The Academy of Art University, formerly Academy of Art College, is a privately owned for-profit art school in San Francisco, California, USA. It was founded by Richard S. Stephens in 1929, and is now owned by the Stephens Institute. It has over 18,000 students, and claims to be the largest privately owned art and design school in the United States. It is one of the largest property owners in San Francisco, with the main campus located on New Montgomery Street in the South of Market district.
Courses
The school offers associate, bachelor's and master's degrees in numerous subjects.
Actress Diane Baker heads the school's acting program.
Athletics
The school sports teams, the Urban Knights, compete as members of the Pacific West Conference in nine sports in NCAA Division II.
Accreditation
Academy of Art University received regional accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges in 2007. The school is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. In interior architecture and design, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (taught or online) and Master of Fine Arts degree are both accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The Master of Architecture degree has since 2006 been accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board.
Alumni
Alumni of the school include:
- Asencio, figurative painter
- Chris Milk, music video director
- Deanne Fitzmaurice, photographer, winner of a 2005 Pulitzer Prize
- Kara Laricks, fashion designer
- Lee Cheol-ha, film director
- Lauren Conrad, actress
- Heidi Montag, actress
- Rodrigo Prieto, cinematographer
- Rick Baker, Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling and special effects for Maleficent
- Patricio Buenrostro Gilhuys, Music video director
- John Vasicek, American Filmmaker
- Bilal Lashari, Pakistani film director and cinematographer
Staff
Past and present staff of the school include:
- Diane Baker, actress
- Jan Yanehiro, television journalist
- Lindsey Yamasaki, basketball player
- Terryl Whitlatch, illustrator
- Art Spiegelman, cartoonist
- Richard Hart, journalist
- Tom Bertino, animator
See also
- List of colleges and universities in California