Academy of Art University
79 New Montgomery Street,
San Francisco, CA, 94105
Prospective Student Services,
P.O. Box #192290,
San Francisco, CA 94119-2290
(415) 274-2222 or
(800) 544-ARTS;
FAX: (415) 263-4130)
http://www.academyart.edu
ENROLLMENT
Total undergrad enrolled:
Over 6,000
56% M/44% F
COSTS:
Tuition:
$690 per unit
Room and Board:
$9,900
Fees, books, misc.:
$1,930
FINANCIAL AID:
Freshmen receiving aid:
89%
Average financial aid package:
$12,000
FACULTY:
Full-time:
87%
Part-time:
53%
Ph.D.:
N/A
Student -faculty ratio:
20:1
IN ADDITION
Some special classes that are unique to the Academy are collaborations with companies on the cutting edge of digital and traditional technology. All ten departments have advisory boards made up of industry leaders who meet with the department directors to keep them informed on new developments and what graduates must know to obtain employment. One example is a course in advanced computer animation designed and taught by Pixar, the company that produced the first full-length computer generated animated film.
Another course in drawing/painting and computer design feature films is designed by Walt Disney, and taught in the Illustration Department. The Motion Picture/Video Department is the most advanced digital video and sound editing educational facility in) Northern California. The Product and Industrial Design Department now offers a course in concept car design and will soon begin a course of study in the design of toys.
The Academy of Art University
79 New Montgomery Street,
San Francisco, California, 94105
College Overview
Academy of Art University, established in 1929 by Richard
S. Stephens, prepares aspiring artists and designers for professional
careers in the art world by providing practical training and intellectual
stimulation. The Academy’s philosophy is to provide students with
instructors who are currently at the top of their field in the industry.
This allows students to learn the latest trends and most recent technology,
while making the contacts they need to get ahead in the business. Over
the years, AAC has grown into the largest private art and design school
in the nation, offering over 6,000 students AA, BFA, and MFA degrees in
ten areas of art and design: Advertising, Computer Art, Fashion, Graphic
Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture & Design,
Motion Pictures & Video, and Photography. The driving principle behind
AAC’s programs is the philosophy that everyone with the ambition
to study art or design should be provided with the opportunity. Students
are supplied with some of the most advanced studios and equipment in California,
allowing them to gain practical experience and build a solid, professional
portfolio.
Academic Features
Academy of Art offers an AA, BA, and MFA in ten of the following disciplines: Advertising (Account Planning, Art Direction, Copywriting, & Television Commercials); Computer Art (Animation, New Media, Publishing, Specials Effects, 2D & 3D Modeling, Web Design, & Video Games); Fashion (Fashion Design, Fashion Illustration, Knitwear, Merchandising, & Textiles); Fine Art (Drawing/Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, & Jewelry Making); Graphic Design (Branding, Corporate Identity, Packaging, & Print); Illustration (Cartooning, Children’s Books, Editorial, & Feature Film Animation); Industrial Design (Automotive Design, Product Design, Furniture Design & Toy Design); Interior Architecture & Design (Commercial Design & Residential Design); Motion Pictures & Video (Acting, Advertising, Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Screenwriting, & Special Effects); Photography (Advertising, Documentary, Fashion, Fine Art, Photo Illustration, Photojournalism, & Portraiture)
Students may begin study in any semester: spring, summer, or fall. International students do not have a TOEFL requirement but must take an English test to determine which of three levels of ESL (English for Art Program) classes they must take.
The undergraduate Interior Architecture and Design Program is accredited by FIDER, the Foundation for Interior Design Education and Research.
Campus Life and Activities
The city of San Francisco is one of the great cultural centers of the world. Standing as a melting pot of diversity, ethnicity, and creativity, the city features major museums and galleries, world-class opera houses and theaters, dance companies, film production and recording studios, digital technology centers, and performing artists ranging from classical to popular music. The Academy has over twenty convenient San Francisco locations, stretching from the heart of the financial district, to the famous Pier 39.
The Special Events Department also has something different for students to do every week. Whether it's a ski trip to the Sierra or a white water rafting trip to Mount Shasta. Other events include hot dog socials, free movies, cyber bowl, trips to Muir Woods, or the wine country. The school operates ten dorms and there are several student clubs and ethnic organizations.
Facilities and Services
The Academy’s facilities reflect its commitment to training students for careers in art and design; not only do students have access to some of the most advanced facilities in the nation, but the Academy continually invests in new equipment to ensure that the college remains on the cutting edge of technology. By learning on industry-standard equipment, students gain valuable professional techniques that make them highly employable.
The Academy’s eight-story Digital Arts Center offers students from the computer arts, motion pictures and video, advertising, and fashion departments, access to an incredible array of technology. The center has more than 700 computer workstations and 200 autoCAD workstations. Students also have the use of Avid digital editing suites, multitrack sound editing studios, one dedicated blue screen studio, and various other equipment.
The photography department occupies its own building and shares half of another Academy building with the fine arts, painting, and printmaking departments. Photography students can utilize a wide range of equipment including full-length shooting; Hasselbald, Canon, and Sinar cameras; Broncolor, Norman, and Speedotron strobe systems; black and white darkrooms; a color lab facility with more than a dozen single print stations; and the latest technology available for digital imaging and output. In addition, the Academy has recently installed the largest studio shooting space in San Francisco or in any other photography school in the nation in its Warehouse Building.
The Academy’s Fine Art Sculpture Center is a 58,000-square foot facility that houses state-of-the-art studios for figure, ceramic, neon-illumination, bronze, metal fabrication, and mold-making sculpture. Students also have use of an off-site bronze-casting facility. When students graduate from the Academy, they have the opportunity to exhibit in one of the three nonprofit galleries located in the heart of downtown San Francisco’s premiere gallery district. These street-level facilities are an excellent way for students to promote and sell their work, and to gain networking experience.
The Academy’s wide-ranging facilities allow students to pursue their studies in an environment that is geared toward outstanding career preparation. The college’s emphasis on upgrading equipment and facilities means that students benefit from the latest technology and enter the job market with a valuable set of skills.
Financial Aid / Scholarships
The Academy maintains a full-time Financial Aid Department, which offers payment plans, loans, and different financial aid grant packages. For more information contact 1-800-544-ARTS or info@academyart.edu.
Admission Requirements / Application
Applicants for the BFA program must have a high school
diploma or GED equivalent. International students take a written and speech
test to determine which ESL classes may have to be completed. Most ESL
classes can be taken in conjunction with art and design classes. All foundation
classes offer specialized ESL sections with instructors trained for language
assistance. Students may apply to enter the Academy at the beginning of
the spring, fall, or summer semester. The application fee is $100 for
undergraduates.
Information in this profile is subject to change. Students should contact
the Academy of Art College for current information or visit its website,
which is listed below.
Further information and a catalog may be obtained by contacting:
Academy of Art University
Prospective Student Services
79 New Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Telephone 1-800-544-ARTS (toll free) or 415-274-2222 www.academyart.edu
Fax: 415-263-4130
