College of Art & Design Information
A college of art and design is a specialized institution of higher learning that offers a bachelor's of fine arts and/or a master's of fine arts. Study of the studio arts is the main focus, but a general liberal college education is an important part of the BFA program. A college of art and design may be affiliated with a major university, act as an independent college or more commonly, it might be part of an accredited association of art schools.
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What is Art School?
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A college of art and design is an accredited educational institution that offers students an undergraduate or advanced collegiate degree in one of the many areas of study within the visual arts. These institutions have received accreditation from national and regional accrediting institutions and admission is gained through a strict admissions process. Degree requirements usually require the accumulation of credits for specific college courses.
Portfolio
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A portfolio consists of a series of several pieces of art that are shown to prospective clients (or schools) as a representative example of the student's skill and prowess. The collection should be directed to the proposed area of study (i.e. drawing, illustration, advertising, etc.). High-school art students will need to show a portfolio of appropriate works of art to the art college of their choice as one of the prerequisites for admission. Although an art portfolio is important, it is not the only criteria needed for obtaining admission; traditional academics are also important.
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Degrees Offered
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The two major advanced degrees offered are the bachelor's of fine arts (BFA) and the master's of fine arts (MFA). The BFA is a four-year undergraduate that requires the art student to also study the basic subjects for a liberal-arts degree. This usually includes such classes as English, math and science. The MFA is a two-year advanced degree that specializes in one of the many areas of academic study in the visual arts and studio arts.
NASAD
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The National Association of Schools for Art and Design (NASAD) is responsible for certifying all collegiate programs in the visual arts. This includes both the BFA and MFA programs, as well as some nondegree postsecondary programs. Each institution must apply to association for admission, which is determined by peer review. Currently, they are 294 collegiate institutions that are members of NASAD.
AICAD (Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design)
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Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design(AICAD) is a national association consisting of 36 colleges around the country that offer both a BFA and MFA degree. For a college of art and design to qualify for membership in this organization, it must be accredited by the general, regional, collegiate organization and also obtain certification from NASAD, which is a national organization that gives accreditation to BFA and MFA programs. After these two hurdles are crossed, the college must prove that it is an independent institution, not affiliated with any other degree program, and then gain acceptance from the existing members.
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References
- Photo Credit artist image by george mai from Fotolia.com
