The Art Institute of California - San Francisco is now accepting applications for its new Bachelor of Science degree program in Advertising. The twelve-quarter, 192 credit hour program is designed to provide graduates with the skills needed to work in art direction, copywriting, account supervision and other aspects of the field of advertising.
Unlike other schools that traditionally offer Advertising classes through a business department, the program at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco provides a solid art and design foundation combined with hands-on courses in numerous advertising-related subjects.
The program provides graduates with a foundation in critical thinking, design, advertising campaign, and business marketing skills needed to pursue a career in advertising. Students develop the creative and conceptual thinking and group awareness skills needed to produce design solutions. Courses include Fundamentals of Design, Form & Space, Digital Illustration, History of Media & Mass Communication, Color Theory, Typography, Branding, Storyboarding, Advertising Design, Advanced Advertising Campaigns, Advertising Sales & Ratings, Media Planning & Buying, Art Direction and several Portfolio courses. The program also features components in copy writing, public relations, consumer behavior, research, international marketing and management.
In order to develop a well-rounded knowledge base useful in creative careers, students also take general education courses in mathematics, social sciences, psychology, art history, philosophy and the humanities.
The program prepares students for entry-level positions with advertising agencies, design studios, marketing companies and departments, and production companies. Other career fields may include environmental design, commercial design, exhibition design and merchandising design. Students graduate with a portfolio of work designed to help them land an entry-level job in the field.
The Advertising curriculum was designed with input from advertising experts from throughout the West Coast and the United States. The school's faculty, many of whom are working professionals, provide students with real-world examples from the design and adverting profession. In addition, the school works with Program Advisory Committees for each of its programs to provide further input from industry professionals.
"This is a career-focused program offering a mix of art and design skills, creative problem-solving, team project work and business acumen needed to enter the advertising field," said Caren Meghreblian, Ph.D., Dean of Education at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco.
The Art Institute of California - San Francisco also offers internship opportunities, guest speakers from the industry, networking events at the school, student clubs and other amenities for students to get involved in their fields of study. The San Francisco Bay Area is home to numerous large and small advertising agencies, providing additional opportunities for networking and career opportunities for graduates.
The Art Institute of California - San Francisco offers degree programs in advertising, graphic design, media arts and animation, game art and design, visual and game programming, multimedia and web design, fashion design, fashion marketing and management and interior design.