The Art Institutes
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The Art Institutes
The Art Institutes is a compilation of private, for-profit higher education art institutions that prepare individuals for various careers in the applied, creative, and visual arts. It is one of the leading organizations in the country for creative education. Its mission is to assist students with directing their passions and unique talents into a rewarding and successful career. It is committed to providing education that is practical and relevant to today’s competitive workplace. A I strives to provide educational experiences that are similar to experiences graduates would find on the job.
The Art Institutes offers an array of programs in advertising, animation and special effects, fashion design, fashion management, audio, visual and digital media, culinary arts, culinary management, graphic design, game design and programming, industrial design, photography, interior design, and web design and interactive media. It grants certificates, associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. The curricula at all locations is thoroughly developed and analyzed by professionals in the industry and leading employers who provide insight on the required abilities needed in the workplace. All programs incorporate hands-on learning and faculty members continue to work as professionals in their fields to bring current work experiences. All programs also incorporate media and technology to ensure students are up-to-date on current resources.
Every school of the Art Institutes includes a Career Services department that provides support services for students to use in finding employment options in their specific field. The department also includes staff members that are committed to helping students marking themselves and providing support throughout their education.
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division was launched in the year 2000 and implements the same academic and creative foundation of the rest of The Art Institutes system. It offers accelerated degree programs and diploma courses in advertising, culinary arts, fashion and retail management, interior design, graphic design, interactive media, game art and design, media arts and animation, and hotel and restaurant management. The online course environment incorporates the Socratic learning method and focuses on classroom discussion and participation as a primary factor of the learning experience. It includes interactive course materials and supports multiple styles of learning with unique curriculum approaches.
The Art Institutes was founded in 1921 and today it includes more than 45 schools located throughout the United States with more than 125,00 graduates. Its headquarters are located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Accreditation
Individual locations of the Art Institutes are accredited by different organizations such as the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, Higher Learning Commission, Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and Private Career Training Institutes Agency of British Columbia.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education accredits The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division.
Scholarships Offered
The Art Institutes sponsored scholarship competitions and participates in a variety of national scholarships. Examples of available national competitions and scholarships include The Art Institutes and Americans for the Arts Poster Design Competition, National Art Honor Society Scholarship, The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition, The Art Institutes Storytellers Photography Competition, The Art Institutes Best Teen Chef Competition, Prostart Invitational, Prostart with a Purpose Scholarship, Prostate State Scholarships, Evelyn Keedy Memorial Scholarship, Skillsusa Championship & FCCLA Competitions, and The Art Institutes Scholarship Competition. Individual locations also offer a variety of scholarship opportunities.
Financing Options
The Art Institutes participates in numerous financial aid programs including federal grant programs (Federal Pell Grant), federal loan programs (Federal Direct Stafford Loan Subsidized and Unsubsidized), federal work-study programs, and some state student assistance programs. Students are also able to use alternative and private education loans to finance their education. The Art Institutes offers tuition assistance programs for military students including the Yellow Ribbon Program, GI Bill, and military discount. The Art Institutes also has an Early Payment Incentive Credits program to award students and their families who make early monthly payment toward education costs. For every five monthly payments made on time prior to the beginning of classes, individuals receive a credit equal to the lowest monthly payment upon 30 days of attending courses.
Credit Earning Options
The Art Institutes enables students to transfer credits from different schools within the system. Acceptance of transfer credits varies by school and related instructional models and needs of employers. Students planning to transfer credits must be in good standing at their current school and have received a grade of a C or better in all transfer courses. Students can also earn credit from examinations include CLEP examination, AP testing, and Computer Literacy proficiency examination. Some schools also grant previous work/experiential learning credit.