According to abbreviationfinder, Academy of Art University is commonly known as AAU. Academy of Art University is a private, for-profit art school located in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1929 by Richard S. Stephens, a painter and magazine editor, as the Academy of Advertising Art. Initially offering classes in commercial art, the school expanded its curriculum to include fine arts and interior design during the 1950s. Today, Academy of Art University is one of the largest private accredited art and design schools in the United States.
The university offers more than 135 accredited degree programs across 21 departments and divisions including animation & visual effects, architecture, fashion design & merchandising, film & television production and game development. The university also offers online courses in addition to its on-campus program. There are currently over 12,000 students enrolled at Academy of Art University from all 50 states and over 100 countries around the world.
At Academy of Art University students can pursue an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree depending on their interests and goals. The university also has several Certificate Programs which provide intensive instruction in specialized areas such as Game Design or Visual Effects Production for those who want to further their education but do not want to commit to a full degree program.
The university has strong ties with the industry through partnerships with companies like Adobe Systems Inc., Apple Inc., Autodesk Inc., DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., and Electronic Arts Inc.. These partnerships give students access to state-of-the-art software programs used by professional artists and designers working in today’s industry as well as internships with these companies that allow them to gain real world experience while still attending school.
In addition to providing quality education opportunities for students interested in pursuing careers related to art and design, Academy of Art University also seeks to promote creativity through various events hosted by the school throughout the year including student exhibitions at galleries across San Francisco such as Modernism Gallery or Catharine Clark Gallery; annual fashion shows; film festivals; game jams; open houses; lectures from industry professionals; workshops; symposiums; field trips; international travel opportunities; competitions such as Adobe Design Achievement Awards or ACM SIGGRAPH Student Research Competitions; career fairs featuring recruiters from top employers like Pixar Animation Studios or Disney Interactive Media Group among many others.
Academy of Art University is committed to helping its students reach their potential by providing them with an innovative learning environment that includes dedicated faculty members who are experienced professionals working within their respective fields both inside and outside academia, giving them direct insight into current trends within each field, and allowing them to better prepare their students for success after graduation whether it be through employment placement assistance or portfolio review services.
