Prepare yourself for a creative career at The Art Institute of Charlotte, one of over 40 Art Institutes located in major cities across North America. We’ll help take you there with a real-world, hands-on education in design, media arts, fashion & the culinary arts. Just imagine: preparing for a career you’ll love. Becoming the professional you’ve always known you could be.
Programs Offered:
Financial Aid: Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
Career Services: Our career services are designed to encourage your success. From helping you obtain part-time work while you are attending school to actively supporting soon-to-be graduates' job search, faculty and staff are committed to ensuring that each and every student receive the support he or she needs.
Summary of Programs:
In the Art of Cooking program, you’ll focus on cooking skills, baking, pastry, and American regional cuisine. You’ll learn plating and presentation as you build upon your cooking experience.
In the Culinary Arts program, you’ll gain practical experience in the kitchen while studying the business of cost control, sanitation and safety, menu and beverage management, nutrition, and kitchen management. You’ll learn to produce food quickly and in quantity while working with others. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as line cook and pantry cook (garde manger).
In the Culinary Arts Management program, you’ll focus on what it takes to manage a kitchen, restaurant, or catering operation. You’ll study communications, training, leadership, management, accounting, marketing, financial management, and employee relations. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as restaurant manager or catering manager in restaurants, hospitals, cruise ships, and banquet facilities.
In the Digital Filmmaking & Video Production program, you will learn to formulate, construct, and deliver digital audio, video, and motion graphics. Coursework will familiarize you with advances in high definition video, storage area networks, and software toolsets - and you’ll work with industry-related software and equipment. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as video editor, video producer, or digital videographer.
In the Digital Design program, you’ll study drawing, design fundamentals, lettering and typography, and graphic design. Build a portfolio as you create color composites, renderings, and learn mechanical preparation. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as production and design positions with advertising agencies, graphic design firms, corporate communications departments, and printing companies.
In the Fashion Marketing program, you’ll fine-tune your fashion buying and marketing skills. The program prepares you to choose your own direction as you learn from fashion professionals and study merchandise presentation, visual merchandising, retailing, and buying. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as assistant fashion buyer, fashion merchandiser, retail store manager, or runway coordinator.
In the Fashion Marketing & Management program, you’ll fine-tune your fashion buying and marketing skills. The program familiarizes you with merchandise presentation, visual merchandising, retailing, store management, and buying. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as retail and wholesale sales, stylist, management trainee, or visual merchandiser in department stores, boutiques, and designer showrooms.
In the Graphic Design program, you’ll study design, typography, and color theory. Industry-specific software is utilized to help you learn to create everything from logos and posters to packaging, Web sites, and corporate identity packages. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as advertising designer, computer artist, freelance artist, graphic designer, or layout artist.
In the Interior Design program, you’ll study the design, safety, and usability issues of creating the spaces that we live, work, and play within. Coursework focuses on space planning, traffic patterns, and the colors, surfaces, and furnishings that make surroundings comfortable and livable. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as draftsperson, facilities planner, interior designer/decorator, or space planner.
The Photography program teaches you composition, lighting, and equipment use. Darkroom techniques, color, and design are explored both on location and in a studio. You’ll develop business skills as you fine-tune your eye for detail. Both digital and film will be utilized. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as commercial photographer, digital photographer, industrial photographer, photo lab technician, or photojournalist.
The Residential Design program is an interior design program designed for those with little or no previous art or design experience. You will learn the industry fundamentals of space planning and traffic patterns, as well as the colors, surfaces, and furnishings that make for a comfortable place to live, work, and play. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as designers or support personnel in interior design studios, including those of material and supply companies and design firms.
In the Web Design program, you’ll study HTML scripting, designing graphics for the screen, Web site development using current applications, operating systems, network technology, web animation, and desktop editing skills. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as Web site designer, Web artist, Web producer, Web site developer, and multimedia producer.
Learn more about Web Design and Interactive Media, a web-related program that may interest you.
In the Web Design & Interactive Media (formerly Interactive Media Design) program, you’ll focus on interface design, interactivity, visual design, database design, dynamic Web content design, technology, and information design and employ creative solutions across all Web-related mediums. You’ll learn skills that will enable you to create accessible, engaging interactions via Web sites and other interactive mediums. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment in positions such as interactive designer, animator, special effects artist, and computer artist.
Degree Key: C = Certificate AAS = Associate of Applied Science BA = Bachelor of Arts BS = Bachelor of Science