Academy of Art University
Proclaiming itself a university founded by artist for artists, the Academy of Art University began in 1929 in a rented loft in San Francisco as the vision of fine art painter Richard S. Stephens. Eight decades later, the Academy of Art University is the largest private school of art and design in the United States. With 12 different disciplines and over 3 areas of academic emphasis serving 11, students.
Located in the heart of San Francisco, the Academy of Art University campus spans 27 locations including galleries, campus housing, and academic buildings all connected by a free shuttle service. Housing for full-time students is guaranteed, providing students with a range of options from dormitories to apartments in downtown as well as residential areas within the city. While students of the Academy of Art University work towards a certificate, an Associate of Arts, a Bachelor of Fine Arts, or a Master of Architecture, they are immersed in all that the campus and the city of San Francisco have to offer.
Always expanding their degree programs to include the latest technology and innovation, Academy of Art University covers a wide variety of disciplines. Advertising, Animation & Visual Effects, Architecture, Computer Arts & New Media, Digital Arts & Communication, Fashion, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Architecture & Design, Motion Pictures & Television, and Photography are studied both on campus as well as through AAU Online. These programs are developed and instructed by a faculty of career artists.
AAU Online augments the Academy of Art University flexible schedule. Day, evening, and weekend classes are already offered by the university. Now, students may take that convenience a step further by earning a degree from their own homes. Courses for beginning students as well as professionals are offered through the first right online curriculum. Also, as with the on-campus college, AAU Online is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, one of the six regional accrediting associations recognized by the federal government. In addition, the AAU Online received accreditation fro the prestigious National Association of Schools of Art and Design in 26. Through AAU Online, the expertise and experience familiar to students of the on-campus programs are available to students around the world.
Graduates of the Academy of Art University hope to join alumni whose degrees earned positions with DreamWorks, Pixar, Sony, and other dream corporations. All students will have left the university with a unique experience that has prepared them for the world of art and design.