Academy of Art University – Canada:
The Art School of Art Schools

Canadian Students

History

Academy of Art University in San Francisco was established in 1929 by Richard S. Stephens, a fine art painter who had accepted the position of Creative Director for Sunset Magazine. Assisted by his wife, Mrs. Clara Stephens, he opened the new art institute in a rented loft at 215 Kearny Street to teach advertising art. In a few years, a distinguished faculty of practicing art and design professionals was assembled and the school’s philosophy was formulated: hire established professionals to teach future professionals. In 1933 the curriculum was expanded to include Fashion Illustration, and in 1936 a Fine Art Department was added, making it one of the premiere art schools.

In 1951, after graduating from Stanford University, Dr. Richard A. Stephens took over the Presidency from his parents. His vision led to the expansion of the Academy from an enrollment of fifty students in two rented loft spaces to a 5,200 student body, with continued expansion of department majors available. In 1966 the art school was incorporated and granted authority to offer a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education of the State of California. The graduate program was inaugurated in 1977 and approved by 1983.

Dr. Elisa Stephens, the granddaughter of the school's founder, succeeded her father as President of Academy of Art University in 1992. Dr. Stephens has been committed to expanding the Academy’s curriculum to stay current with new technologies and industry trends, as well as making state-of-the art facilities and resources available to Academy students. In 2004, the name of the art school was changed from Academy of Art College to Academy of Art University in recognition of its depth, scope and quality.

Today the University has more than 18,000 students, making it the largest private school of art and design in the country. Students now have the opportunity to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Associate of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Arts, Master of Architecture or a Certificate Program, with art classes in over 30 areas of academic emphasis.

Programs Offered

Academy of Art University offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, certificate programs, and non-degree personal enrichment classes in the areas of art and design. All our accredited classes are offered online around the clock. Most degrees can be completed 100% online.

Degrees Offered

Undergraduate Majors:
Acting, Advertising, Animation, Architecture, Art Education, Fashion, Fine Arts, Game Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Motion Pictures & Television, Multimedia Communications (BA), Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media, Photography, Web Design

Graduate Majors:
Acting, Advertising, Animation, Architecture (M.Arch), Art Education (MA), Fashion, Fine Art, Game Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Motion Pictures & Television, Multimedia Communications (MA), Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media, Photography, Web Design

Tuition & Fees

Estimated Expenses per Year (Fall '12/Spring '13 [Undergraduate])*