
2D animation (formerly under the umbrella of illustration) and
computer arts 3D animation. The Animation & Visual Effects
curriculum provides students with an education in art, design,
and technology to develop the basic skills needed to perform the
standard phases of animation: storyboard artists, visual
development, concept artists and visual effects animators. The
newly integrated program combines traditional and digital skills.
We aim to provide an intelligent and logical route for students
to achieve skills that satisfy them as artists while arming them
as assets to the industry and leaders in conceptual development.
Computer Arts & New Media - AA, BFA & MFA
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The online School of Computer Arts / New Media currently offers
Master of Fine Arts, a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Associate of
Arts degree programs. The Computer Arts curriculum provides
students with an education in art, design and technology.
Students will develop a unique blend of skills that are
applicable to many computer-based applications. The department
offers some of the most technologically advanced facilities in
the nation, and is supported by a faculty of working
professionals, who provide students with direct contact to the
industry. The online Computer Arts / New Media program's benefits
include self-paced learning, flexible schedules, no class fees
($400/class savings in the major), and clear presentation of
materials, with the ability to review and master each concept
before continuing to the next.
Our program is founded on traditional applications and aesthetics
that promote a command of industry excellence and practice.
Students focus on functionality, the target audience, and user
experience. Their education is grounded in the fundamentals of
basic front-end and back-end scripting languages, which are key
components to web design. Students also develop skills in testing
and performance for communication and for profit.
Digital Arts & Communications - AA & BFA
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This new online emphasis entails an exciting two-year program
designed to provide you with the foundations, basic tools and
concept development skills for professional internet design and
implementation. Our program is founded on the traditional
applications and aesthetics that promote a command for industry
excellence and practice. Functionality, target audience and user
experience grounded on the fundamentals of basic front-end and
back-end scripting languages are key components to internet
design as well as testing and performance for communication and
for profit.
Fashion - AA, BFA & MFA
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The online School of Fashion currently offers Master of Fine
Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Associate of Arts degree
programs. The Fashion curriculum refines and focuses the
student's individual vision and aesthetics for fashion, offering
courses in design, merchandising, visual merchandising, textiles
and knitwear. Studio courses hone the student's mastery of
fashion industry standards in design and construction. The
program combines design excellence with computer skills,
preparing our graduates to launch themselves into the industry
upon graduating.
Intensive studio and academic courses culminate in the production
of a professional fashion collection or portfolio. A student's
portfolio demonstrates mastery of the mutually productive
elements of individual style and technical expertise. Selected
collections are chosen to be part of the Academy's annual fashion
show. Merchandising majors acquire the skills needed to succeed
in the fashion industry in buying, product development, retail
management or marketing.
Fine Art - AA, BFA & MFA
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The online School of Fine Art currently offers Master of Fine
Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Associate of Arts degree
programs. The program encourages personal interpretation and
exploration in numerous media, while building technical expertise
and professionalism.
All courses are taught by our faculty of successful, practicing
artists, who inspire our students' individual visions and nurture
their technical mastery. The resulting portfolio or body of work
is exhibited in the Academy's spacious galleries. The School of
Fine Art has become an epicenter for both contemporary and
traditional training in the development of fine artists.
Graphic Design - Certificate, AA, BFA & MFA
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The online School of Graphic Design currently offers Master of
Fine Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Associate of Arts degree
programs, as well as an online award of completion program. Our
program emphasizes conceptual development, strategic thinking,
technique and presentation within an environment that stimulates
innovation.
Students develop finely tuned skills in the areas of typography,
print mediums, packaging, branding and identity, web design and
motion graphics.
Illustration - AA, BFA & MFA
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The Illustration program provides a strong curriculum taught by
professionals, emphasizing the fundamentals that are required to
excel in the commercial field. The curriculum focuses on changing
industry needs and teaches students the skills that are in
demand. Students receive a balance of classical art skills and
technical training in new media so they may develop portfolios
for professional employment.
The new Graphic Illustration degrees comprise an exciting new
program, bringing together the disciplines of illustration and
graphic design to meet the marketplace's growing need for artists
trained in drawing, painting and typography. Blending
contemporary, digital and traditional techniques, the program
takes advantage of the many opportunities available in the link
between graphic design and illustration, providing a unique
educational solution for new and timely careers in professional
art.
Industrial Design - AA, BFA & MFA
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The School of Industrial Design currently offers online courses
toward Master of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Associate
of Arts degree programs. It is the mission of the School of
Industrial Design to establish the preeminent design program in
the country. Measurement of our achievement of this mission will
be reflected by the following: placement of students in
industry-leading firms; maintaining top teaching staff who are
practicing professionals; increasing student and professional
instructors exposure to the design and business community by
participating in and organizing events and workshops; and
providing students with the technical skill base enabling them to
remain employable.
Our faculty members come from the many award-winning Bay Area
design studios, which offer internships year round. Some of the
companies where our students have interned include Frog Design,
Astro Design, Pentagram, New Deal Design, Daimler Chrysler,
General Motors, Audi of America, Volkswagen AG, and Leap Frog.
Interior Architecture & Design - AA, BFA & MFA
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The online School of Interior Architecture and Design currently
offers Master of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Associate
of Arts degree programs. The Interior Architecture and Design
program integrates theory, design and technology in tandem with
industry standards. Students thus develop the requisite
intellectual, artistic and ethical abilities necessary for
professional practice.
Students are encouraged to achieve a balance between mastery of
design skills and creativity, which will lead to innovative
thinking about our inner and outer environment. Concern for
spatial issues, design innovation, and attention to detail are
emphasized under the direction of a faculty of professional
experts. Final projects involve each student's personal interests
and demonstrate an energetic and professional approach.
Motion Pictures & Television - AA, BFA & MFA
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The Motion Pictures and Television program prepares students to
enter this competitive industry with the caliber of experience
necessary to produce the artistic and professional moving images
that are in demand.
The curriculum cultivates a mastery of form, content and
structure, as well as solid fundamentals with the integration of
digital media. The focus of the curriculum is to expand on the
student's vision, worldview and skill set. The department's
faculty of professionals ensures that students graduate with
intensive training in keeping with the ever-changing technology
and trends in the industry. Filmmakers graduating from this
program have studied multiple areas of production before
eventually choosing one area of concentration. Their final
projects are frequently screened at the Academy's Annual Epidemic
Film Festival as well as industry festivals.
Photography - Certificate, AA, BFA & MFA
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The Photography curriculum is geared toward the photography
industry, and teaching students the skills that are in demand.
Our membership in the Advertising Photographers of America and
American Society of Media Photographers offers our students
excellent networking opportunities. Our instructors are working
professionals chosen for their expertise and achievements. We
have a unique understanding of how industries seek originality.
We encourage our students' self-expression and individual style
and coach them to create powerful portfolios that portray their
vision. The Academy of Art University actively monitors
developing trends in industry and teaches students the skills
that are in demand. Today's businesses need creative, highly
educated photographers who are able to blend technical
proficiency with visual creativity.
