School Description
Provided by Art Center College of DesignTo provide the best art and design education experience through a multi-faceted program of transdisciplinary studies and real-world relevance.
To train top art and design professionals who will harness the power of their disciplines to become business and industry leaders capable of catalyzing positive change in the world.
Art Center College of Design
From Wikipedia, The Free EncyclopediaArt Center College of Design (aka "Art Center") is a private college located in Pasadena, California, and is widely regarded as one of the leading art and design colleges in the world. The College logo is an orange circle, also known as the Art Center "Dot", which has been a part of the College identity since its inception by Tink Adams. Art Center offers undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of art and design fields, as well as public programs for children and continuing studies serving the Los Angeles community. Art Center is particularly known for its Transportation (Automobile) Design and Product Design programs. It also has notable photography, graphic design, advertising design, illustration, fine art, film, environmental design and entertainment design programs. Art Center offers graduate degrees in Fine Art, Media Design, Broadcast Cinema and Industrial Design. The College maintains two campuses in Pasadena; both are considered architecturally notable.
Art Center built its reputation as a vocational school, essentially, preparing returning GIs for work in the commercial arts fields. It has traditionally maintained a strong "real world" focus, emphasizing craftsmanship, technique, and professionalism while somewhat de-emphasizing theory. Instructors are working professionals, for the most part, and projects are intended to map to real-life assignments with some being sponsored by industry or nonprofit organizations including Nike, Disney, NASA, and BMW. During the past decade, Art Center has developed programs and projects that focus on design's potential to generate positive social change and improve people's lives through the College-wide initiative, Designmatters. In recognition of Art Center's commitment to addressing social and humanitarian issues through design, in 2003 Art Center became the first design college to ever receive NGO (non-governmental organization) status by the United Nations.
Art Center offers programs year-round with three terms per year. While undergraduates can obtain a four-year Bachelor degree in about 2 years and 8 months (8 terms total), most students take a term off for independent study, part-time "lite" terms, or to complete industry internships, lengthening their stay to 3+ years. The accelerated learning environment stems from the college's trade school roots. Administrators and faculty want to develop "real world" work scenarios as much as possible, in which there are no summer vacations.
Quick Facts
Chance of Admission:
Check With School
- Location:
- Southwest
- Setting:
- Mid-size City Setting
- Type:
- Private
- Size:
- Small (Under 2,000 Undergrad)
Students & Campus Life
- Undergraduate Enrollment:
- 1,379
- On Campus Housing:
- Unavailable
- Full Time Students:
- 100%
- Athletic Programs:
- Unavailable
Degree Programs at Art Center College of Design
Bachelor's Level Programs
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Arts & Humanities
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Architecture
See more schools with programs in
Architecture
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Environmental Design/Architecture
A program that prepares individuals to design public and private spaces, indoor and outdoor, for leisure, recreational, commercial, and living purposes, and for professional practice as environmental designers and architects. Includes instruction in the design and planning of public and private open spaces and their relationship to buildings and other aspects of the built environment; facilities management; related aspects of interior design and architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning; and professional responsibilities and standards.See more schools with programs in Environmental Design/Architecture
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Environmental Design/Architecture
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Film and Theater
See more schools with programs in
Film and Theater
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Film/Cinema Studies
A program in the visual arts that focuses on the study of the history, development, theory, and criticism of the film/video arts, as well as the basic principles of film making and film production.See more schools with programs in Film/Cinema Studies
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Film/Cinema Studies
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Visual Arts
See more schools with programs in
Visual Arts
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Fine Arts and Art Studies
See more schools with programs in Fine Arts and Art Studies
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Industrial Design
A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via the creation of effective forms, shapes, and packaging for manufactured products. Includes instruction in designing in a wide variety of plastic and digital media, prototype construction, design development and refinement, principles of cost saving, and product structure and performance criteria relevant to aesthetic design parameters.See more schools with programs in Industrial Design
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Fine Arts and Art Studies
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Architecture
See more schools with programs in
Architecture
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Communication & Media
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Commercial & Advertising Art
A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via illustrations and other forms of digital or printed media. Includes instruction in concept design, layout, paste-up, and techniques such as engraving, etching, silkscreen, lithography, offset, drawing and cartooning, painting, collage, and computer graphics.See more schools with programs in Commercial & Advertising Art
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Graphic Design
A program that prepares individuals to apply artistic and computer techniques to the interpretation of technical and commercial concepts. Includes instruction in computer-assisted art and design, printmaking, concepts sketching, technical drawing, color theory, imaging, studio technique, still and life modeling, communication skills and commercial art business operations.See more schools with programs in Graphic Design
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Illustration
A program that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to develop and execute interpretations of the concepts of authors and designers to specifications. Includes instruction in book illustration, fashion illustration, map illustration, rendering, exhibit preparation, textual layout, cartooning, and the use of various artistic techniques as requested by clients.See more schools with programs in Illustration
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Photography
A program that focuses on the principles and techniques of communicating information, ideas, moods, and feelings through the creation of images on photographic film, plates, digital images and that may prepare individuals to be professional photographic artists. Includes instruction in camera and equipment operation and maintenance, film and plate developing, light and composition, films and printing media, color and special effects, photographic art, photographic history, use of computer applications to record or enhance images and applications to the photography of various subjects.See more schools with programs in Photography
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Commercial & Advertising Art
Master's Level Programs
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Arts & Humanities
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Architecture
See more schools with programs in
Architecture
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Environmental Design/Architecture
A program that prepares individuals to design public and private spaces, indoor and outdoor, for leisure, recreational, commercial, and living purposes, and for professional practice as environmental designers and architects. Includes instruction in the design and planning of public and private open spaces and their relationship to buildings and other aspects of the built environment; facilities management; related aspects of interior design and architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning; and professional responsibilities and standards.See more schools with programs in Environmental Design/Architecture
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Environmental Design/Architecture
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Film and Theater
See more schools with programs in
Film and Theater
-
Film/Cinema Studies
A program in the visual arts that focuses on the study of the history, development, theory, and criticism of the film/video arts, as well as the basic principles of film making and film production.See more schools with programs in Film/Cinema Studies
-
Film/Cinema Studies
-
Visual Arts
See more schools with programs in
Visual Arts
-
Fine Arts and Art Studies
See more schools with programs in Fine Arts and Art Studies
-
Industrial Design
A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via the creation of effective forms, shapes, and packaging for manufactured products. Includes instruction in designing in a wide variety of plastic and digital media, prototype construction, design development and refinement, principles of cost saving, and product structure and performance criteria relevant to aesthetic design parameters.See more schools with programs in Industrial Design
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Fine Arts and Art Studies
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Architecture
See more schools with programs in
Architecture
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Communication & Media
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Design & Visual Communications
A program in the applied visual arts that focuses on the general principles and techniques for effectively communicating ideas and information, and packaging products, in digital and other formats to business and consumer audiences, and that may prepare individuals in any of the applied art media.See more schools with programs in Design & Visual Communications
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Design & Visual Communications
Certificate Programs at Art Center College of Design
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Arts & Humanities
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Visual Arts
See more schools with programs in
Visual Arts
-
Industrial Design
A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via the creation of effective forms, shapes, and packaging for manufactured products. Includes instruction in designing in a wide variety of plastic and digital media, prototype construction, design development and refinement, principles of cost saving, and product structure and performance criteria relevant to aesthetic design parameters.See more schools with programs in Industrial Design
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Industrial Design
-
Visual Arts
See more schools with programs in
Visual Arts
-
Communication & Media
-
Commercial & Advertising Art
A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via illustrations and other forms of digital or printed media. Includes instruction in concept design, layout, paste-up, and techniques such as engraving, etching, silkscreen, lithography, offset, drawing and cartooning, painting, collage, and computer graphics.See more schools with programs in Commercial & Advertising Art
-
Illustration
A program that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to develop and execute interpretations of the concepts of authors and designers to specifications. Includes instruction in book illustration, fashion illustration, map illustration, rendering, exhibit preparation, textual layout, cartooning, and the use of various artistic techniques as requested by clients.See more schools with programs in Illustration
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Commercial & Advertising Art
Students
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| Percent of Students International: | 14% |
Housing
| On-Campus Housing Available: | No |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Published Tuition and Fees: |
$ 25,244 | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 24,844 | ||
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 400 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 2,200 | 33% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 10,095 | 12% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 8,861 | 33% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 4,746 | 30% | |
Any Aid: |
55% |
Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)
| Acceptance Rate: | 73% (Selective) |
Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)
| Application Fee: | $ 45.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Recommended |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Recommended |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Not Required |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Recommended |
College Advice
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Question: Person experiences from Art Center College in Pasadena?Hi I was thinking about applying there to major in Advertising but I heard from some people that the classes are really really hard and the teacher's don't really care about the students. If you went there or knew someone who went there could you tell me how your experience was? Thanks!33 months ago
Best AnswerI went there for industrial design. It is an extremely difficult school. The classes are very demanding, but you will get a top notch, state of the art education. The teachers care, but they will be hard on you. They want you to become thick skinned so that when you're finally in a professional setting, peoples' remarks to your work wont bother you. That being said, I don't know much about their advertising program. If you are planning on spending that kind of money on a school, I would recommend finding a school that is the most well known for that major. Maybe Art Center is known for it? I'm not sure. I can get an interview just about anywhere because it's listed on my resume. Plus, you will meet fellow students and make connections with people who can hook you up with employment once you graduate. We are a tight knit group that way =). But yeah. Don't plan to have a party-type college life. You will be spending some late hours. Was it worth it? I think so! |
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Question: want to major in INDUSTRIAL DESIGN in California?which college or university is nice to major in industrial design in CA? I've applied some college in CA, can you suggest? which are: California college of the art Academy of art university San francisco state univeristy ....those are in san francisco and how about massachusetts college of the art thx~~43 months ago
Best AnswerArt Center College of design in Pasadena probably has the most prestigious industrial design major. But you will need a good portfolio and it's VERY expensive. A lot of kids who want to get in go to Pasadena City College first. They have a lot of Art Center teachers teaching courses there who will help you get a good portfolio together. A cheaper way to go is the Art Institute in San Fransisco. No portfolio needed, it's cheaper, but it's not as prestigious, so it can be harder to get a job afterwards. Otis Parsons in Los Angeles has a toy design department. Again, VERY expensive. And finally, Long Beach State has a very good program but it can be hard to get all your classes from what I hear. Good luck! |
