Academy of Art University

• Location: San Francisco, USA,
• Year of foundation: 1929,
• Number of students: about 6300,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of studying: mixed.

The Academy of Art University was founded in the center of San Francisco in 1929 - the founder was the famous artist Richard Stevens, creative editor of the magazine "Sunset Magazine". In total, the University includes 27 buildings - it's educational buildings, residential residences, own galleries, creative studios. Many of the buildings belonging to the Academy are historical treasures and architectural monuments: the educational institution bought them out and carefully preserves them from commercial restructuring, destruction and corrosion. Accommodation in the heart of San Francisco helps students in their free time to walk around the city and draw inspiration in its streets and buildings, visit museums and exhibitions, galleries and master classes.

Professional artists and designers with great practical experience teach at the : the institution takes seriously the choice of teachers and trusts students only to professionals and recognized specialists.

The Academy of Art University is the largest private art school in the United States: at the same time, up to 12,000 students from all over the world are studying at the institution. The philosophy of the school is the full and comprehensive education of a new progressive generation of artists and designers, under the guidance of professional, experienced teachers and practitioners. The Academy has a membership in the Association of Career Colleges, is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), the school's curriculum is officially accredited by the National Association of Schools for Arts and Design (NASAD).

The most popular educational courses are:

• Interior design
• Animation
• Illustration
• Video graphics + special effects
• Movies
• Fashion

The curriculum for each student is flexible and unique: each student chooses the most convenient schedule of studying and subjects that he considers necessary to study in the USA. Programs are offered for students of any level of preparation: the academy will find interesting directions for beginners who are just beginning their creative path and search, and professionals who want to selectively improve their skills or try new methods or trends. Courses begin with the simplest, literally from the basics of drawing, colour, composition and perspective - further complicating and becoming more complicated, filling with knowledge and skills of advanced disciplines, connecting modern technologies and trends.

For graduates of the Academy of Art University, there are virtually limitless career opportunities around the world: design, fashion, journalism, photography, music, illustration, theater, fine arts, etc.

Valentina Nikitina

Senior Marketing and Recruitment Manager at Kaplan Pathways with a focus on students from Russia and the CIS.

What factors are considered when evaluating U.S. universities, and how reliable are current rankings?

That's an interesting topic. The criteria used to evaluate universities vary by ranking. For nationwide rankings, factors like class size, teacher salaries, and the number of faculty members with advanced degrees in their field are common considerations. If a ranking focuses on student satisfaction, the criteria will differ. However, rankings don't always align with individual student needs and should be considered alongside other factors.

Studying programs in an online format implies the same practical education that students will receive on campus. The Academy offers two ways to distance learn: real-time with class participation via Zoom and on-demand with the ability to view archived classes whenever it is convenient for the student.

Online classes provide:

• Written content of lectures,
• Access to live classes, archived recordings,
• Online portal for uploading coursework for assessment,
• Videos, written feedback from teachers,
• Opportunities to collaborate on projects with classmates.

The Academy of Art University is considered one of the best online art and design schools in the world. Accredited online courses include individually designed content taught by working industry professionals. Students can study from anywhere in the world on their own schedule, giving them the flexibility to gain knowledge, skills, and a degree of higher education.

AAU has more than 20 specialized schools representing such areas in the arts as:

• Advertisement
• Animations, visual effects,
• Architecture
• History of Art,
• Fashion
• Communication and Media Technologies,
• Game development,
• Graphic design,
• Illustration
• Jewelry and metal products,
• Landscape architecture
• Cinema, television,
• Photography
• Music Production, Sound Design for Visual Media,
• Writing texts for film, television, digital media.

AAU also has a department of pre-university training, which conducts short-term courses for high school students.

The AAU has 17 residential complexes located at different distances from the studying area. The residences offer a wide range of rooms of different types, so that students have the opportunity to choose the most suitable housing for their budget and comfort. There are single, double and triple studio rooms with bathrooms and fully furnished kitchens, high-speed WiFi, and cleaning services included in the price.

Many residential buildings have fitness centers, communal living rooms with cable TV and billiard tables, and laundries with washing machines and dryers. Together with the students, qualified staff live in the residences, coordinating entertainment events and providing round-the-clock support if necessary.

When staying in some residential complexes, the student must choose a meal plan that includes a certain number of meals and additional bonuses for purchases in university stores. The meal plan is paid for the same period for which the room is rented at the residence. For comfortable use, a student card is provided, which is accepted at all food outlets on campus.

Subject list: Acting, Acting skills, Advertising and PR, animation, Architecture, Art, business, design, Directing, Fashion, Game development, graphic arts, illustration, journalism, letter, media, Merchandising, music, PHOTOGRAPHY, Printmaking, Producing, sculpture, Stage skills, TV, Visual & Game Programming, Visual Development, Visual Effects, Visual merchandising
Activity list: baseball, basketball, dancing, football, Photostudio, tennis, track-and-field athletics, yoga

The AAU is the only higher education institution in the field of the arts in the United States with an NCAA Division II athletics program — 14 varsity athletic teams that represent the Academy of Art University in intercollegiate sports.:

• Basketball,
• Golf,
• Cross-country,
• Football,
• Athletics,
• Basketball,
• Softball,
• Tennis,
• Volleyball and others.

The national teams consist of students of the same gender, but of different ages. Most sports activities are available to both girls and boys. Under the guidance of professional coaches, experienced teachers and support staff, students achieve excellent collective and individual results, decorating their portfolio with victories.

Amateur sections have been created for students who would like to maintain an active lifestyle at a less professional level: dancing, yoga, table tennis, fitness, and others. Dozens of themed clubs have been created at AAU, which fulfill a wide variety of interests, hobbies and hobbies of the student community. By joining a group with similar interests, students can discuss ideas, promote their work, form collaborations and share information, thereby building strong friendships and gaining support.:

• American Society of Landscape Architects,
• Gaming Club,
• Fashion School,
• Fine Arts,
• Choral Society,
• Korean Student Association,
• Visual Effects Club,
• Photo Club,
• Concept art.

Due to the location of the campus in one of the most active and diverse areas of San Francisco, students have access to the city's attractions, museums, exhibition venues, entertainment and cultural centers, many restaurants and other places that are definitely worth visiting.

• The accreditations of the WSCUC, CIDA, NAAB, CTC and other specialized organizations through which the Academy awards degrees of higher education in the field of arts,
• A diverse student community with representatives from over 112 countries,
• More than 70 exhibitions annually host student work, providing an opportunity to showcase talent to a wider community.,
• The only university in the arts in the United States with NCAA Division II athletic teams,
• Some of the programs are available in an online format, which has been implemented since 2002.,
• During their studies, students receive prestigious awards, such as the Apple App Award, Stellantis x Wildcard, Netflix, and others.,
• The teaching staff is represented by highly qualified specialists, well-known and successful in their fields.

The Academy occupies more than ten buildings in the South of Market area of San Francisco. Free university shuttles run between the buildings, which take students not only to classes, but also to their residences.

AAU is particularly committed to meeting modern standards, which is why it provides its students with the best equipment, a wide range of specialized facilities, and extensive opportunities to discover their talents.:

Lecture halls with interactive equipment,

Specialized studios for 3D modeling, animation, photography, jewelry and metal processing, music production and other areas,

Specialized laboratories and workshops that regularly work on projects.,

Theatrical premises with a performance hall, dressing rooms, and technical areas,

Cafeterias, dining halls,

Recreation areas, a library storing thousands of books in physical and online formats,

Fitness centers with gyms and games rooms, areas for individual classes and small group workouts, and swimming pools.

Studying in each of the specialties implies access to a variety of equipment, supplies and teaching materials, and specialized classes. All the equipment and auxiliary elements can be used both in the classroom and outside of school hours.

The academic calendar includes three semesters, covering the entire calendar year.:

• Autumn: September-December,
• Spring: January-May,
• Summer: June-August.

Higher education programs have several admission dates, so the duration of study varies depending on them. Session weeks and seasonal vacations are organized between semesters. Rest is also provided on national and international holidays and weekends.

The list of additional expenses will include services and fees such as:

• Registration fees, deposits,
• Fees for student activities, use of technology,
• Accommodation, meals,
• Some extracurricular activities,
• Private lessons, special academic and other support,
• Personal study materials,
• External exams,
• Compulsory insurance,
• Personal expenses.

Most of the entrance stages are available online, which facilitates the admission process for international applicants. Future students will have to:

• Fill out the registration form and provide the required documents,
• Pay entrance fees,
• Pass an interview and possible entrance exams,
• Receive an invitation to enroll,
• Make deposits to book a place in the program, in the residence,
• Arrive on campus to attend orientation events, in-residence accommodation, and start your studies.

The Admissions Committee supports all candidates throughout the admission journey, assisting in the preparation of visa, medical and other documents.

AAU graduates demonstrate the highest level of ability, regardless of what specialty they studied for:

• Creation of a set of works suitable for finding professional opportunities in the chosen field of art and design,
• Solving creative problems in their field of art and design, including the research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, conceptual knowledge,
• Professional delivery of ideas, the ability to find a common language with the target audience, using the skills of visual, oral and written presentation,
• Ability to make technical, aesthetic, conceptual decisions based on an understanding of the principles of art and design,
• Evaluation of works, including one's own, using professional terminology,
• Awareness of the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on works of art and design,
• Study of professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global market,
• Engaging with diverse communities through internship opportunities, study abroad programs, sports, student interest clubs, and collaborative, civic and charitable projects.

AAU graduates have been accepted into organizations and companies such as NASA, Marvel, EA Sports, Adidas, Amazon, Pixar, and others.

To enroll in one of the AAU programs, applicants arriving from abroad must have:

• A full package of personal documents, including a valid passport, health insurance, student visa or residence permit,
• Academic certificates from the previous place of study: certificate of complete secondary education, certificate of preparatory course/bachelor's diploma in a related specialty with report cards,
• Language test results: TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic or an academy-recognized equivalent. For comfortable, effective study, candidates need a level of English proficiency of at least B2,
• A portfolio of recent work for admission to postgraduate programs.

The Academy awards several types of scholarships, most of which are based on academic and creative merit:

• International scholarships for international students based on academic merit, need, and submitted portfolio awards are up to $5,000 per semester,
• Military Scholarship for Individuals Who Served in the U.S. Armed Forces,
• Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Scholarships,
• Benefits of up to 20% for continuing education for graduates.

External financial support options are also available to students: federal and state aid, loans, credits.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision