The Art Institutes International Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Institute
The Art Institutes International Minnesota utilizes educational programs created to instruct students in the skills needed to gain entry-level employment in the creative arts. Faculty members bring knowledge from the field to their classroom instruction. The Art Institutes International Minnesota offers eight bachelors degree programs as well as associate degree and certificate programs.
Students come to the Art Institutes International Minnesota from throughout the United States and abroad. The student population includes recent high school graduates, transfer students, and those who have left a previous employment situation to study and train for a new career. Students are creative, competitive, and open to new ideas. They place great value on an education that prepares them for an exciting entry-level position in the arts.
Assistance is available to help students with resume writing, networking, and keeping abreast of what employers are looking for in job candidates Of all 2003 Art Institutes International Minnesota graduates available for employment, 88.9 percent were working in a field related to their program of study within six months of graduation and earning an average salary of $29,098.
Campus clubs and organizations include the American Society of Interior Designers, American Institute of Graphic Arts, and SIGGRAPH. Students with interests in animation, baking, and comic books have formed separate groups. There is also an ACF Junior Culinary Competition Team that helps to prepare students for cooking competitions. Students participate in clubs and organizations, including the Student Ambassadors, a group of student leaders who act as school representatives at events such as open houses and orientation. School-sponsored activities include pizza parties, barbecues, a weekly film festival, crime prevention workshops, HTML workshops, software workshops, guest speakers, and even visits by a massage therapist during finals week.
Student housing is available at the Grand Marc in the Seven Corners district of downtown Minneapolis, located within 2 miles of the school and accessible by bus. Each apartment is a fully furnished two-bedroom, two-bath unit reserved for 4 students. Utilities, washer/dryer, satellite TV, Internet access, and local phone service are provided at no extra cost. In addition, the Residence Life staff strives to develop events and activities that foster a sense of community. The Housing Department may also provide referrals for independent housing.
The Art Institutes International Minnesota is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges (ACICS). The Associate of Applied Science degree program in culinary arts is accredited by the American Culinary Foundation (ACF). The Art Institutes International Minnesota is licensed by the Minnesota Higher Education Services Office. The school is approved to train veterans by the Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learning.
Location
Ranked as one of the nations healthiest business centers, Minneapolis has four major art museums, two orchestras, regional theater, and a thriving music scene. The city offers plenty of creative inspiration, from the Sculpture Garden at the Walker Art Center to the Winter Carnival, Renaissance Festival, and the Minneapolis Museum of Arts. The Hennepin Avenue Theatre District is home to Broadway productions. In nearby Bloomington is the Mall of America, the countrys largest shopping complex. Minneapolis is on the banks of the Mississippi River and is close to nearly twenty lakes. More than 150 city parks offer hiking, biking, and skating. Students can also cheer on the professional sports teams: the Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, and Minnesota Wild.
Majors and Degrees
The Institute offers Bachelor of Science degree programs in advertising, culinary management, graphic design, interior design, media arts and animation, multimedia and Web design, and visual effects and motion graphics and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in photography. Associate of Applied Science degree programs are offered in baking and pastry, culinary arts, graphic design, interior design, and multimedia and Web design. There are two certificate programs: The Art of Cooking and Baking and Pastry.
Academic Programs
Students are not only expected to complete specific courses but to develop critical and analytical learning abilities. The year-round class size averages 18 students. Lecture classes typically hold 45 students, while lab classes hold a maximum of 30 students.
The academic year is divided into four quarters of eleven weeks each, starting in January, April, July, and October. Associate degree candidates must complete 112 to 128 credits (twenty-one to twenty-four months). Bachelors degree candidates must complete 192 credits (thirty-six months).
Academic Facilities
The Art Institutes International Minnesota is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. Inside the Institute's four-story building, which encompasses approximately 78,000 square feet, are classrooms, studios, laboratories, offices, student lounges, a Learning Resource Center, and an exhibition gallery. The Art Institutes International Minnesota maintains an art supply store for the convenience of students. Equipment provided at the school is specific to the programs of study andincludes computers, workstations, printers, and software as well as photo, video, and audio equipment.
Costs
In the 200405 academic year, tuition was $344 per credit; students typically take 16 credits per quarter. Other costs include a first quarter supply kit for $500 to $850 (depending on program), a lab fee of $25 to $300 per quarter (for some programs), and other supplies/texts for approximately $125 per month.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Students who require financial assistance should make an appointment with a financial aid officer who will determine the level of need based on the required federal formula and the cost of education. Students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid in order to receive federal and state aid, which is available in the form of grants, loans, or work study. Grants include Fevderal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Minnesota State Grants, and veterans benefits. Loans include Federal Stafford Student Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Minnesota State Educational Loans, and alternative loans. The Art Institutes International Minnesota holds scholarship competitions that award full or partial tuition to students based on their art portfolios and other criteria. Other scholarships are also available. Application deadlines, award amounts, and eligibility requirements vary.
Faculty
The Art Institutes International Minnesota faculty includes 76 professors, many of whom are working professionals with achievements in their fields.
Admission Requirements
Prospective students must first meet with an assistant director of admissions for an interview. After a successful interview, an application for admission, proof of high school graduation or its equivalent, and an essay of 150 words explaining how an education at the Art Institutes International Minnesota will help the student to meet creative goals must be submitted to the school. Portfolios are welcome but not required, and students who have taken the SAT or ACT may be asked to submit their test scores
Application and Information
To obtain an application or make arrangements for an interview or tour of the school, students should contact:
