The Art Institute of Philadelphia is a private, college with student enrollment reaching 3,700 in the fall of 2007. Conveniently located in downtown Philadelphia, the college offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Advertising, Audio Production, Culinary Management, Digital Filmmaking & Video Production, Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing, Graphic Design, Industrial Design Technology, Interior Design, Media Arts & Animation, Photography, Visual Effects & Motion Graphics, and Web Design & Interactive Media. Students may also earn Associate of Science degrees in Culinary Arts, Digital Filmmaking & Video Production, Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Photography, Visual Merchandising, and Web Design & Interactive Media. Diploma programs are offered in Baking & Pastry and Culinary Arts.

Founded by artist Philip Trachtman in 1971, the college was acquired by Education Management Corporation in 1979. The Art Institute of Philadelphia occupies 1622 Chestnut Street, a building originally designed in 1928 as the CBS flagship radio station affiliate. Designated as a historical site by the Philadelphia Historical Commission, the Art Deco building became home to the college in 1982. Today, The Art Institute has additional academic facilities at 1610, 1510 and 1530 Chestnut Street and 2300 Market Street.

Educational programs at The Art Institute of Philadelphia provide balanced, quality education in applied arts technology and techniques, related business practices, and general education. From curriculum to equipment, programs are designed to provide students with the skills necessary to join their chosen career fields at the entry level.

Faculty members are dedicated professionals who strive to strengthen students’ skills and cultivate their talents.

The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools has accredited the Art Institute of Philadelphia to award bachelor’s degrees, associate’s degrees and diplomas. While the college is also a candidate for accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (a regional commission), the Art Institute of Philadelphia’s Associate of Science Degree in the Culinary Arts is accredited by the American Culinary Federation.

Offering thirteen different Bachelor of Science Degrees as well as nine Associate of Science Degree programs and two Diplomas, the Art Institute of Philadelphia has several different levels of study available.

In design, bachelor’s degrees are available in Advertising, Graphic Design, Interior Design and Industrial Design. For Media Arts majors, Bachelor of Science degrees are available in Audio Production, Digital Video & Filmmaking Production, Media Arts & Animation, Photography, Visual Effects & Motion Graphics and Web Design & Interactive Media. Fashion Majors can receive their B.S. in Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing, while a Bachelors Degree in Culinary Management rounds out the group of four-year degrees offered by the institute.

For busy adults, an evening and weekend program is available for students pursuing degrees in the Culinary Arts.

The Admissions to Art Institute of Philadelphia

Because the Institute runs on four academic quarters, students can apply towards the end of each season to begin their college careers, with applications due typically one month before class begins. Applicants must submit an Application for Admission and an Enrollment Agreement along with the application fee. The application can be completed online. After receiving an acknowledgment letter, applicants must pay an enrollment fee and forward a brief essay along with high school transcripts and SAT and ACT scores, or GED scores and diploma.

Requirements for admission to the Art Institute of Philadelphia include a high school diploma with either a minimum GPA of 2.0, a minimum SAT score of 880 or a minimum ACT score of 18. Students who hold a GED must have scores of at least 246. Students who have already completed associates or higher degrees need only forward their transcripts to fulfill the requirement.

Applicants for the Audio Production Bachelor of Science program must have completed high school with a minimum GPA of 2.5, a minimum SAT Math score of 450 or an ACT Math score of at least 18. Applicants with a GED must have a minimum score of 450.

Above all, the application process aims to understand the applicant, with numbers as part of the supporting evidence. Interviews will be conducted with all applicants.

The Financial Aid in the Art Institute of Philadelphia

Financial aid is available to students who wish to attend the Art Institute of Philadelphia. Every applicant should file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to begin the process. State and federal grants may be available, along with loans. In addition, the Art Institute offers scholarships to the winners of several different contests.

The Art Institutes Scholarship Competition and Art Institutes Merit Awards are two examples of need and talent-based scholarships. The Best Teen Chef and Passion for Fashion Scholarships are awarded to the emerging talents in each respective field.

In addition, national scholarships are available to Art Institute students. High school students who are members of the National Art Honor Society can receive scholarships for placing in the top five of the competition. C-Cap students can receive a full scholarship that covers two years of tuition at the Art Institute of Philadelphia. Pro-Start students can vie for scholarships to be used for the Culinary Arts Program.

The Life of Students in the Art Institute of Philadelphia

Students coming to the Art Institute of Philadelphia are from all over the country and world. While some students will enroll directly out of high school, many others enroll in search of a new career or continued education. For the challenges faced from either point of view, there is a Department of Student Affairs just down Chestnut Street from the main building.

About 30% of Art Institute of Philadelphia students live in campus housing. Applicants can include the cost of residence fees as part of the financial application. Beyond that, many students choose to live in Center City for its ease of access and many cultural benefits.

For the majority of work students will need to do, there are 22 computer labs, of which 13 are operating with Macintosh machines. Most of these are equipped with internet. Because the majority of majors include hands-on application, there are design labs and post-production studios where students can fine-tune their projects. One of the highlights is a 1500 square-foot media room, where editing equipment is on hand for Media Arts Majors. Photography Majors have extensive darkrooms and imaging studios. Culinary Arts Majors have a full a la carte kitchen at their disposal to try their hand in a real work environment, but the biggest test is the faculty/student-operated restaurant called Petite Passion.

The amount of clubs available to students at the Art Institute of Philadelphia is extensive. From comic book collectors to Christian organizations and an intramural basketball league, there are a number of ways to spend your time in a constructive and enjoyable way. Additionally, each area of study has groups that meet to exchange ideas on the curriculum and share ideas for upcoming presentations. Joining student groups is recommended as a way to enter college life smoothly. The entire list of organizations is available from the Department of Student Affairs.

The Local Community in the Art Institute of Philadelphia

Attending the Art Institute of Philadelphia has the added benefit of living in America’s sixth-largest city, the site of many key events in the American Revolution. Close to the school are the sites where Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, and where Benjamin Franklin established the first post office. The beautiful Old City area has an authentic eighteenth-century feel with its excellently preserved buildings.

For art students, there are a number of resources, including a world-renowned Art Museum and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Just outside the city is the legendary Barnes foundation, where one of the best collections of French Impressionist painters resides. Because the downtown area of Philadelphia is relatively compact, students are able to use public transportation, or simply walk the short distances between institute locations. Four of five institute facilities are on three blocks of Chestnut Street.

For further exploring, Fairmount Park, which is the largest park within city limits in the United States, has countless access points throughout the city. One of the finest stretches wraps around the Art Museum and down the River Drives.

Sports enthusiasts can see games in all four of the major U.S. sports, with all four teams playing in South Philadelphia, a short distance from the campus of the Art Institute of Philadelphia.

Faculty Supplies Students

The Art Institute of Philadelphia provides education programs that prepare students to pursue an entry-level job in the creative arts. The school offers thirteen bachelor's degree programs and nine associate degree programs.

Students come to The Art Institute of Philadelphia from across the country and abroad. The student body includes a diverse population--from men and women who enrolled directly after completing high school to those who transferred in from colleges and universities to those who have left employment to prepare for new careers.

Students at The Art Institute of Philadelphia have the opportunity to join such professional organizations as AIGA, the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), and the Future Faces of Fashion Association.

Whether in the student lounge, the gallery, The Art Institute of Philadelphia Supply Store, or the extensive resource center, the daily gathering of students and faculty and staff members can make it easy to feel the energy, caring, and commitment that underlie an education at The Art Institute of Philadelphia. Classes are structured to be as close to a professional work environment as possible. Students practice their skills in labs and studios featuring industry-relevant technologies.

Assistance is available to help students with resume writing, networking, and keeping abreast of what employers are looking for in job candidates. The school offers a skills-enhancement program designed to help students prepare for college-level English and math courses, and confidential counseling is available when academic or personal problems create roadblocks to success.

The Student Services Department helps enrolled students to locate appropriate housing. Options include school-sponsored, apartment-style housing and independent apartment living.

Recently the Philadelphia Schools together with the Philadelphia Arts in Education began to work together and established a good-working program which is called "Artist in Residence Program." Due to this program artists cooperated with teachers in schools during ten days. Their aim was to integrate literacy and arts instruction for over 14,000 students in selected Philadelphia Schools.

Evidently, the Department of Education has confidence in program. After this program the schools of Philadelphia will continue this successful program providing a grant for the Art Bridges over the next four years. Art Bridges will provide 5 schools with onsite artists who will instruct students and collaborate with classroom teachers towards the goal of achieving state and local literacy goals.

The aims of this program for the Philadelphia schools are: to improve academic performance in reading; improve students' attitudes of self and school; help classroom teachers integrate arts and literacy; improve teacher capacity; and improve teacher understanding of core curriculum. Philadelphia Schools will provide on-going professional development to both the artists and teachers involved in the project. Artists will represent organizations like the Philadelphia Theatre Company and the Clay Studio. Poets, playwrights, and artists are among those involved.

This bridge will work by targeting 4th, 5th and 6th graders from Philadelphia Schools over the four-year life of the grant. This will make students stronger and will motivate them for further work. Philadelphia Schools were selected for participation based on the following criteria: a neighborhood elementary housing at least two grades of 4, 5, and 6 grade classrooms; the school must employ an art and music specialists; and it must be defined as low achieving by Adequate Yearly Progress markers. Qualified Philadelphia Schools that applied were then chosen by a random lottery.

From this article you can receive the information about the Art Institute in Philadelphia and about the life of students during their studies. Educational establishments in Philadelphia try to participate in different programs which help students to widen their views and to be skilful in different fields. By these programs schools and the art institute try to couple literacy and the art. This makes students more creative and studies for them become more interesting. If Philadelphia Schools can show success with this approach, the impact on arts education and the education of at-risk students could be huge.