THE ART INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH

The Art Institute Online
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Distance Learning Program

The Art Institute Online began enrolling students in 2000 and is backed by the eighty-year tradition of exceptional academic standards of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. There is no difference in the outcomes or competencies gained in the courses students take online as compared to those that are taught at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. The difference is the learning process itself. Available degree programs offered through The Art Institute Online include Advertising, Graphic Design, Game Art & Design, Interactive Media Design, Interior Design, and a bachelor's degree completion program in Culinary Management.

Delivery Media

Courses delivered by The Art Institute Online are accessed on a computer using an Internet connection. The Art Institute Online classes are asynchronous, which means that students don't have to attend classes at a specific time of day. Students must log in and participate in class five out of seven days each week, but they can log in at a time of day or night most convenient for them. Asynchronous learning adds a level of convenience for students, but it also means that students must have the discipline and motivation to meet assignment deadlines and attendance requirements. Full-time online students are encouraged to take a maximum of two courses during each 5½-week session, or four courses every quarter.

Programs of Study

The Art Institute Online is currently offering five bachelor's degree programs, one bachelor's degree completion program, two associate degree programs, and three diploma programs. The bachelor's degree programs consist of 180 credits, the associate degree programs consist of 105 credits, and the diploma programs consist of 36 credits. The Bachelor of Science degree is offered in Advertising, Graphic Design, Game Art & Design, Interactive Media Design, and Interior Design; the Culinary Management bachelor's degree completion program is also offered. The Associate of Science degree is offered in Graphic Design and Interactive Media Design. In addition, diploma programs are offered in Digital Design, Residential Planning, and Web Design.

Student Services

There are several student-support services provided to students of The Art Institute Online. These include a virtual library of full-text and graphic databases that include 60,000 digitized works of art and full-text articles from 8,000 magazines, online tutorials that help students develop specific skills needed in their program of study, and admission to the Talk-on! forum where students can meet and share ideas outside of class. Through hardware, software, and bookstore partners' online stores, students can purchase the textbooks and supplies they need at special student pricing. In addition, Career Services advisers offer a range of services to support students as they prepare to enter their intended profession.

Credit Options

There are five ways to gain advanced academic credit at The Art Institute Online. These include Advanced Placement exams, CLEP testing, transfer of credit for postsecondary courses, credit for life/work experience, and the Computer Literacy Test-Out Exam. More information about how to utilize these options can be found at The Art Institute Online Web site or through an Admissions representative. The Art Institute Online, a division of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, is one of The Art Institutes (Ai), with 31 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion, and culinary professionals. The parent company of The Art Institutes, Education Management Corporation, is among the largest providers of private postsecondary education in North America, based on student enrollment and revenue. Student enrollment was more than 60,000 for all the Ai schools in fall 2004. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).

Faculty

Courses at The Art Institute Online are led by trained, experienced instructors, who aid the learning process by addressing student needs, interjecting real-world industry experience, and providing direction to create a unique learning experience for each student. Instead of using lecture as the primary method of teaching, instructors guide discussion among students and ensure that core course material is covered. Typically, the average class size is 15–20 students, which allows the instructors to provide individualized attention to students.

Admission

A prospective student seeking admission to the Advertising, Graphic Design, Interactive Media Design, or Interior Design program at The Art Institute Online must be a high school graduate with a minimum high school GPA of 2.0, hold a General Educational Development (GED) certificate, or have a bachelor's degree or higher.

A prospective student for the Game Art & Design program seeking admission must be a high school graduate with a minimum high school GPA of 2.5, hold a General Educational Development certificate with a score of 257 or higher, or have a bachelor's degree or higher.

A prospective student for the Culinary Management bachelor's degree completion program must have an associate degree in culinary arts.

Tuition and Fees

The standard tuition fee is $383 per credit hour, plus an additional $100 online lab fee per course. Books, software, and other supply costs vary with each program. More information about these costs can be found at The Art Institute Online Web site or through The Art Institute Online Admissions Department.

Financial Aid

Many students receive some form of financial aid to assist them in financing their education. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh participates in federal, some state, and other financial aid programs. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh also offers financial planning to its students, providing payment plans that allow students to budget for the entire program. The goal is to make a student's monthly payments as affordable as possible. After the application forms have been completed, a Student Financial Aid Officer reviews them using a federally required calculation to determine a student's eligibility for financial aid. The Financial Aid Of ficer works with the student and the student's family to devise a Student Financial Plan to help cover educational expenses, based on the student's financial aid eligibility and family circumstances.

CONTACT

Admissions Department
The Art Institute Online
420 Boulevard of the Allies
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
Phone: 877-872-8869 (toll-free)
E-mail: aioadm@aii.edu
Web site: http://www.aionline.edu

Applying

An application for admission must be completed, signed by the applicant, and submitted to The Art Institute Online with a $50 application fee. A prospective student is advised individually about the specific requirements of online programs. In addition, a personal telephone interview and a student's proof of high school graduation are required for acceptance. Applicants must submit a completed enrollment agreement and a $100 enrollment fee within ten days of application. Applicants not accepted for admission receive a full refund of all fees paid.