ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY
San Francisco, California
The University
In 1929, Academy of Art University founder Richard S. Stephens, who was the advertising creative director of Sunset magazine, acted on his belief that aspiring artists and designers, given proper instruction, hard work, and dedication, can learn the skills needed to become successful professionals. His new school of advertising art consisted of 46 students meeting in one room on San Francisco's Kearny Street. The instructors, who were professional artists, brought real-world problems, situations, solutions, and practical experience to the students. Thus was born the school's philosophy by the founder: Hire today's best practicing professionals to teach the art and design professionals of tomorrow. At that time, advertising consisted primarily of illustrations, photos, and copy. Consequently, it became necessary to teach beginning students the fundamentals of drawing, painting, color, light, and photography as well as layout and typography.
When Richard A. Stephens succeeded his father as president in 1951, the Foundations Department was added, ensuring all students comprehended the basic principles of traditional art and design. Illustration soon expanded to include fine arts (drawing, painting, sculpture, and printmaking), and advertising design spawned the Graphic Design Department. Fashion (design, textiles, and merchandising) and Interior Design Departments were also added. In 1966, the Academy officially became a college, and in a decade, the Master of Fine Arts degree was offered. Five more buildings were purchased, and by 1992, there were more than 2,500 students. The leadership of the Academy was then turned over to the third generation, Elisa Stephens, granddaughter of the school's founder. She quickly determined that the school's small Computer Arts Department had enormous potential to prepare students for multimedia careers when allied with such companies as Silicon Graphics, Pixar, Adobe, and Walt Disney Productions. It is now the fastest-growing department at the Academy.
Today, Academy of Art University is the largest private accredited art and design school in the nation and has an enrollment of more than 7,200 students from nearly every country in the world. More than one third of the student body is made up of international students. The Academy has more than twenty facilities that house classrooms, studios, galleries, and dormitories. The students, who are admitted through an open-enrollment policy, aspire to earn either an A.A., a B.F.A., or a certificate in one of twelve design majors. The school maintains a fleet of buses to connect the different points of the campus, all of which are located within the city limits of San Francisco, one of the world's most vibrant and beautiful cities. The faculty, which is 80 percent part-time and made up of working art and design professionals, is recruited from all across the nation and is drawn to the creative and intellectual center that is the Bay Area. Extensive senior-year internship programs allow students to gain valuable experience and develop strong portfolios in their chosen field before graduation.
Academy of Art University offers an M.F.A. program in architecture.
Location
The city of San Francisco is one of the great cultural centers of the world; a melting pot of diversity, ethnicity, and creativity that has spawned major museums and galleries, world-class opera and theaters, dance companies, film production and recording studios, technological innovation, performing artists ranging from classical to popular music, and numerous other cultural opportunities. The city's status as a tourist mecca located on the Pacific Rim ensures that one encounters people from all corners of the world. The climate is moderate and offers kaleidoscopic blends of sunshine and fog nine months of the year. The Northpoint campus is located at world-famous Pier 39; one can view Alcatraz Island from classroom windows. Four other buildings are two blocks from historic Union Square in the commercial heart of the city. Three other buildings are located near the Financial District. The city offers myriad locations for field trips and studio visits. World-renowned artists display their creations in the Academy's four nonprofit art galleries, which are open to the public. The University is an urban institution that both draws upon and contributes to the cultural wealth of the community in which it resides.
Majors and Degrees
Academy of Art University offers A.A. and B.F.A. degrees and certificates in the following majors: advertising (account planning, art direction, copywriting, and television commercials), animation/visual effects (storyboard art, background painting/layout design, game design, visual development, 3-D modeling, character development, and VFX/compositing), computer arts/new media (computer graphics, new media, Web design, and digital imaging), fashion (fashion design, fashion illustration, knitwear, merchandising, and textiles), fine art (ceramics, metal arts, painting/drawing, printmaking, and sculpture), graphic design (corporate and brand identity, Web site design, motion graphics, multimedia, package design, print and collateral), illustration (cartooning, children's books, editorial, feature film animation, and 2-D animation), industrial design (product, transportation, furniture, and toy design), interior architecture and design (commercial, residential, and furniture design), motion pictures and television (acting, advertising/directorcamera, cinematography, directing, editing, producing, production design, screenwriting, and special effects), and photography (advertising, documentary, digital photography, fashion, fine art, photo illustration, and photojournalism).
Academic Programs
A total of 132 credit units are required to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, consisting of 18 units of foundations courses, 60 units in the major, 12 units of art electives, and 42 units of liberal arts/art history courses. First-year students must complete six foundations courses before the end of the year. Fundamental courses are related specifically to students' majors to prepare them to begin intense focus courses in their field by the sophomore year. All major courses of study are structured so the student builds upon skills learned the previous semester and advances to the next level of technical or creative proficiency. Some related major courses may be taken concurrently. Each course is worth 3 credits. Liberal arts courses teach practical applications for forging a professional career in art and design. International students who come from countries where English is not the primary language may take additional ESL classes, as determined by English language proficiency testing. Students are advised to meet with departmental directors at least once during the academic year to have their progress assessed. Portfolios are reviewed before the junior year to determine whether or not a student has progressed sufficiently to continue study at the Academy.
Academic Facilities
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 it 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, Animation/Visual Effects, Motion Pictures and Television, Advertising, and Fashion Departments access to an incredible array of technology. The center has an array of computer workstations, including Silicon Graphics workstations, Adobe Premier workstations, and several autoCAD workstations. Students also have the use of Avid digital editing suites, multitrack sound-editing studios, one dedicated green-screen studio, and various other video equipment, including Bosch Telecine 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 studios; Hasselblad, Mamyia, Canon, and Sinar cameras; Broncolor, Norman, and Speedotron strobe systems; black-and-white darkrooms; a color lab facility with single-print stations; and the latest technology, including Macintosh G5 computers, for digital imaging and output. In addition, the Academy's modern, professional studio is one of the largest of any photography school in the nation and is ideal for shooting automobiles, motorcycles, and large sets.
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 and a foundry. When students graduate from the Academy, they have the opportunity to exhibit in one of four nonprofit galleries in the heart of downtown San Francisco's premier gallery district. These street-level facilities are an excellent way for students to promote and sell their work and to gain networking experience.
The Library houses more than 30,000 books and magazines, as well as 375 CD-ROM titles, 150,000 slides, and 2,000 videos. Computers with Internet access are available to students as well as an online catalog, color scanners, and color and black-and-white copiers. Workshops and electronic study guides are also available. The Academy Resource Center offers all students free learning support services that include study hall, tutoring, mentoring, midpoint review and study skills workshops, a writing lab, a state-of-the-art multimedia language lab, an English for Art Program, and a Conversation Partner Program.
Costs
Tuition is $550 per credit unit for undergraduates. Full-time students carry either 12 or 15 units per semester. There is a nonrefundable $140 registration fee$100 is applicable toward tuition. Lab fees run from $25 to $400 per semester, depending on the class. Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time. Art supplies can run from $250 to $500 per semester, depending on the major. The Academy has most of the expensive technical equipment available for students to borrow or use in a lab.
Academy of Art University operates more than eleven campus housing facilities within the city. Several housing options are offered, and costs vary from $6600 to $10,000 per academic year (fall and spring semesters). For further information, students may contact the Academy Housing Office directly at 415-263-7727 or via e-mail at housing@academyart.edu.
Financial Aid
The Academy offers financial aid packages consisting of grants, loans, and work-study to eligible students with a demonstrated need. Low-interest loans are available to all eligible students, regardless of need. As financial aid programs, procedures, and eligibility requirements change frequently, applicants should contact the Financial Aid Office for current requirements at the University's address or phone number.
Faculty
The Academy averages nearly 500 faculty members each semester, most of whom are full-time art and design professionals and part-time teachers. The student-teacher ratio for undergraduate classes averages 18:1.
Student Government
Although there is no formal student government, each department has between 2 and 3 student representatives who meet with the president as needed throughout the semester to discuss any student issues.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for the B.F.A. program must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. There is no portfolio requirement for the A.A. and B.F.A. programs. 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 foundations classes offer specialized ESL sections with instructors trained for language assistance. The application fee is $100 for undergraduates. A $500 tuition deposit applies to international applicants.
Application and Information
Students may apply to enter the Academy at the beginning of the spring, fall, or summer semesters. Information in this profile is subject to change. Students should contact Academy of Art University for current information or visit its Web site.
For further information and a catalog, students may contact:
