Is it a bad sign when some art colleges don’t require you to take general education courses?
I was checking out the Graphic Design program for Academy of Art University. Looking at the curriculum, it bugs me that they don’t make you take general courses, like science, communication, humanites, and I didn’t even notice a math requirement. It seems like a decent college to learn art from, but not for an overall good education.
What one of the other posters said about AAU is correct, in part. They do require gen ed classes at AAU. The difference is between a BA in art and a BFA in art. A BA will have more liberal arts requirements. A BFA is a professional degree, and is more focused on art classes.
But then he said this, and I must strongly disagree:
"FYI: Academy of Art University is regionally accredited by the Western Association (WASC) and is among the top schools of art and design (in some areas they are the top) in the United States."
He may have AAU confused with some of the other excellent art schools in California.
AAU is absolutely, positively NOT one of the top art schools in the US. They actually rank toward the bottom in terms of reputation as an overall art school. However, some of their majors are considered good. But overall, they have a pretty poor reputation in art, both in the business/art world, and in the academic world.
While they are regionally accredited, which is a very strong point in their favor, they are also open admissions, meaning that anyone who applies gets in (and this certainly influences their rep.) They do graduate decent grads in some fields, though. They way they do this is via attrition – they weed out the kids who can’t take it as the classwork goes on. So AAU can actually be a great opportunity for someone who wants to study art and who doesn’t have a portfolio ready. But if you do have a portfolio, you can probably get into some place with a stronger reputation. And if you don’t have a portfolio, you can try the Savannah College of Art and Design, which does admit some undergrad students without a portfolio, but is considered a much stronger school than AAU.
These schools are not to strict in this area……..
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yes. the pursuit of intellectual satisfaction has been alive for thousands of years, so learn.
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Yes, that would be less than a complete education. You should ask them if they are regionally accredited (the best). higher learning standards, or nationally accredited (not the best) lower learning standards. Keep looking for school that will take care of the entire education process not just the small piece they want to give you.
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well, i don’t really think so. i mean, it saves you money while getting on your way to something ur passionate about. they probably just dont find it helpful and make up for it with other classes. good luck searching:)
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My husband took his degrees in art from regular universities, so he took the ‘general requirements’ and was only one class shy of a ‘minor’ in Computer Science. Later, he went back to a community college, took a one year certification course in Web Management, and is now employed as a Web Developer, making over $60,000 per year. Yes, his art degrees helped him, but it was the ‘general studies’ and ‘computer courses’ that helped him over the top. I’d look at the regular universities, and even the community colleges in your area … they are usually just as good as the Art Institutes and Academies, they cost much less, and because you have the general studies you’ll have a much wider option when looking for work after you are out of school.
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You might want to look at the curriculum again. The BFA in Graphic Design at AAU requires 45 hours in the liberal arts, the associates requires 18. The BFA requires 132 total hours so 45 hours is about 1/3 of the whole program. That’s about normal for a BFA. Remember, a BFA is different from a BA or a BS. That’s the main difference.
http://www.academyart.edu/degrees/liberal_arts.html
I suspect that you were looking at the major requirements only. If you were looking at the MFA, graduate students don’t usually take general education courses.
FYI: Academy of Art University is regionally accredited by the Western Association (WASC) and is among the top schools of art and design (in some areas they are the top) in the United States.
note/disclaimer: I have no connection whatsoever to this school but I have considered attending for an MFA in Photography.
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What one of the other posters said about AAU is correct, in part. They do require gen ed classes at AAU. The difference is between a BA in art and a BFA in art. A BA will have more liberal arts requirements. A BFA is a professional degree, and is more focused on art classes.
But then he said this, and I must strongly disagree:
"FYI: Academy of Art University is regionally accredited by the Western Association (WASC) and is among the top schools of art and design (in some areas they are the top) in the United States."
He may have AAU confused with some of the other excellent art schools in California.
AAU is absolutely, positively NOT one of the top art schools in the US. They actually rank toward the bottom in terms of reputation as an overall art school. However, some of their majors are considered good. But overall, they have a pretty poor reputation in art, both in the business/art world, and in the academic world.
While they are regionally accredited, which is a very strong point in their favor, they are also open admissions, meaning that anyone who applies gets in (and this certainly influences their rep.) They do graduate decent grads in some fields, though. They way they do this is via attrition – they weed out the kids who can’t take it as the classwork goes on. So AAU can actually be a great opportunity for someone who wants to study art and who doesn’t have a portfolio ready. But if you do have a portfolio, you can probably get into some place with a stronger reputation. And if you don’t have a portfolio, you can try the Savannah College of Art and Design, which does admit some undergrad students without a portfolio, but is considered a much stronger school than AAU.
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No, they do…they just dont require a lot. My friend is going to Academy of Art in SF right now and i remember him telling me about this one history class that he had to take.
Most of these kinds of schools tend to focus on the career field and less of the general education field. Its also quite expensive. Another top art school to look at is the Rhode Island School of Design (students at this school can also take classes at Brown University) and Parsons School of Design in NYC.
If you really want to go into graphic design, animation, industrial design or any art related field as your career (and you or your parents can afford it) I would suggest taking a good look at art schools. Its better than just learning art at a university.
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