Fast-track Your Creative Education With An AAS Degree
If you’re ready to pursue your creative dreams in a professional environment but need to acquire the fundamental skills to do so, Academy of Art University has a degree for you. Our Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees are two-year programs that equip you with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to secure entry-level jobs in creative fields.
We currently offer AAS degrees in four industries: Game, Studio Arts, Film, and Automotive Restoration. An AAS degree not only helps you enter the job market more quickly but also provides a terrific foundation for pursuing a BFA or MFA degree in the future.
ArtU 2+2
If you are currently pursuing—or considering—an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree at Academy of Art University, there’s an added benefit you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Credits from your AAS degree will transfer to a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree*, if and when you decide to earn one at the Academy. We call this ArtU 2+2 (two years of initial study to earn your AAS, plus another two years of study to earn a Bachelor’s degree). ArtU 2+2 ensures that all of your educational efforts are maximized to your advantage.
* The Automotive Restoration AAS degree is a terminal degree; credits do not transfer to the Industrial Design BFA program.
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Game
This program focuses on level-design tools, techniques, and practices. The targeted curriculum covers both 3D and 2D level design and the gameplay mechanics associated with being a professional-level designer. Graduates will be well-prepared for entry-level positions in the game development industry, including Level Designer, Mission Designer, and Junior Game Designer.
In this AAS program, all students follow the same first-year core curriculum. In the second year, you’ll have the opportunity to choose an area of emphasis in Game Design, Game Art, or Concept Art for Games. Our program is written and taught by game industry veterans with experience in all different genres and styles.
Classes include:
- Game Engines
- Introduction to Game Development
- Game Design, Theory, and Analysis
- Introduction to Maya
- 2D Tools for Game Development
- Introduction to Programming
- Level Design for Video Games
- Elements of Scripting
- Unreal Lighting, VFX & Animation
- Level Design and Mechanics
- Range Combat
- Game Genre-Focused Projects
Studio Arts
Our AAS in Studio Arts is ideal for anyone striving for a career in Fine Art. From adult education and private workshops to gallery employment and entrepreneurial ventures, the program offers a solid springboard for students’ artistic aspirations.
All studio arts students will follow the same first-year core curriculum. In the second year, you will choose an area of emphasis—Illustration, Visual Development, or Fine Art Painting—to ensure the skills you acquire are easily transferable to entry-level jobs.
Classes include:
- Figure Drawing
- Figure Modeling
- Still Life Painting 1
- Ceramics
- Watercolor
- Landscape Painting
- Abstract Painting
- Animal Sculpture
- Wheel-formed Sculpture
Film
The AAS in Film prioritizes practical technical skills to equip students with the fundamental competencies for entry-level jobs in the film industry. Through hands-on projects and a strong emphasis on skills like sound design, motion graphics, basic cinematography, and editing, this program prepares students for exciting, multi-disciplinary careers.
To gain the fundamental skills for entry-level positions in the entertainment industry, all students will follow the same first-year core curriculum. In the second year, you will choose an area of emphasis: Cinematography, Editing, Production Design, Writing, Directing, or Producing.
Classes include:
- Edit 1
- Cinematic Storytelling
- Sound Design
- Avid Certification
- Cinematography 1
- After Effects
- Production Design
- Lighting 1
- Pro Tools
- Assistant Editing
- Scheduling and Budgeting
- Directing
Automotive Restoration
In the Automotive restoration degree program*, you learn the technologically and historically accurate preservation or restoration of vintage vehicles. We will focus on key components of successful vehicle restoration or recreation, including techniques in woodwork and machine work, sheet metal work, and processes of disassembly and assembly. You will gain practical, collaborative experience working within a team to perform the restoration of a vintage car.
The Academy teaches restoration by giving students the opportunity to sit in one-of-a-kind classic cars and observe their construction, feel the texture of the leather, study the shape and subtle nuances of fenders, bumpers, doors, and bodies. For Academy of Art University students, automobile restoration is a hands-on practical experience, learning the state-of-the-art technologies that help to preserve these treasures.
* The Automotive Restoration AAS degree is a terminal degree; credits do not transfer to the Industrial Design BFA program.
Get One Step Closer To Your Creative Career
The Academy’s two-year AAS programs offer incredible opportunities for fast-tracking your creative ambitions. Don’t put your dreams on hold; learn more about AAS degrees today.
The AAS degree and ArtU 2+2 programs are currently unavailable to residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Virginia, Wisconsin, and to students receiving Military/Veteran financial assistance.
