The Art Institute of Pittsburgh

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From the College

At The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, students are given the opportunity to learn new ways to apply creative talent, energy, and skills to a world of commercial and culinary arts, design, and technology. With fourteen bachelor’s and seven associate degree programs, the school prepares students to pursue entry-level positions in the creative arts.

The school is located within a renovated historic landmark building with ten floors of fully networked, industry-standard computer labs and specialty facilities. Four kitchens, editing suites, digital photography labs, a television production studio, and an industrial design machine shop allow students to gain expertise in their fields of study.

The student population includes recent high school graduates, transfer students, and those who have left a previous employment situation to study and train for a new career. Students are creative, competitive, and open to new ideas. They place great value on an education that prepares them for an exciting entry-level position in the arts. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Student Affairs Department arranges school activities and events. The department also employs a student activities coordinator who plans various events, theme parties, and clubs. Events are communicated via weekly and quarterly newsletters as well as through a television network. A cross-program Student Council represents the needs and issues of the entire student body. The school also supports approximately twenty clubs and intramural sports teams and oversees the activities and concerns of school-sponsored housing residents. The Student Life Department offers counseling services.

Students at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh may find reasonably priced housing within a 5- to 10-minute walk of the school through the school’s Housing Department. Amenities include cable/Internet service, laundry facilities, and easy access to public transportation.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. (3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; phone: 267-284-5000; Web site: www.msche.org). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

The Associate of Science in Culinary Arts degree is accredited by the American Culinary Federation Foundation, Inc. Accrediting Commission. The interior design program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (146 Monroe Center NW, Suite 1318, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503-2822; Web site: www.accredit-id.org).

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is nestled in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle. Pittsburgh is a thriving metropolis, sprawling over 55 square miles. It is situated halfway between New York City and Chicago and is within a 2-hour flight or a one-day drive of more than 70 percent of the U.S. population.

Pittsburgh is the international headquarters of many technology-driven businesses. Culture abounds, with summer concerts in the downtown’s Market Square at no charge, new theaters, thriving nightlife districts, quaint coffee shops, and retail merchants on every corner. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ stadium and the Pirates’ waterfront PNC Park adorn the city’s North Shore. Pittsburgh is serviced by Greater Pittsburgh International Airport, one of the largest and most retail-developed airports in the country.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh offers bachelor’s degree programs in advertising, culinary management, digital filmmaking & video production, entertainment design, fashion & retail management, game art & design, graphic design, hotel & restaurant management, industrial design, interior design, media arts & animation, photography, visual effects & motion graphics, and Web design & interactive media.

Associate of Science degree programs are offered in culinary arts, digital filmmaking & video production, graphic design, industrial design technology, kitchen & bath design, photography, and Web design & interactive media.

Diploma programs are offered in the art of cooking, digital design, and Web design.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is located in a fully networked, 170,000-square-foot historic landmark building. The facility has interchangeable classroom, computer, and cell animation labs with extended access to Macintosh and PC computers and design and animation software. Photography students use a digital darkroom as well as traditional wet labs and printing stations. Interior design students have access to a fabric and textile research facility and computer-aided drawing software. The building is equipped with a television studio, digital editing suites, and Foley audio studio to support the video production curriculum. An industrial design shop is available. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh also contains a program-oriented library.

Culinary students learn in an environment similar to what they’ll see in the industry, with professional kitchens and “A Taste of Art,” a working restaurant where culinary students serve the public.

Tuition cost varies by program. Prospective students should contact the school for current tuition costs. Other charges include a starting kit for all first-quarter students. Kits vary in price depending on the program of study.

Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Students who require financial assistance should first complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meet with a financial aid officer.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh faculty and staff members are professionals, many of whom are drawn from the ranks of industry. The school’s faculty consists of full-time and part-time instructors who teach students how to cultivate conceptual, creative, and problem-solving skills.

In addition, assistance is available to help students with resume writing, networking, and keeping abreast of what employers are looking for in job candidates.

A prospective student must be a high school graduate with a high school QPA of 2.0 or higher (2.5 or higher QPA required for admission into game art and design), hold a General Educational Development (GED) certificate, or have a bachelor’s degree or higher as a prerequisite for admission. Students who have completed high school or its equivalent but cannot provide the necessary documentation may provide alternate documentation to satisfy this requirement. The president of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh must approve all exceptions. A student who holds a bachelor’s degree or higher may submit proof of the degree to satisfy the high school graduation or General Educational Development (GED) requirement. There is a portfolio requirement for media arts and animation and game art and design program candidates.

All applicants are evaluated on the basis of their previous education, background, and stated or demonstrated interest in their program of choice. Applicants who have taken the SAT or ACT are encouraged to submit scores to the Admissions Office for evaluation.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. An application for admission must be completed and signed by the applicant and be submitted along with an essay stating how The Art Institute of Pittsburgh can help the student to attain his or her creative goals. There is a $50 application fee.

For the most recent information regarding admission requirements, please refer to the current academic catalog.

To obtain an application, make arrangements for an interview, or tour the school, students should contact:

The Art Institute of Atlanta®; The Art Institute of Atlanta®–Decatur; The Art Institute of Austin℠, A branch of The Art Institute of Houston; The Art Institute of California℠–Hollywood; The Art Institute of California℠–Inland Empire; The Art Institute of California℠–Los Angeles; The Art Institute of California℠–Orange County; The Art Institute of California℠–Sacramento; The Art Institute of California℠–San Diego; The Art Institute of California℠–San Francisco; The Art Institute of California℠–Sunnyvale; The Art Institute of Charleston℠, A branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta; The Art Institute of Charlotte®; The Art Institute of Colorado®; The Art Institute of Dallas®; The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale®; The Art Institute of Houston®; The Art Institute of Houston–North®; The Art Institute of Indianapolis℠*; The Art Institute of Jacksonville℠, A branch of Miami International University of Art & Design; The Art Institute of Las Vegas®; The Art Institute of Michigan℠; The Art Institute of New York City®; The Art Institute of Ohio℠–Cincinnati**; The Art Institute of Philadelphia®; The Art Institute of Phoenix®; The Art Institute of Pittsburgh®; The Art Institute of Portland®; The Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham℠; The Art Institute of Salt Lake City℠; The Art Institute of Seattle®; The Art Institute of Tampa℠, A branch of Miami International University of Art & Design; The Art Institute of Tennessee℠–Nashville, A branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta; The Art Institute of Tucson℠; The Art Institute of Vancouver℠; The Art Institute of Washington℠***, A branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta; The Art Institute of York–Pennsylvania℠; The Art Institutes International–Kansas City℠; The Art Institutes International Minnesota℠; The Illinois Institute of Art®–Chicago; The Illinois Institute of Art®–Schaumburg; Miami International University of Art & Design℠; The New England Institute of Art®.

*The Art Institute of Indianapolis is regulated by the Indiana Commission on Proprietary Education, 302 W. Washington St., Rm. E201, Indianapolis, IN 46204, AC-0080.

**The Art Institute of Ohio–Cincinnati, 8845 Governors Hill Drive, Suite 100, Cincinnati, OH 45249-3317, OH Reg. #04-01-1698B.

***Certified by the State Council of Higher Education to operate in Virginia.