Academy of Art University

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).

Advertising - Certificate, AA, BFA & MFA

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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.

Information

If you are interested in this school and would like to find out more, please Request Information from Academy of Art University - Online.