The Art Institutes

Highlights

• Learning options including online, evenings, weekends, and studying abroad
• Offers internships and externships
• Has largest system of culinary schools in North America
• Regularly held Portfolio Shows connect students with employers and community
• Major corporations hire graduates
• Accreditation varies by location and includes Higher Learning Commission, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, and others.

About the School

The Art Institutes is a system of over 45 design schools throughout North America that offer graduate and undergraduate degrees as well as diploma and certificate programs. Curriculums are available in the fields of fashion, media arts, design and the culinary arts. The parent company of The Art Institutes, Education Management Corporation, was established more than 40 years ago, With more than 100,000 students Education Management is one of the largest private providers of postsecondary education in the US.

The school states that its programs include industry-current equipment and software. In addition, The Arts Institutes collaborates with local and national employers to design industry-relevant programs. Students create portfolios as part of their education and as a resource for showing prospective employers. Some programs include internship and externships as part of a student's education.

Academic Programs

The Institutes' program areas include:

• Digital Media Arts – Prepares students for employment in the fields of special effects, music videos, movies, website development, video and audio production, editing, computer games, and photography.
• Design – Features programs in advertising as well as industrial, graphic and interior design. The courses blend classroom learning with hands-on training, all with an emphasis an nurturing student creativity.
• Fashion – Offers training in the design and management aspects of fashion, including creating sales and purchasing strategies. Design studies can concentrate on areas such as accessories, apparel, art and design technology, and fashion. Merchandising practices are also studied. The fashion management studies can include retail, marketing, fashion merchandising, and visual merchandising. Enrollees are trained for employment in areas such as retail, designer showrooms, sales consultation, purchasing and coordinating runway shows.
• International Culinary Schools – The Art Institutes culinary programs are available at over 30 locations, making for the largest system of culinary education in North America. Studies encompass thorough reviews of international recipes and culinary techniques. Students can focus their education on Culinary Arts or Culinary Management. The arts areas of study can include art of cooking, baking, pastry, culinary skills, professional cooking, and more. The management tracks include restaurant ownership, food and beverages, hospitality and business management, hotels, catering, and wine, spirits, and beverages. The programs include real-world internships, student operated restaurants and guest lecturers. In addition, the school provides opportunities to learn abroad.

Learning Options

The Art Institutes offer a wide range of educational options to meet the varied needs and interests of its students, including those with busy schedules that might include work, family, hobbies, community involvement, and social lives. These options include:

• On-campus – Provides face-to-face interactions with teachers and fellow students and complete access to the school's onsite resources.
• Plus learning – Allows blending of on-campus and online coursework. Targets the completion of core and general education courses online.
• Online – A number of fully online creative arts programs that have the same curriculums as on-campus courses are available through The Art Institute of Pittsburgh — Online Division.
• Evening and weekends – Some programs and courses can be completed through a combination of on-campus evening and weekend classes and online studies. These vary by location.
• Study Abroad – The Art Institutes Study Abroad Consortium is designed to give students the opportunity to gain a global perspective in their fields of study through studying in another country. Students work with the location they attend or are considering attending to explore this possibility.
• Continuing education – Targeted for working professionals, continuing education courses are designed to provide skills that help students change or advance their careers. Most continuing education classes are offered in the evening or on weekends. These courses are available at selected locations.

Faculty

The school strives to hire faculty with the appropriate professional and academic backgrounds. Many continue to work while they while they teach. The school notes that its faculty includes award-winning professionals.

Student Life

The career services representatives help enrollees find part-time employment and also assist graduates with locating full-time jobs through assistance in resumes, interviewing, networking, job fairs, and more. Also, some students may qualify for work study programs. In addition, school representatives offer students an insight into the types of portfolio content and skills that are of interest to employers.

The school reports high placement rates for its graduates. These vary by location. For instance the Los Angeles, California location recently reported that 83% of its graduates were working in a study-related area within six months following graduation.

Examples of major corporations hiring graduates of The Art Institute include: Sony, Walt Disney, The Home Depot Inc., Marriott International, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Macy's Inc., and many more.

The Student Affairs office is available for a variety of assistance and offers information regarding student activities and clubs.

Admissions and Financial Aid

The admission process can be completed with the assistance of an admissions representative. The Best Teen Chef and Passion for Fashion contests provide scholarships to the winning high school students. Current enrollees may enter various competitions including fashion design and graphic design contests.

Students have the opportunity to be involved in community service projects. The Financial Aid department can determine if a student qualifies for financial assistance. The school provides federal and state aid along with veteran's benefits and loans.