Overview
RMCAD is a Top Art and Design College Whose Foundation Studies Program and Studio Classes Empower Artists to Achieve
The Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) is a school on a mission. Founded in 1963 as a "creative community," it has become a top art and design college through the administration's and faculty's commitment to instilling a passion for the fine and applied arts. A combination of studio classes, seminars, group projects, and independent work nurtures each student's unique talents, introducing them to a life of innovation and lifelong learning.
Regardless of major, every RMCAD student must take foundation studies as freshmen and sophomores, which assist them in refining basic skills while providing a common "art vocabulary" for understanding their own, and others', creative work. Small class size, the intimate learning opportunities of studio classes, and the solid framework of foundation studies are among the true hallmarks of a top art and design college. This Colorado school is not simply an "art and design" school, but a school of artists and designers, students and teachers, and staff and administrators, all of whom are dedicated to the timeless ideals and timely techniques of the evolving art world.
Foundation studies instructors offer their students their "personal reservoir" of experiences, innate talents, and acquired skills. The small class size ensures that the professional graphic designers, various fine artists, and freelance illustrators who develop and deliver RMCAD coursework can work closely with each student. The intimacy and mutual respect that suffuses the learning environment continues in the students' last two years, as well, as they move from foundation studies to the more specific courses required by their particular major.
A Customizable Arts Education at RMCAD is Available in 3-Year Accelerated BFA Program or 4-Year Traditional BFA Program
The Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design operates on the principle that the liberal arts provide a rich and varied human context for the creative arts. The Liberal Studies Department offers a comprehensive curriculum, taught by veteran educators. These diverse professionals bring both spiritual and humanist values to the mix, highlighting the sort of customizable experience available at RMCAD. Faculty members are passionate and committed to enriching students' appreciation of themselves, other people, and the world at large. A customizable experience means that the once-narrow study of history, science, and the humanities -- plus one's art -- can instead be accomplished in a broad, personalized way.
By opting to take courses year-round, students can earn their degree faster. The accelerated BFA program requires attending classes from the fall through the spring, and then during the summer, as well. In a doubly beneficial economic impact, students save money on living expenses and tuition, in addition to getting to work a year sooner as a professional artist or designer. The students choosing the accelerated BFA automatically get fixed tuition, too.
Students opting for a traditional school schedule can complete the traditional BFA program in four years. While taking the majority of their classes in the fall and spring, they can also earn additional credits and take special classes in the summer term. Deciding between the accelerated BFA and the traditional BFA can be difficult, so RMCAD encourages students to speak with an academic adviser about it. Students are expected to make a decision during the first semester of studies.
RMCAD is a Small Community on a Green Campus, Whose Artists and Designers All Add to the Rich Cultural Life of Denver
Located in Denver, Colorado, the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is, by choice and on purpose, a small community. It is intended to be a safe, nurturing environment for artists and designers to explore, create, and grow, personally and professionally. Students will always get their unique needs met, and be on a first-name basis with everyone from the department head to the housing staff. It is not just a small community, but a tight-knit one.
The atmosphere is both informal and focused. Experienced professionals are dedicated to helping talented and hard-working students break into the "real world" of the arts. This concern with the human environment extends to the respect with which the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design treats the natural environment of its campus. RMCAD is proud to be a green campus, with a wealth of lawns, trees, flowers, and wildlife to go along with the vegetable gardens, ongoing conservation efforts, and recycling program. The green campus designation also motivates RMCAD to pursue sustainable design and building practices that protect and respect the environment.
Once a "cow town," Denver has evolved beyond the frontier image. Students from RMCAD quickly learn of the performing arts, galleries, design studios, and music that create a rich cultural life in Denver. The Denver Art Museum not only offers a vast range of collections, it encourages art appreciation through various interactive activities. The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), over 120 commercial art galleries, the city's Public Art Program, and concerts at Red Rock Amphitheater all work together to create a rich cultural life in Denver for RMCAD students and local residents alike.
