The Art Institute of Portland

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From the College

At The Art Institute of Portland, students and faculty members share ideas and work together to provide an opportunity to develop skills in the creative arts. Friendships and potential career contacts can be made as new designs emerge and become a part of the vibrant creative culture. The Art Institute of Portland is committed to preparing students to pursue entry-level positions in the arts. The school offers eighteen bachelor’s degree programs and five associate degree programs.

The Art Institute of Portland provides educational programs created to instruct students in skills useful for everyday performance in the workplace. Education is offered along two main tracks in the fields of design and management. Programs include course work in communications, the humanities, social sciences, natural science, and mathematics. In addition, students have access to a wide variety of educational experiences, including workshops, seminars, and internships.

The Art Institute of Portland seeks to provide a diverse, challenging, rewarding educational experience to its students. The Student Affairs Department helps students to enrich their academic experience through student clubs and organizations, school activities, counseling and disability services, and housing services. Student clubs include the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), Fight Club, Rorschach Writers Guild, and the S.T.A.C. (Student Action Committee).

Students come to The Art Institute of Portland from throughout the United States and abroad. 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 to pursue an exciting entry-level position in the arts.

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

The Art Institute of Portland offers housing assistance to all students. School-sponsored housing is available. Resident assistants are trained by the housing staff to help students become acquainted with each other through social and academic activities. Apartment information and roommate referrals are also available for students who choose to live off-campus.

The Art Institute of Portland is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education (8060 165th Avenue NE, Suite 100 Redmond, Washington 98052-3981).

Portland is the largest city in Oregon, located on the Willamette River near its junction with the Columbia River. Since 1888, Portland has been known as the Rose City because of the thousands of flowers that bloom in Washington Park. Natural attractions include the Columbia River Gorge’s 3,000-foot-high basaltic cliffs, Multnomah Falls, and Mount Hood–the site of America’s longest ski season. Portland also has a wide array of coffee shops, Native American art galleries, bookstores, and brew pubs as well as the Oregon Symphony, Tygres Heart Shakespeare Company, Musical Theater Company, Portland Opera, Baroque Orchestra, Northwest Afrikan American Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and Mount Hood Festival of Jazz.

Portland is home to many large apparel companies–students in the Apparel Accessory Design and the Apparel Design programs have the advantage of learning from talented professionals in the industry. In addition, The Art Institute of Portland has built valuable relationships with the Oregon Film and Video Office and the Oregon Media Production Association.

Bachelor’s degrees are available in advertising, apparel accessory design, apparel design, culinary management, design management, design studies, design visualization, digital film & video, fashion marketing, game art & design, graphic design, industrial design, interior design, media arts & animation, photography & design, visual & game programming, visual effects & motion graphics, and Web design & interactive media.

Associate degrees are offered in apparel accessory design, apparel design, culinary arts, graphic design, and Web design & interactive media.

A diploma program is offered in baking & pastry.

The academic year is divided into four quarters, beginning in January, April, July, and October. To earn a bachelor’s degree, students must complete, at minimum, 180 academic credits. To earn an associate degree, students must earn, at minimum, 105 academic credits.

With more than 80,000 square feet of space, The Art Institute of Portland houses computer labs where students work on Macs and PCs using various software applications related to their programs of study. The Art Institute of Portland Gallery serves as a noncommercial exhibition space that reflects and exemplifies the artwork of professionals, faculty members, students, and graduates. Students learn more about industry-related media gear at the Equipment Cage and create high-resolution prints of their projects in the school’s Print Service Center. The library’s specialized collection is organized around the college curriculum, featuring books, journals and magazines, videos, DVDs, and CD-ROMs.

Culinary students learn in an environment similar to what they’ll see in the industry, with professional kitchens that enable them to gain hands-on, real-world experience.

Tuition 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 Portland faculty consists of full-time and part-time instructors, many of whom have degrees and professional experience in their respective fields. The faculty members bring this knowledge and experience to their instruction.

Prospective students begin the application process by writing an essay of approximately 150 words to describe ways in which an education at The Art Institute of Portland may help to meet their creative objectives. Portfolios are encouraged but not required. An application for admission and enrollment agreement must be submitted to the school. Applicants who have taken the SAT or ACT should also submit these test scores. Each individual seeking admission is interviewed by an assistant director of admissions in order to explore the applicant’s background, interests, and 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 or make arrangements for an interview or tour of 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.