Art therapists work with all age groups, genders, and ethnicities to support them in managing a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Most undergraduate and graduate programs in art therapy will stipulate a strong foundation in psychology and studio art experience. 

Student-led research and field experiences are cornerstones of an art therapy program, providing future art therapists with the opportunity to work in schools, juvenile detention centers, psychiatric hospitals, and other organizations focused on providing social services to diverse populations.

To become an art therapist, you must obtain a license, and the requirements vary by state. 

Therefore, it is essential to research the specific requirements listed in the state where you wish to practice art therapy before applying to graduate programs. 

Art therapy continues to grow as a popular career and treatment option. An entry-level art therapist can expect to earn between $40,000 and $50,000 annually out of college; of course, salary figures vary based on geographic location.

Here are 10 of the best art therapy schools in the U.S. These schools were chosen as they are regularly ranked among the top art therapy programs in online publications, such as College Factual and Universities.com. 

New York University (New York, NY)

NYU’s art therapy MA boasts a 100% graduation and post-graduate job placement rate. 

The 60-credit program compels students to apply clinical knowledge to a range of real-world contexts, provides them with opportunities to work with diverse populations facing social barriers to obtaining support, and culminates in a final project, wherein students present independent research findings at a conference to their colleagues.

A recent example of a student research project focuses on exploring art therapy’s impact in treating people with Parkinson’s disease. 

Preliminary results suggest noteworthy improvements in patients’ overall motor function and psychological well-being. 

In these types of endeavors, art therapy students examine the correlation between participation in specific art media and corresponding changes in brain function, as revealed by brain imaging equipment.

Living in New York City means students will have increased access to art museums, galleries, workshops, and other facilities. Additionally, events like the NYU Creative Arts Therapies Consortium draw experts from all over the world to discuss the future of art therapy.

Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA)

Students can pursue an MA or Ph.D. in art therapy and counseling at Drexel University, the first higher learning institution in the U.S.A. to matriculate art therapy students. 

The MA program requires students to complete 90 quarter credits to meet the Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) requirements for licensure.

Field experience is a signature component of the Drexel art therapy MA. Students can expect to complete two to three practicums in settings like psychiatric hospitals, interdisciplinary behavioral health facilities, and foster care centers. 

After attending in-person classes from fall through spring, students participate in online courses throughout the summer, enabling them to engage in field experiences outside the Philadelphia region.

One example of an art therapy elective course is Addictions and Recovery Art Therapy Approaches. Participants examine how eating disorders, addictions, and hoarding behaviors can be treated using creative processes as a means to concretize feelings, inner turmoil, and motivations.

Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL)

FSU’s art therapy program has consistently been ranked among the best in the nation. Whether you pursue an MS in art therapy or a Ph.D. in art education (with a specialization in art therapy), you can expect a course of study that prioritizes student opportunities for research and experiential education.

An average graduate art therapy cohort ranges from 16-20 students, ensuring an intimate student-to-faculty ratio of 5:1. 

Social justice themes are woven throughout the MS curriculum, emphasizing the inequities that various marginalized populations may face in their attempts to seek mental health diagnoses and treatment. 

In the Ph.D. sequence, students receive dedicated mentorship in their efforts to fill existing gaps within the art therapy research niche. The Ph.D. usually takes four to six years to complete, culminating in a dissertation.

George Washington University (Washington, DC)

Founded in 1971, GWU’s art therapy program stands out from peer institutions through its combination of trauma training, internship placements, and global partnerships. 

All art therapy graduate students complete trauma training in year two, where they work with on-site clients in the GW Art Therapy Clinic on a range of cases.

Study abroad opportunities entice students to travel to places like Lebanon, Croatia, and Hong Kong, where student-led research opportunities and trainings abound. 

Service learning is typically a significant component of these programs, where students work with diverse communities experiencing unique mental health phenomena.

Another exciting offering is the combined BA in psychological and brain science and MA in art therapy degree, wherein undergraduates may complete 12 graduate credits on an accelerated timeline. 

Regardless of which program students enroll in, they will collaborate with various community outreach partners, including the Andrews Air Force Base Wounded Warriors Program, Wendt Center for Loss and Healing, and U.S. Senate Wellness Fair organizers.

Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)

The Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University offers a BA in art therapy. In addition to practicums in therapeutic settings, undergraduates at Temple additionally devote time to creating their own art installations. 

One example of an interdisciplinary project – Hope Springs – prompts students to tell a story in response to the theme of “hope” using mixed materials. 

These are the kinds of projects they might support future clients in creating via art therapy treatment. Through assigning creative projects to students, Temple seeks to provide insight into how a client experiences various modes of art therapy.

Temple’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture maintains a 250k+ square foot facility that houses ample workshops, classroom spaces, courtyards, and meeting rooms – all of which are conducive to student collaboration. 

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (Edwardsville, IL)

Art creation is emphasized at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Here, only ten students are admitted to the highly selective MA in art therapy each autumn. 

Graduate students work alongside practicing art therapists in various urban, rural, and suburban settings to gain exposure to diverse populations and their mental health needs. Practicum experiences take place in juvenile detention centers, Head Start settings, and schools, for example.

All art therapy graduate students undergo a first-year review process before working with clients in a therapeutic setting. 

Years two and three involve 15-25 hours of on-site work on a weekly basis – each student will complete one practicum with children or teenagers and another with adult clients. By the end of the program, graduates will have a minimum of 800 hours of clinical practicum experience.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, IL)

The SAIC’s MA in art therapy and counseling consists of 42 core credits, nine hours of fieldwork, an optional six-hour art therapy thesis or three-hour graduate project, and three to six credits in studio electives.

In a class like Disability Studies: Reimagining Bodies, students examine the intersectionality of disabilities and other social identifiers while attending various disability cultural events, creating multimedia art representations, and more.

In addition to the MA sequence, undergraduates may also enroll in a host of introductory-level courses. 

The institute opens access to classes like The Creative Process as Art Therapy, where undergraduates engage in studio work and compare Eastern approaches, Jungian methods, and other treatments with the effort to develop an essential “toolbox” for future clients coming to them with a range of psychological needs. 

In another course like Ritual and Artmaking in Healing, students explore how various cultures use daily rituals and milestones to achieve physical and mental healing.

Pratt Institute (Brooklyn, NY)

The Pratt Institute’s creative arts therapy program gives students a chance to become a psychotherapist specializing in either art or dance movement. 

Both MPS options consist of 60 credits combining theoretical and practical applications in art/dance therapy. This program may be best suited for aspiring therapists seeking a broader program of studies instead of intense specialization in one area of focus.

Typically, graduate art therapy students will enroll in 15-week courses during the fall and spring semesters while simultaneously participating in internships from September through May. 

There is a low-residency option where students are only required to complete fieldwork in the spring semester if scheduling is a limitation.

Students complete interdisciplinary research studies in an area of interest. In one example, a graduate student used the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory to measure stress levels by collecting saliva samples from participants. 

The student researcher concluded that baking (as a therapeutic arts activity) effectively decreases cortisol levels in adult patients living with anxiety.

University of Indianapolis (Indianapolis, IN)

The MA in mental health counseling at the University of Indianapolis advertises an art therapy track. 

Admitted students must have obtained 18 credits in studio art and 12 credits in psychology, with abnormal psychology and developmental psychology serving as mandatory prerequisites.

Classes occur during the day and evening, and all students complete a practicum and an internship. 

The MA can be completed in as few as five semesters. Graduate students gain experience with modalities like drawing, ceramics, and painting – all mediums they might employ as treatment approaches once they become licensed art therapists.

Undergraduates can additionally major in pre-art therapy/studio art. In this case, the curriculum immerses BA candidates in a foundation of psychology to prepare them for future field placements in rehabilitation centers, schools, and outpatient treatment facilities.

Long Island University (Brookville, NY)

LIU’s MA in clinical art therapy and counseling is generally capped at under 25 students and includes a healthy international student population. 

Graduate art therapy students can select to engage in internship placements from a list of 100+ training sites in order to complete the mandatory 700 hours of internship experience.

A holistic art therapy education prioritizes studio work, research, grant writing, and an annual social action project. 

In recent years, art therapy cohorts have worked in orphanages in Nicaragua, South Korea, and Russia, to name a few locales.

The LIU Post Interprofessional Simulation Center is one of the hallmarks of the school’s art therapy program. Here, students engage in educational simulations to learn techniques, hone skills, and grow in confidence. They may use cutting-edge medical equipment and digital technology to adjust debriefing conversations, encourage client retention, and strengthen community partnerships.

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If creating glass-blown objects is something you are interested in seriously pursuing, then studying the art at a reputable school is one of the best ways to kickstart your long, successful career as a glassblower.

There are many different program options for learning glass blowing. In addition to the many associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs offered by various colleges, there are also shorter-term community classes, certificate programs, and other non-degree options. 

Studying glassblowing involves not just learning how to manipulate glass to create visually pleasing works, but also learning how to be a professional artist. 

This entails developing your networking skills, marketing your glassware to potential buyers, creating a solid portfolio, and so much more.

Since glassblowing programs are not as common as business, literature, and STEM degrees — to name just a few examples — it is crucial to do your research to find the perfect glassblowing program for your goals. 

That being said, choosing the best-fit school to attend can be an overwhelming and stressful process for many students, regardless of area of study. To alleviate some of this potential stress, we have compiled the following list of schools with strong programs in glassblowing.

Here are 10 of the best glassblowing schools in the United States. 

Rhode Island School of Design (Providence, RI)

The Rhode Island School of Design was established in 1877, placing it among the oldest art and design schools in the United States. 

Over the course of the school’s long history, RISD has become a highly-respected art school with some of the best faculty and programs in the country. 

RISD is home to a robust glass department, offering degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. 

Students in glass courses at RISD can expect to learn not just the technical aspects of glassblowing but also the more abstract, creative aspects of the art. 

For example, in a glass studio course taught by Professor Sean Salstrom, students are encouraged to get up and move, using choreography as a source of inspiration for their glass creations.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design (Boston, MA)

The first public college for the arts and design, the Massachusetts College of Art and Design is one of the best art schools in the state of Massachusetts. 

In fact, according to Niche’s 2023 art school rankings, MassArts is ranked as the seventh best art schools in the state, as well as #76 among the hundreds of art schools in the United States.

MassArt offers two different degree programs for glassblowing. One of these is the bachelor of fine arts in glass. The program curriculum covers all aspects of glass as an art, from the history and fundamentals of glassblowing to contemporary, interdisciplinary considerations.

At the graduate level, the school offers an MFA in 3D fine arts. This program covers a wider range of art forms than just glassblowing, allowing graduate students to explore and develop their style through various mediums.

Temple University Tyler School of Art and Architecture (Philadelphia, PA)

Temple University, a large, public research university located in the heart of Philadelphia, is home to a well-respected art school, the Tyler School of Art and Architecture. 

According to CollegeFactual, Temple University is ranked within the top 15% of colleges in the United States in terms of their BFA program offerings.

Tyler’s graduate programs in glass, however, are even more highly-ranked than their undergraduate counterparts, with the school ranking second in the nation in terms of best glassblowing MFA.  

Students in Tyler’s robust glass program can use the school’s world-class facilities, including a 10,000-square-foot hot room, 16 kilns, four flame-working stations, and even a one-ton crane for particularly large clay casts. 

On top of that, there are several art studios dedicated to undergraduate and graduate major students.

University of Washington (Seattle, WA)

The official birthplace of vinyl, synthetic rubber, and bubble gum, the University of Washington has a legacy of innovation and creativity.

As such, one can safely assume that the UW School of Art, Art History, and Design offers high-quality academic programs in the arts. 

Glass is one of the many fields of art covered by the robust art curriculum at the UW School of Art, with a variety of courses for major and non-major students. 

The glass department at the school has a total of four faculty members. One of these is Mark Zirpel, a well-known glass artist whose work draws heavily on the sciences to create a visionary, interdisciplinary effect.

For students who are interested in glassblowing from a more scientific perspective, the Department of Physics also has its own state-of-the-art glass shop.

Alfred University (Alfred, NY)

Alfred University is home to many glass programs, ranging from creative programs in the arts to more science-focused options. 

For students who are interested in studying glassblowing from a more artistic perspective, the Sculpture/Dimensional Studies Division at Alfred University has a bachelor of fine arts program with a number of glass course offerings.

Although the BFA curriculum is intended to cover a wide range of three-dimensional mediums, the program offers students the opportunity to use state-of-the-art glassblowing facilities as they simultaneously explore various other art forms. 

On the more scientific side of glass blowing, Alfred is home to internationally-acclaimed glass science and glass engineering programs. 

All glass programs at Alfred make use of the school’s hot glass studio, which is part of the National Casting Center.

Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA)

Firmly committed to producing meaningful research and fostering creativity in higher education, Virginia Commonwealth University is home to a stellar array of glassblowing offerings. 

VCU Arts is known for its belief in trial and error in the artistic process, encouraging students to experiment freely as they come to develop their sense of artistic identity.

At the graduate level, the school offers an MFA in fine arts, allowing students to concentrate on glassworking. 

Similarly, VCU Arts also offers glassworking as an area of concentration for students in the fine arts BFA program.

Housed in a converted trolley station and glass factory, VCU Arts’ glass facilities are designed to serve students working with all kinds of artistic forms, including both traditional and contemporary mediums.  

Illinois State University (Normal, IL)

Illinois State University, a public university with an undergraduate enrollment of over 18,000 students, is home to an excellent art school, the Wonsook Kim School of Art. Wonsook offers glassblowing as a major option for students in both BS and BA degree programs.

Students in undergraduate glass programs at the school receive rigorous practical training in the fundamentals of glassblowing techniques, including sand casting, flameworking, kiln casting, and many more. 

On top of that, students are also educated in the history of glass and glassblowing.

In addition, all students are expected to develop a clear, distinct artistic identity throughout the course of their time at the school. 

The glass programs at the Wonsook Kim School of Art are spearheaded by Associate Professor John Miller, a prolific glassblower whose works have garnered substantial international acclaim.

University of Texas at Arlington (Arlington, TX)

Formerly a part of the Texas A&M University system, the University of Texas at Arlington is a large public research college that has a lot to offer students looking to earn a degree in glassblowing. 

In particular, UTA offers two different glass degree options. For undergraduate students, there is the BFA in art with a concentration in glass studies. At the graduate level, UTA offers an MFA in glass. 

UTA’s Art and Art History Department offers various research programs in the arts, making it an excellent school choice for those interested in delving into the academic side of glassblowing. 

All of the studio classes, academic courses, and research programs relating to glass are led by the school’s world-class faculty of more than 60 highly-accomplished artists, academics, and art historians. 

Ball State University (Muncie, IN)

Ball State University, a public research university that was founded in 1918, has a bachelor of fine arts program. Students in this program can choose glass blowing as an area of concentration.

Since 2011, glass blowing at Ball State has been housed in the Marilyn K. Glick Center for Glass, a 9,254 square-foot facility featuring many spacious, professional-quality glass studios. 

The Glick Center is open to all art students at the school, making it an excellent place to explore various mediums, as well as refine one’s glassblowing techniques.

Advanced glassblowing students at Ball State can further hone their craft through one of the school’s many study abroad programs in the Czech Republic, Poland, and other international locations across the globe.  

Tulane University (New Orleans, LA)

Located in the city of New Orleans, a well-known hub for culture and the arts, Tulane University provides the perfect backdrop for earning a degree in creative arts. On top of that, Tulane is home to the largest collegiate glassblowing studio in the southern United States. 

The school is known for emphasizing the use of glass as a sculptural element, as opposed to a craft or a means of creating functional objects. As a result, 

At the undergraduate level, students can choose to study glass either as a part of a bachelor of arts or as a BFA. 

For graduate students, there is also an MFA concentration in glass. The glass MFA program includes a rigorous two-year residency program under the guidance of Gene Koss, glass department head. 

The post The 10 Best Glassblowing Schools in the US appeared first on collegegazette.com.

Examples of ceramics include earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. Different materials require different temperatures and lengths in the kiln, an oven used to bake pottery works.

If someone wants to specialize in ceramics in college, they generally declare a major in studio art with a concentration in ceramics. Many BFA and BA programs take an interdisciplinary approach and emphasize studio work within their curricular sequences.

There are additional programs in the U.S. where you can obtain a master’s degree in ceramics or art education.

Graduates with a degree in ceramics or pottery can work as artists for their entire careers; alternatively, they can run art galleries, conduct art research, teach in public schools, or lead art-centric nonprofit organizations. 

We have selected ten U.S. schools with nationally-ranked ceramics programs.

Encompassing all regions of the nation and offering assets like full tuition funding, cutting-edge technology, designated studio spaces, and proximity to artistic and cultural hubs, these schools are sure to attract future ceramics artists from all over the country.

University of the Arts (Philadelphia, PA)

The University of the Arts offers a craft and material studies major with a concentration in ceramics. In the first and second years of the program, undergraduates hone their skills in drawing natural forms and the human figure as well as using digital design tools.

They gain invaluable experience completing throwing exploration projects in various on-campus studios.

By the third year, ceramics majors are hard at work on their independent junior projects, which lead to a senior thesis and senior project in the fourth year.

An interdisciplinary art BFA is also available for students with interests in ceramics and other subjects like printmaking, fibers, fiction writing, and photography. This BFA is designed to prepare students to enter professions in museums, galleries, and other art-related institutions.

Speaking of which, Philadelphia and nearby NYC and Washington, D.C. are home to thriving arts communities. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Vox Populi Gallery, and Center for Emerging Visual Artists are just a few popular examples.

Internships position ceramics students in contexts where they can network with other artists, experiment with different techniques and understand the entrepreneurial considerations of running their own pottery studio.

The University of California at Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)

Undergraduates and graduates alike can take exciting courses in ceramics at UCLA. The ceramics studio has state-of-the-art slab rollers, electric and gas kilns, throwing wheels, and even a walk-in spray booth.

Art 148A is an example of an undergraduate ceramics course students may not have the opportunity to take anywhere else.

Entitled “Advanced Ceramics: Topics in Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion,” the course challenges students to explore the aforementioned themes using clay and advanced tools.

Ceramics students at UCLA have abundant opportunities to showcase their work during and after their time at UCLA.

Recent alumnus Charles Snowden’s Senescent Stone exhibit was on display at the Shulamit Nazarian contemporary art gallery in Los Angeles. The work included 18 pieces that fit together to create a mosaic garden path.

University of Michigan Stamps School of Art & Design (Ann Arbor, MI)

Students interested in gaining ceramics expertise at the University of Michigan can pursue a BFA in art and design with a concentration in ceramics.

Studio work is an integral component of the initial years of study, with a sophomore review at the program’s midpoint. Years three and four grant undergraduates the flexibility to enroll in advanced-level interdisciplinary courses.

Alternatively, students can pursue a BA degree, which emphasizes more focus on community engagement. This degree is more appropriate for students who plan on attending graduate school but not necessarily with the goal of specializing solely in an art medium.

Regardless of their pathway, ceramics undergraduates might take a course like “Ceramics Materials Research & Experimentation,” where they engage in activities like applying decorative patterning, painting with sculptural ceramic glazes, and installing decals using photolithography transfer.

Penn State University (State College, PA)

Penn State’s cross-disciplinary ceramics program merges practice in mold making, slip casting, and kiln firing with the critical study of contemporary artworks.

Undergraduates are highly encouraged to attend conferences and symposia that take place on campus and at nearby art institutions. Many Penn State art alumni progress to graduate school, open their own studios or teach in public or collegiate school settings.

The BFA is the go-to for aspiring ceramicists, and there is actually a suggested academic plan for enrolling in coursework. At least 24 credits must be designated in ceramics or another medium.

Students in the BFA program can anticipate regular performance and portfolio reviews, and those who do not meet the standards of the program risk not being allowed to continue within that major.

Another option for passionate ceramics artists is the BS in art education, which prepares students to become art teachers in public schools, museums, and community centers.

Undergraduates participate in fieldwork experiences at these sites within these realms, including a semester-long student-teaching experience in a local elementary, middle, or high school.

California College of the Arts (San Francisco, CA)

The BFA in ceramics program provides an interdisciplinary, project-based approach that prepares students for careers as artists, architects, designers, writers, geologists, and other exciting professions.

Undergraduates participate in fieldwork experience by installing outdoor artwork, assisting in gallery exhibitions, and designing restaurant concepts. The studio’s kiln and glaze rooms are open for 22 hours daily.

All California College of the Arts students participate in the First Year Experience, where they embark upon a two-semester exploration of diverse mediums, tools, and projects.

The discussions and critiques in which they participate are meant to prepare them to pursue independent, advanced-level projects in their remaining years of study.

Courses like “Ceramics I: Five Realms” introduce students to basic hand-building, coil structuring, and slab construction skills, while the workshop wheel-throwing courses teach students how to throw clay on a wheel, use glazes, and fire kilns in oxidation and reduction atmospheres.

Rhode Island School of Design (Providence, RI)

Many acclaimed ceramicists and sculptors have graduated from RISD, including New York-based artist Nicole Cherubini.

Her work has been featured in iconic institutions like the Santa Monica Museum of Art in Los Angeles and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia.

RISD’s four-year BFA challenges students to develop evidence-based critiques of contemporary art, attend field trips, engage in seminar-based discussions, and create independent projects.

The ceramics department is small but mighty, home to only ten undergraduates and eight graduate students. The small size means that students receive significant one-on-one feedback and attention from faculty mentors.

It is common for ceramics majors to complete interdisciplinary endeavors with architecture and interior design students. They may, for example, install site-specific works throughout campus and Providence or design tableware for a restaurant’s avant-garde concept.

Arizona State University School of Art (Tempe, AZ)

ASU’s ceramics faculty and guest artists come from Australia, Thailand, Turkey, and other locations known for their exquisite artwork.

At the ASU Herberger Institute School of Art, the ceramics department encompasses two expansive classrooms, a technology room, a glazing laboratory, and a broad patio for kiln-firing and clay-mixing. Students can also work with decal printers and other devices.

Unique to ASU is the Art Museum Ceramics Research Center, which houses over 3,000 ceramics works of art. The center connects students and community members through fundraisers, workshops, and lectures.

ASU ceramics graduate students additionally engage in the Annual Ceramics Studio Tour, where community members can view their new productions.

In addition to a BFA, Arizona State also offers a graduate program in ceramics. Students receive designated studio space at Grant Street Studios in downtown Phoenix.

Here, they are steps away from a darkroom, woodshop, printmaking press, and other multimedia facilities. Collaboration is a key element in the local art scene, and regional connections among graduate student artists in cities like Denver, Santa Fe, and LA are frequently forged.

Ohio University School of Art & Design (Athens, OH)

There are three program options for ceramics enthusiasts at Ohio University: a BA, BFA, or MFA. The BA and BFA degrees offer concentrations in ceramics. Undergraduates go on field trips, design on-campus exhibits, participate in collaborative projects, and engage in community service as part of either curriculum.

Students are encouraged to take advantage of study abroad opportunities, like the one-month ceramics summer program in Hungary and Romania.

Ohio University’s MFA in ceramics leaves little to be desired. Each graduate student has access to a private studio, more than $25,000 worth of raw material, 20+ pottery wheels, two slab rollers, a glaze spraying booth, and 14 indoor/outdoor kilns. 

An impressive 90% of Ohio University ceramics graduates work in a ceramics-related field throughout the entire duration of their careers. It is not uncommon for them to receive Fulbright awards, university-level teaching appointments, and nonprofit leadership roles.

Cranbrook Academy of Art (Bloomfield Hills, MI)

Budding ceramicists might gravitate to the United States’ only school explicitly created for graduate art, architecture, and design education: the Cranbrook Academy of Art.

There are no traditional grades here, and staff can design responsive curricula based on current students’ needs and talents. 

Ceramics is one of eleven departments where candidates can pursue a master’s degree.

After two years engaging in substantial dialogue and interdisciplinary projects, each student writes a master’s statement and prepares an exhibition for display at the Cranbrook Art Museum. 

Studio time is the cornerstone of a Cranbrook master’s degree in ceramics. Students participate in weekly critiques, presenting their evolving artwork to the whole department (faculty and students included).

These exhibitions prompt rich discussion and propel all participants to give deep consideration to the connections between their artistic techniques and the messages they wish to convey with their art.

New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University (Alfred Station, NY)

The only school on this list dedicated exclusively to ceramics, the NY State College of Ceramics has graduated innovative ceramicists and engineers for over a century.

Its MFA in ceramic art is ranked #1 in the United States, and the campus boasts excellent resources, like the Inamori-Kyocera Fine Ceramic Museum and the Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology.

Only eight ceramics students are accepted into the competitive two-year MFA, and each student who enrolls receives full tuition funding in addition to an internship or teaching assistantship stipend.

In the ceramics BFA, senior undergraduates are paired with a faculty mentor and granted a designated studio space for the purpose of developing their own thesis exhibition.

They also have access to the brand new 3D Digital Fabrication Lab, which houses a laser cutter, 3D milling machine, kiln room with 28 kilns, and a forklift!

The post The 10 Best Ceramics & Pottery Schools appeared first on collegegazette.com.

In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for special effects artists and animators is projected to grow 5% by 2031. 

If you are considering pursuing a career in animation, then consider getting a degree in animation first. 

There are many benefits to attending an excellent animation school, such as the incredible intellectual and artistic growth and enrichment that rigorous academic programs provide. 

It is also worth noting that the typical level of education for entry-level jobs in animation is a bachelor’s degree, so going to animation school will more than likely open up many more career opportunities for you. 

The career outlook for animators may indicate that there are many jobs, but there is also a lot of competition. 

It can be stressful deciding consequential to your future as to which animation school to attend, especially since there are so many different factors to take into consideration. 

On the bright side, there are many fantastic options out there, some of which are located in Canada. There are many reasons students choose to attend animation school in Canada, and the country has a great selection of prestigious universities that offer stellar animation programs. 

The following list is intended for those interested in learning more about what the Great White North offers prospective animation students. 

Here are our picks for 10 of the best animation schools in Canada.

Max the Mutt College of Animation, Art, and Design (Toronto, ON)

Max the Mutt College of Animation, Art, and Design is an entertainment arts university that specializes in preparing students for creative careers. 

Since the school began in 1996, it has established itself a strong reputation in the Toronto area for producing exceptionally capable professional animators, artists, and other creative professionals. 

The school offers a four-year animation diploma program.

Over the course of the program, students learn the fundamentals of both classical and computer-based animation, as well as production.

Upon completion of the program, students in Max College’s animation diploma program are masters of not just the practical skills involved in animation, but also the professional skills that securing a job in this field requires. 

These include learning to write a strong resume and cover letter, creating an online profile page, and building a substantial portfolio.

Emily Carr University of Art & Design (Vancouver, BC)

The Emily Carr University of Art and Design is the only university in British Columbia dedicated exclusively to the arts, media, and design, offering a wide array of programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and certificate levels. 

There are two animation program options for undergraduate students: 2D + Experimental Animation and 3D + Computer Animation.

Intended to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of creativity, animation, and production, the 2D and experimental animation program trains students in both traditional and digital animation. 

It boasts a unique approach that blends hands-on, experiential learning opportunities with critical academic study. 

Designed to prepare students for innovative careers in animation using emerging technologies, ECU’s 3D animation program consists of extensive training in animation techniques such as lighting and rendering. 

The 3D and computer animation program is the only bachelor’s program of its kind in British Columbia, making ECU the ideal choice of art school for students interested in this area of animation. 

Ontario College of Art & Design (Toronto, ON)

Established in 1876, the Ontario College of Art and Design University — more commonly known as OCAD U — is the largest school for studying media, design, and the arts in Canada. It is also the third-largest professional school for art and design in the entire continent of North America.

Since its founding, OCAD has become a highly-esteemed school for the arts, graduating numerous notable alumni who have led prominent careers in the animation industry. 

One of these is George Dunning, filmmaker, and animator best known for directing the Beatles-inspired 1968 film Yellow Submarine. 

There is also Richard Wiliams, a celebrated animator and voice actor who received two Academy Awards for his role as an animation director on Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

OCAD U’s undergraduate program offerings include the bachelor of fine arts in experimental animation.

Sheridan College (Oakville, ON)

Sheridan College is an excellent public community college that offers a vast array of more than 140 programs across its five faculties. 

One of Sheridan’s faculties is the Faculty of Animation, Arts, and Design (FAAD), the largest school for the arts in Canada. 

FAAD has an excellent reputation among art schools in Canada. 

In fact, the school’s alumni have received an impressive 75 Emmy nominations and 19 Oscar nominations. 

Many of the school’s graduates have gone on to work on major films such as How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World and Toy Story 4. 

The school’s animation offerings include one-year graduate certificate programs in four different areas. These are visual effects, game level design, digital creature animation — technical direction, and computer animation. 

For undergraduate students, Sheridan offers two honours baccalaureate degree programs in animation: the bachelor of game design and the bachelor of animation.

Vancouver Institute of Visual Arts (Vancouver, BC)

The Vancouver Institute of Visual Arts — also known as VanArts — is consistently ranked among the top 10 schools for animation in the country. 

In fact, in 2022, VanArts was named the second-best university in Canada regarding the best animation training programs by Animation Career Review.

Animation programs at VanArts include the one-year diploma program in 2D and 3D character animation. 

The program is divided into four terms, the first of which primarily covers the history of animation and fundamentals of the craft, such as life drawing skills, physics, timing, and spacing. 

Another animation-related program VanArts offers is the game art and design program. Students in this program learn all the necessary skills to produce an authentic, fully functional game, from character design to computer programs and more.

University of Laval (Quebec City, QC)

Established by a royal charter by Queen Elizabeth in 1852, the University of Laval is a public research university with an extensive history of excellence in the arts. 

It is also the oldest French-language university in all of North America.

The school offers over 550 different academic programs, including several solid choices for prospective animation students. 

One of these is the bachelor’s program in animation art and science, which heavily emphasizes the technology side of animation. 

In addition to its focus on innovative new techniques in the industry, the animation art and science program also allows students to develop their artistic talents across various areas of study, with a curriculum covering aspects of video game production, filmmaking, 3D virtual environments, and so much more. 

York University (Toronto, ON)

York University is a public research university with more than 7,000 faculty members, 325,000 living alumni, and 55,700 students, making it the fourth-largest university in Canada. 

For students seeking undergraduate animation programs, York’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design offers a bachelor of arts in digital media. 

Offered through collaboration with the Lassonde School of Engineering, the digital media program prepares students for careers in digital media, mobile application development, game design, and any other emerging occupations popping up at the intersection between technology and the arts. 

Students in York U’s digital media program learn how to use computer programming and coding as creative implements, gaining highly marketable, interdisciplinary skills along the way. 

York University also offers students the opportunity to gain real-world professional experience in the digital media industry through its Technology Internship Program. 

Capilano University (North Vancouver, BC)

Founded in 1968, Capilano University is a public university specializing in teaching. 

Animation program offerings at the college include 2D animation and visual development diploma, a two-year program offered by Capilano’s School of Motion Picture Arts. 

The School of Motion Picture Arts at Capilano U also offers a two-year diploma program in 3D animation for film and games.

Both of these programs are designed to prepare students for careers in the modern animation industry by providing extensive training in the latest technologies. 

The 2D animation program, however, more heavily emphasizes traditional animation and related artistic skills, such as drawing. 

The 3D animation program, on the other hand, focuses on visual effects, character animation, 3D modeling, rendering, and the other technical skills required in film and game production. 

Seneca College (Toronto, ON)

Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology is a public college with two campuses, one of which is located in the Greater Toronto Area and the other in Peterborough, ON.

The college is home to the highly-esteemed School of Creative Arts and Animation, which offers various undergraduate, graduate, diploma, and certificate programs with different full- and part-time options.

For animation students, Seneca College offers an advanced diploma in animation. Students in this three-year program study both 2D and 3D animation. 

The program’s curriculum was developed through an innovative approach the school calls the Seneca Animation Model, which emphasizes interdisciplinary studies.

Seneca also offers an eight-month-long graduate certificate program in 3D animation, as well as one in game art and animation. 

University of Toronto (Toronto, ON)

Established in 1827, the University of Toronto is one of the world’s leading public research universities, with a total enrollment of nearly 62,000 students across its three campuses in St. George, Scarborough, and Mississauga.

The Department of Arts, Culture, and Media at the University of Toronto has a studio art program, which can be taken as a major, minor, or specialist program. 

Intended to get students prepared to work a wide range of different careers in the arts, the studio art program helps students develop both their creative and technical skills. 

In addition to animation classes, students in the studio art program take courses across many areas of art. These range from traditional forms of art such as painting, drawing, sculpture, to modern mediums like photography, videography, and new media. 

The post The 10 Best Animation Schools in Canada appeared first on collegegazette.com.

Towering skyscrapers of steel and glass and monumental works of masonry and concrete serve as shorthand for a society’s scientific and artistic achievements. 

Whether constructed centuries and millennia ago, like the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, or built within the last century, like the Empire State Building and Burj Khalifa, the world’s architectural marvels are known to nearly everyone. 

These world-famous buildings and structures have inspired many people to seek to create their own great works that will stand the test of time. 

While many may take the inspiration gained from these wondrous marvels of construction and apply it to other art forms, others will be driven to design their own architectural feats to rival and join those already known to the world. 

The next generation of designers faces the unprecedented challenge of climate change as they contemplate the wonders of the future. They will be required to design these new marvels with ethics and sustainability in mind. 

To meet these challenges, future architects will seek the best education and training available to them and must choose from a wide range of universities. 

With so many options available, it can be challenging to decide which school is both the best fit for a student and offers the best education. 

To help students make this difficult choice, we have compiled this list of the best architecture universities in the world. The ranking for this list is based on the QS list of top architecture schools. 

10. Politecnico di Milano (Milan, IT)

The Polytechnic University of Milan is the largest technical university in Italy and the oldest university in Milan.

The school awards Laurea, equivalent to a Bachelor of Science, and Laurea Magistrale, equivalent to a Master of Science, degrees, among other programs. 

The undergraduate course of study in Architectural Design is expected to take three years to complete and is administered by the School of Architecture, Urban Planning, Construction, and Engineering. Courses within the program are offered in both English and Italian. 

The undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Architectural Design is a pre-professional degree, but it does prepare students for the graduate level of study, which is considered a professional degree. 

International students seeking a Master of Science degree must complete the steps outlined on the school’s international students page and must demonstrate a basic proficiency in Italian. 

Graduate students have a range of options that incorporates the study of architecture for the Bachelor of Science degree, including landscape and urban architecture, engineering, design, and history. 

9. Tsinghua University (Beijing, CN)

Tsinghua University’s School of Architecture offers students the option to study the field under five different research categories focused on history, design, urban design, technology, and society. 

The school first began training international architecture students in 2008, and its English Program for Master in Architecture or, EPMA, provides courses in five different categories, with English as the standard language of instruction.  

The program has a low ratio of students to professors, generally about 6 to 1, and many of its studios provide real-world opportunities to work in major centers of Chinese architectural development. 

Applicants to the graduate program must have an accredited professional bachelor’s degree in architecture, and admission is competitive as the program only accepts 20 students at a time. 

The school also offers an interdisciplinary option through its Master’s Program in Architecture – Future Human Habitat Design. 

8. UC Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)

The College of Environmental Design at the University of California, Berkeley offers undergraduate students a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture as well as the option to study architecture as a minor alongside another degree.  

The first three years in the program establish a breadth of fundamental knowledge before focusing on architecture specifically. In the junior year, students choose from one of two tracks that focus on either design research or studio studies. 

Students who have completed this pre-professional degree are well placed to pursue a Master of Architecture, or enter the workforce in construction or government. 

UC Berkeley’s Master of Architecture program accepts students holding any Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree, although students who have not attained a dedicated pre-professional degree in architecture will take three years to complete the program. 

Students who have directly pursued an undergraduate architecture degree may pursue a Master of Architecture with Advanced Standing upon review and approval of the admissions committee. 

7. Manchester School of Architecture (Manchester, EN)

The Manchester School of Architecture unites programs from two schools, Manchester Metropolitan University and The University of Manchester, in order to provide a world-renowned architecture program. 

The school offers a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Architecture degree, preparing them for further study in one of its many graduate architecture programs. 

Combining the resources, faculties, and facilities of its two constituent universities, the Bachelor of Arts program includes studio and fieldwork to provide its graduates an education that makes them highly sought after in industry or prepared for further professional degrees. 

Master’s degrees at the school range in focus from research to landscape architecture and urban design. The Master of Architecture program spans two years of full-time study, but can be taken over four years as part-time. 

Students can tour and collaborate with other international institutions before developing a design thesis and graduating with a professionally recognized degree. 

6. National University of Singapore (Queenstown, SG)

The National University of Singapore’s Department of Architecture awards two undergraduate degrees in architecture: a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture. 

The first year of the Honours Bachelor of Arts in Architecture program establishes a firm foundation of fundamental knowledge and skills. 

This is built upon in the second and third years as students study concepts like site structure while researching approaches to architecture. The program’s fourth year allows students to begin specializing in preparation for further studies. 

Graduate students can choose to pursue one of a range of master’s degrees through the Department of Architecture, including degrees focused on architectural conservation and integrated sustainable design. 

The Master of Architecture program spans two years. The program focuses on design expertise and culminates in a design thesis that allows students to arrive at their own perspectives on design through independent research. 

5. Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)

The Harvard Graduate School of Design offers two Master of Architecture degrees in addition to a range of other graduate and post-graduate degrees in the field. 

The Master of Architecture I program is the school’s professional program and accepts students with any Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.  

Depending upon previous courses taken, students may need to complete particular prerequisites before continuing in the program. 

Students with a pre-professional degree in architecture may be admitted to the program with advanced standing, which can shorten the duration of the program to two and a half years. 

In order to register for professional practice, students must also intern in an architectural office and pass a registration exam. 

The Master of Architecture II program is a post-professional course available to professional architects who wish to broaden their understanding of the field and increase their skills. 

4. ETH Zurich (Zurich, CH)

The architecture program for undergraduate students at ETH Zurich comprises three areas that run through the length of the course of study. Design and construction, science and technology, humanities, and the arts make up the bulk of the curriculum, with the main emphasis on design and construction.  

The undergraduate program takes three years to complete the academic courses. Additionally, six months of experience working in the architectural field is required in order to complete the degree. 

Building on the core knowledge and skills developed at the undergraduate level, the graduate architecture program at ETH Zurich requires students to complete two focal works in different disciplines within the field as well as a master’s thesis. 

The program’s primary language of instruction is German, and the Master of Science ETH in Architecture degree can be earned in two years. 

3. University College London (London, EN)

University College London’s undergraduate architecture program requires three years of full-time study and culminates in a Bachelor of Science degree. 

The first year of study places students in design studios with the goal of imparting fundamental skills in observation, critical thinking, and working in three-dimensional space. 

The second and third years of the program are centered around the school’s Design Units, which are groups of roughly fifteen students who collaborate on design projects and allow students to develop individual approaches to design. 

UCL’s Bartlett School of Architecture provides seventeen options for postgraduate study of architecture. Historic urban environments, digital theory, history, and bio-integrated design are just a few of the architectural disciplines studied at the school. 

The Master of Architecture in Architecture program at the school is the second half of the course of study needed for a professional architecture degree and takes two years to complete. 

2. Delft University of Technology (Delft, NL)

Aspiring architects at Delft University of Technology are among the most promising future professionals in the field, as even the school’s undergraduate program limits the number of students to 400. 

The competitive admissions landscape at the university ensures that students graduating from the school with its Bachelor of Science of Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences degree are among the best in the field. 

The program’s language of instruction is Dutch, and it takes three years of full-time study to complete. 

Graduate students at the school take two years of full-time study to earn the Master of Science Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences degree. 

Students at the graduate level receive instruction in English and choose from one of five tracks offered by the program in order to specialize in their field of choice. 

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)

Undergraduate students at MIT begin their architectural careers at the school by studying in its Bachelor of Science in Architecture program which prepares them for the next step in becoming a professional architect. 

Depending on the amount of Advanced Placement credits and placement test scores, undergraduates can begin specific architectural studies in their first semesters. 

MIT’s Master of Architecture program takes three and a half years to complete and is comprised of six studios over six semesters and a semester spent working on a thesis. 

The school offers one formal master’s level dual degree which is the Master of Architecture and Master of City Planning degree. 

Upon approval of a student’s academic advisor, graduate students can create their own dual degrees that combine architecture and a related field. 

The post The 10 Best Architecture Schools in the World appeared first on collegegazette.com.

Although it is not entirely necessary to earn a degree in animation prior to pursuing a career in this field, there are many benefits to getting a formal education in animation. 

For one, getting at least a bachelor’s degree opens up many more employment opportunities for animators since most jobs in the field of animation and special effects require at least a four-year degree. 

On top of that, people who work in animation and hold degrees tend to earn more than their professional counterparts who did not go to college. 

Studying animation in a formal, academic setting under the instruction of university faculty — most of whom are also thriving, working animators and artists — also provides students with the opportunity to receive invaluable mentorship and guidance from experienced industry professionals. 

Tons of major universities offer degrees in animation, so students have many options to choose from. 

Of course, it can be difficult for many students to find the best-fit animation school, with the available options varying significantly in terms of program offerings, academic rigor, student body size, and so much more. 

Intended for students who are in the process of selecting an animation school to attend, we have compiled the following list of schools with world-class animation programs, as well as some information about each school. 

Here are our picks for 10 of the best animation schools in the world.

Teesside University (Middlesborough, EN)

Teesside University is a public university with an enrollment of over 21,000 students. 

According to the 2022 edition of Animation Career Review’s annual international animation school rankings, Teesside is ranked #18 out of the 185 colleges considered. 

The same year, Teesside also ranked fourth best in the UK out of 194.

The school offers an MA in animation, an intensive program where students study animation theory and history as well as master the industry’s most in-demand technical skills. 

There are three different degree paths from which students in the Animation MA can choose: the program can be completed over the course of two years either full- or part-time, one in one year of full-time study.

For undergraduate students, Teesside University also offers a BA in animation.

California Institute of the Arts (Santa Clarita, CA)

Founded by Walt Disney and his brother, Roy, in 1961, the California Institute of the Arts is one of the most widely-known animation schools in the United States.  

Also one of the best schools for animation in the world, CalArts has produced a number of highly successful alumni. 

These include Tim Burton, director of Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd, and many other iconic films, and Christ Buck, Academy Award-winning animator for Frozen. 

The School of Film and Video at CalArts has a wide array of animation program offerings at the undergraduate and graduate levels. 

For one, there is the MFA Experimental Animation, a three-year masters degree program in which students study both animation theory and technique. CalArts also offers a BFA in Experimental Animation, as well as one in Character Animation.

MoPA School of Animation (Arles, FR)

Located in the coastal city of Arles — which famously served as the inspiration for many of Vincent Van Gogh’s works — the MoPA School of Animation is internationally-acclaimed for its stellar 3D animation programs.

Established in 1988, MoPA was the first French art school dedicated strictly to computer-generated animation. In the 20 years since its founding, MoPA has become one of the foremost schools for CG animation in the world.

Through partnerships with many major film festivals and other cultural associations, MoPA ensures that the animated films their students create are shown at more than 200 festivals a year. 

MoPA students have received many prestigious awards for their works. For example, the Oscar-nominated animated short film Garden Party was animated by a MoPA alum.

Emily Carr University of Art & Design (Vancouver, BC)

The only university dedicated exclusively to the arts, media, and design in British Columbia, CA, the Emily Carr University of Art and Design is a public art school that offers numerous options for animation students, including undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. 

At the undergraduate level, students can choose between two bachelors of media arts degree programs. 

First, there is the BMA in 2D and experimental animation. The program’s innovative curriculum involves in-depth, hands-on training in a variety of traditional animation skills like drawing, as well as digital animation.  

The other undergraduate degree program in animation that ECU offers is the BMA in 3D + Computer Animation.

Both the 2D and 3D programs make use of the school’s Animation Studio, a well-equipped studio featuring numerous editing suites, a computer lab, and various other professional animation equipment and software for student use. 

The Animation Workshop / VIA University College (Viborg, DK)

A part of the VIA University College School of Business, Technology and Creative Industries, The Animation Workshop is an animation school located in former military barracks in central Denmark.

It offers a variety of bachelor’s degree programs relating to animation, as well as two foundation programs: classical and classical and visual storytelling. 

Open to any students interested in learning the fundamental artistic skills that are required in order to get into a good art school or secure a job in the animation field. 

Major programs for students pursuing a bachelor in animation at TAW include character animation, computer graphic arts, and graphic storytelling. 

In addition, TAW offers a wide range of 12-week professional training programs. These include 3D character animation, an animation production manager course, and several others.

University of Hertfordshire (Hertfordshire, UK)

Located in England, the University of Hertfordshire is a public university with a total enrollment of over 30,000 students. 

The school is widely recognized for its excellence in the area of digital animation. 

The University of Hertfordshire’s Digital Animation program curriculum covers a range of subjects relating to 2D animation, 3D animation, visual effects, and video game design.

In 2021, the university was ranked 12th in the world among colleges with the best game design and development programs. 

The same year, Hertfordshire was named #22 in the world and #1 in the UK in terms of creative media and entertainment studies.

There are a few significant options from which students in the digital animation program can choose. One of these is the BA in comics and concept art.

Sheridan College (Oakville, ON)

Established in 1967, Sheridan College is an award-winning public community college that is made up of five faculties. 

One of Sheridan’s constituent faculties is the Faculty of Animation, Arts, and Design, also called FAAD for short.

The largest school for the arts and media in Canada offers six different programs relating to animation. 

At the undergraduate level, there is the honors bachelor of animation, a four-year degree program covering a vast range of subjects relating to animation. 

During the third year of the animation BMA, students get the chance to gain real professional experience during a three-month work placement.

FAAD also offers a BMA in game design, a four-year honors bachelor’s degree program in which students learn all the skills needed to create games from scratch.

Other animation offerings include one-year graduate certificate programs in visual effects, game level design, digital creature animation, and computer animation. 

Gobelins, l’école de l’image (Paris, FR)

Located in Paris’ quaint Latin Quarter — the city’s oldest district — Gobelins, l’école de l’image is a prestigious school for the visual arts and communication. 

According to a 2021 ranked list of the top 25 animation schools in the world by Animation Careers Review, Gobelins is the single best animation school overall. 

The school has a number of animation offerings, from the year-long animation preparatory program at the pre-collegiate level all the way up to the graduate level. 

For undergraduate students, Gobelins offers a bachelor of arts in character animation and animated filmmaking. 

Gobelins also offers a number of its courses online, making it possible for students all across the world to take classes from this top-tier animation school.

On top of that, each year, Gobelins hosts its International Summer Schools in Paris. 

Ringling College of Art and Design (Sarasota, FL)

Established in 1931, the Ringling College of Art and Design — also called RCAD — is a private school for design and the arts. 

On top of two BA major programs, the College of Art and Design offers eleven different major options for students in their BFA programs. 

One of these is the BFA in computer animation, which has been named the #1 program of its kind in all of North America. 

Students in this program are taught each and every step of how to bring a virtual character to life, from creating original characters to storytelling, texturing, lighting, editing, and so much more. 

Ringling’s computer animation BFA alumni have won a number of prestigious awards for their work, including Academy Awards. 

Other BFA majors Ringling offers include game art, graphic design, and virtual reality development.

RMIT University (Melbourne, AU)

Originally founded in 1887 as a night school for the arts, sciences, and technology, RMIT University — formally the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology — is a public research university specializing in tech and design.

RMIT is widely acknowledged for its excellent animation program offerings, ranking first in Australia and New Zealand collectively, as well as eighth in the world.

There are several animation programs to choose from at RMIT, such as the bachelor of design in animation and interactive media. 

There is also the bachelor of media and communication, an interdisciplinary option that blends studio-based learning and laboratory-style study.

Graduate degree programs at RMIT include the master of design, a research-based program intended to prepare students for innovative careers in the design industry. The school also offers a master of animation, games and interactivity.

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From the slopes of Sugarhill Mountain to the wild horses running across Assateague Island, the views here are unlike quite any other. 

Whether sunbathing on the beaches or hiking through the trails, stepping into this state is like walking through another world, one where beauty and serenity are the purest possible goals. 

It is no wonder, then, that this state is home to some of the most prestigious art schools in the nation. 

Though one of the northernmost states in the nation, Maryland carries a unique culture most similar to that of Southern America. The result is a rich cultural background that has driven many of the most renowned artists in the nation.

With its colonial influences, Maryland offers artists the chance to seep inspiration from the rich history of their surroundings, writing the story of the United States with every brushstroke. 

The dedication to preserving the abundance of national parks ensures that even city-bound students have access to the natural world, allowing them the widest possible range of artistic scenery. 

Wherever an art student chooses to take their career, they are in good hands in any of these amazing art schools. Here are 10 of the best art schools in Maryland.

Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore, MD)

The Maryland Insitute College of Art offers its students the broadest possible range of artistic events and activities, ensuring they never have a dull moment on this campus. 

Through MICA’s annual Art Market, students have the chance to put their education to work, presenting and selling their art to the city of Baltimore. 

Through this process, students gain the confidence that comes from showcasing their art, skills in negotiation and sales, and the financial benefits that officially allow them to call themselves “professional artists.”

Similarly, the annual MICA Grad Show allows an average of 150 students every year the chance to showcase their art in a professional setting. In doing so, it provides the opportunity for these students to experience the life of a “true” artist, seeing their work admired by all manner of like-minded individuals in the city of Baltimore.  

Towson University (Towson, MD)

While enrolled in the Townson University Department of Art and Design, students have access to a range of different galleries where they can study new and unique stylings firsthand. 

None of these galleries is as unique as the Asian Arts and Cultural Center. 

Initially formed in the 1970s in response to a rise in anti-Asian sentiments, this center provides students the rare opportunity to study the unique stylings of Asian art in detail. 

In addition to hosting a variety of traditional Asian art pieces– from paintings to pottery– this gallery holds regular demonstrations of this art form in action. 

Through the intimate environment of its cozy campus, students have the opportunity to experience a global, culturally valuable education. 

University of Maryland, College Park (College Park, MD)

The art school at the University of Maryland takes pride in offering students the chance to study art in a new way as they diligently research the relationship between tradition and new media. 

Through respect for both ancient and modern art, this school elevates the form to a new level, teaching students the value of visual design across all disciplines. 

This take on visual media led alumni Sed Gedra into her thriving career as a set designer and professional artist. When not arranging the background of shows like “World Beyond,” the most recent spinoff of “The Walking Dead,” Gedra is honing her skills by creating eye-popping costume pieces. 

Art education at the University of Maryland is about more than just painting; it is about truly examining all the possibilities within this field, helping students emerge into their own version of successful artistic and career fulfillment. 

Morgan State University (Baltimore, MD)

The visual arts program at Morgan State University offers students the chance to study in one of four areas of the arts: art history, graphic design, illustration, or the multi-media studio track. 

Regardless of their chosen field, each student is given the same access to the expansive, professional education they need to succeed.

Not only that, but this university’s location in the heart of Baltimore means students are only a few blocks away from some of the most excellent art museums in the nation, allowing them to learn from the greats without straying too far from the comfort of their dorms.

Future illustrators are guaranteed to feel at home within the Baltimore Museum of Art environment, where a constant rotation of new and exciting exhibits promises stimulating opportunities to study the latest forms of painting and sketching. 

Likewise, the American Visionary Art Museum provides chances for multi-media students to study their favorite form of art in all its unique creativity, with a seemingly endless blend of sculptures, paintings, and cut-outs to study. 

Salisbury University (Salisbury, MD)

Within the last twenty years, the Salisbury University Art Department has doubled. 

This is primarily due to this program’s dedication to providing young artists the freedom to focus on their chosen field with dedicated, well-respected intensity.

Whereas many programs offer just three credits per art course, this one provides four. In doing so, they allow their artists to spend more time focusing on fewer classes, respecting the additional time that this major requires students to spend in their studios.

As they focus on their art, students are privy to a constant stream of visiting artists. These exhibitions– covering every style from Matt Motel’s multimedia performance to Alexander Rosenburg’s glass blowing– give every student equal access to inspiration from across the artistic spectrum, regardless of what area they hope to study specifically.  

Goucher College (Baltimore, MD)

Goucher College is dedicated to ensuring that every student in their art program leaves with a full portfolio of works they can use to propel their future career. 

What better way to do so than by inspiring others who have successfully done so?

This campus is home to four dedicated art galleries, where students can imitate the works of others as they endeavor to hone their own unique stylings.  

While three of these galleries are preserved for visiting artists, the Corrin Student Gallery remains a blank space for students to fill with their own work, allowing them to learn from one another and practice professionally exhibiting their own work.

This school utilizes partnerships with local museums to further students’ networking possibilities to offer rewarding internship opportunities. 

While gaining course credit, students in this program can work directly with museum officials to practice the possibilities of a career protecting the arts. 

McDaniel College (Westminster, MD)

The art department at McDaniel College proves the notion that, in today’s progressive world, there truly are thriving career opportunities available for a passionate artist.

Nothing proves that dedication more than a glance at their inspirational alumni. 

After going on to study art therapy, Stephanie Kurtya became a leader in this field as the art therapist coordinator at The Child and Adolescent Center. 

Here, she puts her degree to work helping others emotionally heal and strengthen their connections through the power of art.

Betty Japinga chose a similar route, advocating for the arts as the Communications and Development Coordinator at Arts Everyday in Baltimore, where she continues her passion by encouraging the growth of other Baltimore artists.

Possibly the most inspirational of all, Tim Snyder followed his passion for arts education all the way to the state capitol when he was awarded the teacher of the year position in 2018. 

Frostburg State University (Frostburg, MD)

While enrolled in the art school of Frostburg State University, students have access to some of the top facilities in the state, including studios, darkrooms, and state-of-the-art computer labs. 

Empowered by the most up-to-date technology and modern art forms, students have every chance to explore the most intricate facets of their own artistic possibilities.

In their state-of-the-art computer labs, students have access to two separate Macintosh computer labs, specifically dedicated to the graphic design and visual arts program. 

Here, every student can take advantage of colored printers, laser engravers, and 3D printers to bring their projects to life.

In addition to a complete analog darkroom, a professionally equipped lighting studio ensures that photography students can maintain the utmost control over their projects, from start to finish. 

While on this campus, professors encourage students to “play” in this expansive space as much as possible, experimenting across different disciplines to push their skills to the next level and test their artistic limits. 

St. Mary’s College of Maryland (St. Mary’s City, MD)

St. Mary’s College of Maryland Art Department recognizes that the best art does not happen in a vacuum; it is inspired by all the unique, alternative passions of the artist responsible.

In the endeavor of encouraging this line of thought in all its art students, St. Mary’s pulls artists and specialists from all around the globe, empowering students to learn from their worldwide experience.

A prime example of this lesson lies in none other than recent guest speaker Heesoo Kwon.

After restationing in the United States to receive her arts education, this South Korean artist found national success. She has participated in exhibitions all over the world, from San Francisco to her home nation of South Korea. 

In 2012, Kwon received the female inventor of the year award, after which her fame and career continued to rise, leading to the Roselyn Schneider Eisner Prize for Photos and Art Practice. 

By pulling from professional artists like Kwon, St. Mary’s allows its students big educational opportunities all from within the safe, encouraging environment of their gorgeous campus. 

Hood College (Frederick, MD)

By encouraging students to draw inspiration from the past, the Hood College Department of Art and Archaeology works specifically to prepare their graduates for careers in museums, galleries, or art restoration. 

This intersection of art and history combines to create their renowned ceramics program. Like all areas of the Hood College art education, this program thrives by teaching students to draw inspiration not only from their current world but the world of the past. 

Recently, participants of this program took their skills to another level by studying the ancient Japanese pottery form to create their own tea bowls, a central element of the Japanese tea ceremony. 

In doing so, they also practiced their own sense of Wabi Sabi, finding beauty in the imperfections of their work. 

In a world that perpetually rushes into the future, Hood College encourages its art students to linger, teaching them to skills of mindfulness and patience as they pursue their chosen careers.

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Architects frequently collaborate with experts in the technology field to design safer, more accessible, and more creative buildings and spaces. 

There are specific steps required to become an architect in the United Kingdom. 

Architects must hold qualifications outlined by the Architects Registration Board (ARB), which are referred to as Parts 1, 2, and 3. 

When you retain all these qualifications, you can become a Chartered Architect within the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). 

What does this mean for a college student? 

Architects achieve their Part 1 qualification by obtaining a BA or BSc in architecture. Part 2 entails a master’s degree, while Part 3 involves a postgraduate certificate. 

The following list includes the ten best architecture schools in the UK. The ranking for this list is based on each school’s overall position, according to The Guardian, for the study of architecture. 

All of these schools feature a program that meets the Part 1 RIBA requirement, while many others offer courses designed to qualify for Part 2 and 3. 

Many featured schools also provide one-of-a-kind opportunities to study abroad and design spaces in other countries!

10. University of Nottingham (Nottingham, EN)

The University of Nottingham has previously been ranked as a top 3 architecture school by the 2020 Architects Journal. 

Its alumni enjoy thriving careers at firms like Cullinan Studio, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, and Wilkinson Eyre Architects. 

The average starting salary for a University of Nottingham architecture graduate is promising at £23,150, and 87.3% of the most recent cohort secured graduate-level employment or continued study within a year and three months of graduation.

Nottingham’s BArch course of study is extended by one year of professional experience before commencing a two-year MArch in architecture. 

Here, students can meet all of the required qualifications for becoming an official registered architect.

Undergraduates spend time designing innovative new buildings and improving existing facilities. Students get ample opportunities to hone their craft from study trips, workshops, and projects with real clients. 

Many Nottingham undergraduates earn national and international accolades, including the AJ Student Prize, RIBA Bronze Medal, and RIBA Sergeant Award for Excellence in Drawing.

9. University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh, UK)

All program participants in the University of Edinburgh’s BA/MA in architecture, all program participants start on the MA (Honors) architecture track. 

After the first two years, students can opt between completing a three-year BA in architecture or a four-year MA (Honors) in architecture. 

The latter option includes an opportunity to study abroad. 2022-2023 destinations include universities in Austria, Greece, Germany, and Spain.

At home, architecture students spend significant time in workshops and design facilities. 

Their projects challenge them to consider landscape, ethical practices, economics, and other social constructs as they intersect with the design and function of a space.

Edinburgh graduates qualify as architects and work in stimulating positions across a span of disciplines. 

Whether working at the government level, within a commercial organization, or as part of private practice, the skills developed in the BA/MA architecture are transferable to many contexts.

8. University of Liverpool School of Architecture (Liverpool, EN)

There are several student groups devoted to architecture, including Femin.AE (Women in Architecture). 

This organization uses social media to amplify narratives of successful female architects around the world. 

Additionally, it brings in guest lecturers on a regular basis and fosters inclusive dialogue through Q&A sessions.

Established in 1894, the university became the first in the United Kingdom to award a RIBA-accredited degree in architecture. 

Undergraduates can obtain a BA (Honors) in architecture or a BA (Honors) in architecture with a concentration in design studies. 

In the latter option, graduates prepare for careers in construction, building management, project management, and architectural rendering and remodeling.

Many architecture students at Liverpool will take advantage of the Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University exchange program in Suzhou, China. 

Those interested in the XJTLU program should apply in their first year of study. 

The University of Liverpool also operates the highly regarded Year in China program for students beyond the architecture department.

7. University for the Creative Arts (Farnham, EN)

The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) has been ranked 3rd for student satisfaction by the 2023 Complete University Guide. 

The institution offers six concentrations at the Honors level in areas like architecture, automotive and transport design, and architectural technology. 

One alumni of the architecture program – Chris Simmons – created a mentoring platform to support architecture majors as they transition from their studies to a career.

Within the urban design and planning concentration, students create projects within Canterbury and Kent. On-campus facilities enable undergraduates to design prototypes and use VR technology. 

Automotive and transport design is another exciting area of study. UCA’s program prepares students to take on leadership roles in companies where they’ll be responsible for responding to the global climate crisis. Special attention is paid to innovating transportation technology that relies on sustainable energy sources.

6. Queen’s University Belfast School of Natural and Built Environment (Belfast, UK)

There are five disciplines to choose from within the School of Natural and Built Environment, including architecture, planning, and civil and structural engineering. 

Its course in archaeology and palaeoecology is ranked first in the United Kingdom for student satisfaction.

Queen’s University’s architecture program has consistently ranked in UK’s top ten lists. 

Research is at the heart of the course of study, and undergraduates might design a project like “Design and Integration in the Post-Conflict City” or “What Would an Age-Friendly City Look Like? Aging in the Global South.” 

In the latter study, students might examine how city planning can create friendly environments conducive to breaking down barriers. 

The architecture discipline consistently wins significant funding from major UK corporations, including RCUK and INNOVATE UK.

5. University of Sheffield School of Architecture (Sheffield, EN)

One of the longest-running architecture schools in the United Kingdom, Sheffield affords undergraduate BA tracks in architecture or architecture and landscape. 

The institution’s Turing Scheme program funds study abroad placements for Sheffield students, ranging from two weeks to a year. 

On campus, Sheffield undergraduates work with cutting-edge technology in the George Porter workshop. 

Tools like bandsaws, heat sheet enders, and laser cutters are at students’ disposal, and staff is always on-site to assist.

There is also an MEng course in structural engineering and architecture. In the first year, students create proposals for a small building in a public area.

In year three, they might take classes like Advanced Planting Design while working on their integrated urban design project.

4. University of Bath (Bath, EN)

Bath’s architecture program was ranked first in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide in 2022. 

It is also ranked second in the 2022 Complete University Guide. Needless to say, many factors set Bath’s architecture curriculum apart from its peer institutions. 

In most cases, undergraduates complete a three-year degree before embarking upon a year of professional experience. 

In the BSc (Honors) in architecture, the year of professional experience is embedded throughout years two and three of a four-year sequence of study. 

Using this structure, students can readily apply their learning to real-world contexts. These experiences are meant to prepare students to transition seamlessly to careers after graduation.

The Erasmus exchange gives architecture students a unique opportunity to study at some of the best-regarded architecture schools in Europe in their third year of study. 

3. Cardiff University Welsh School of Architecture (Cardiff, UK)

In the first two years of the program, Cardiff’s BSc in architectural studies takes undergraduates on field trips throughout Europe and the United Kingdom. 

By the third year, field trips become more unit-based. The best part? The school pays for all travel and accommodation fees!

Students play an integral role in the Welsh School of Architecture’s research impact, which is concentrated in areas like sustainability and energy, heritage, community well-being, and social justice. 

Recently, the institution has saved historic buildings from demotion, developed conservation strategies, and designed visitor centers for essential landmarks.

The School of Architecture has also undergone a recent renovation. Students now have access to a brand new studio for digital fabrication, an auditorium, and a “Living Lab” designed for interdisciplinary projects.

2. University College London Bartlett School of Architecture (London, EN)

The Bartlett School of Architecture alone maintains over 250 staff representing 32 ethnicities. 

This faculty has been ranked first in regards to contributing world-leading research, according to the United Kingdom’s most recent Excellence Framework exercise. 

The students are additionally successful, having earned more RIBA medals than their peers at any other school in the UK.

In addition to a standard three-year Bsc in architecture, the school offers an interdisciplinary architecture BSc, an MEng in engineering and architectural design, and a five-year integrated MSci in architecture. 

The BSc in architecture comprises approximately 70% studio and workshop time, meaning students have ample opportunity to develop a broad and complex design portfolio. 

They also participate in the UK’s Summer Show, which attracts thousands of visitors annually. The Summer Show, Autumn Show, and other exhibitions are all designed to showcase student work. 

Research is also paramount at UCL Bartlett. The institution focuses on five research areas, including sustainable urbanism and landscape. Within this realm, students and faculty study how to alter behavior and design on a large scale in order to respond appropriately to the climate crisis.

1. University of Cambridge (Cambridge, EN)

Formed in 1921, Cambridge’s architecture BA is one of the best in the UK and the world. 

Architecture graduates lead world-renowned organizations and earn top awards for their designs.

Studio time makes up approximately 60% of the architecture student’s typical year, while the other 40% is reserved for writing essays and completing readings. 

Each student has their own dedicated desk space where they can carry out creative projects, a unique asset for an architecture program.

The head of the department is Professor James Campbell, who helped design the MSt in building history and the brand-new MSt apprenticeship in architecture at Cambridge. 

He has written many academic articles and books and made guest appearances on National Geographic, the History Channel, and other popular UK channels.

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Combining art and engineering, architects use standard building materials to design the functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces that many millions of people work and live in daily. 

Such buildings both shelter and inspire their occupants as they stand as testaments to the ingenuity and aspirations of humankind. 

Whether utilizing such spaces every day or having only seen images of these buildings on the internet or through television, the architectural marvels of a particular city are one of the first things that come to mind when thinking of another country or locale.  

Architects of today, as well as those of the future, now face the challenge of designing places of living, working, and learning that incorporate elements of sustainability into the structure to combat the challenges to the world posed by climate change. 

Considerations such as the renewability of energy along with ethically and sustainably sourced labor and construction materials must be taken into account when designing the structures of urban landscapes, and architects, along with government leaders, city planners, and engineers, are at the forefront of meeting these challenges. 

To meet these challenges, prospective architects must seek out the best educational options available, and universities across Canada offer students some of the best programs to be found. 

Here are our picks for 10 of the best architecture schools in Canada. 

University of Waterloo School of Architecture (Cambridge, ON)

The University of Waterloo School of Architecture has been rated as having the greenest curriculum among architecture schools in Canada. 

It also has the distinction of having the only permanent international presence in Rome, Italy, among all architecture programs in Canada. 

The undergraduate program at the School of Architecture is a pre-professional program that provides students with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to begin a master’s program and enter the field professionally. 

The program is organized around five thematic areas of study covering design, culture, and tools and materials, among others, and culminates in a Bachelor of Architectural Studies degree. 

Students who have attained a BAS or similar degree are admitted into the university’s Master of Architecture program, which can be completed in three to six academic terms depending on the student’s previous level of training.

University of British Columbia School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture (Vancouver, BC)

The Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urbanism program offered by the University of British Columbia School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture provides students the opportunity to study design in many spaces. 

Students also have the opportunity for experiential learning through the school’s Co-operative Education Program and Coordinated International Experience Program as they complete this pre-professional degree to prepare themselves for the next phase of their design careers. 

The school’s graduate architecture program offers master’s degrees in architecture and landscape architecture in addition to a dual-degree program in which students gain interdisciplinary training in both fields. This dual-degree program is the first such program offered in Canada. 

Also offered are additional master’s degrees which enable students to further research in architecture or study advanced topics in the field. 

University of Toronto John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design (Toronto, ON)

Undergraduate architecture students at the University of Toronto begin their introduction to the field by studying its fundamental aspects: design, history, and technology. 

Once students have gained a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals, they have the option to pursue one of four streams for the latter half of their undergraduate studies. 

These streams allow them to further their education in different fields, like design, history and theory, and architectural technology. 

For those interested in becoming professionals in the field, the school offers master’s degrees at both the professional and post-professional levels in architecture and in landscape architecture.  

The school offers students the opportunity to further advance research and practice in the field of architecture through its Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture, Landscape, and Design Program. 

The program’s curriculum requires students to pursue independent research while presenting their findings to other members of the program’s interdisciplinary cohort.

McGill University Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture (Montreal, QC)

The Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture at McGill University prepares students for future careers in design with a Bachelor of Science (Architecture) Degree. 

The degree is non-professional, but it provides students with the foundational knowledge and expertise necessary to attain a professional-level degree in architecture over the course of three years. 

Upon completion of their undergraduate studies, future architects at McGill undertake a two-year long course of study in design culminating in the school’s Master of Architecture – Professional Degree. 

Students in the program can use elective courses in the program to either focus on a specialized area in the field or gain a broader understanding of the field as a whole. 

Both the Canadian Architectural Certification Board and the National Architectural Accrediting Board in the United States recognize the degree’s accreditation. 

University of Calgary School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (Calgary, AB)

Although the School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape at the University of Calgary does not offer a specific undergraduate degree in architecture, students interested in the discipline are encouraged to obtain a degree in a related field and supplement it by studying in the school’s Minor in Architectural Studies program. 

Admission into the program is competitive, but it replaces the first year in the school’s Master of Architecture program. 

Students entering the Master of Architecture program without the school’s Minor in Architectural Studies or its equivalent attain their master’s degree over three years, with the first year providing the fundamentals for further study. Students on the accelerated course will complete the program in two years to attain their master’s, which is accredited in Canada and reciprocally recognized in the United States and Europe. 

Dalhousie University School of Architecture (Halifax, NS)

Dalhousie University divides its architecture program into three parts, resulting in both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. The school considers the first two years of university courses as the first of three parts. 

The next phase of the school’s program is attaining the Bachelor of Environment Design Studies degree. 

This two-year program provides students with a solid foundation in the basics of architecture in order to prepare them for the final, master’s level phase of study. 

Admission into the BEDS program is competitive, with the school prioritizing students’ academic achievements and design abilities when considering admitting a student into one of the 65 spots in the program. 

The fifth and sixth years of the program enable students to focus their studies on specializations in the discipline and are capped with a design thesis in the last year.

Toronto Metropolitan University (Toronto, ON)

Toronto Metropolitan University holds the distinction of having the only undergraduate architectural program in Canada combining the disciplines of project management, architecture, and building science into one degree. 

The program provides its students with modeling labs, fabrication facilities, and studio space in which to pursue their architectural education.  

Undergraduate students can attain a Bachelor of Architectural Science degree in four years or take an additional year for completion to participate in a co-op program to gain real-world experience. 

Graduate students in the architecture program will collaborate with other graduates and undergraduates in two design competitions.

Along with the collaborative competitions, students will independently research a topic in architecture and develop a thesis document as well as a jury-reviewed thesis project to complete their studies. 

Students may take as few as five semesters or as many as nine semesters to complete the program of study. 

Carleton University Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism (Ottawa, ON)

The undergraduate architecture program at Carleton University is another unique program of study among Canadian architecture schools. 

It offers students the chance to major in one of three aspects of architecture as they attain a Bachelor of Architectural Studies degree. 

When applying to the program, students choose to major in either conservation and sustainability, urbanism, or design. 

Undergraduate students can further enhance their architectural education by studying abroad or participating in an experiential learning program. 

The accredited Master of Architecture program is centered on studio design and research in the field and culminates in a thesis project spanning two semesters. 

Those interested in pursuing further architectural degrees at the school can choose to apply to the PhD in Architecture or Master of Architectural Studies programs to contribute further research or attain an academic position in the field. 

Laurentian University McEwen School of Architecture (Sudbury, ON)

Laurentian University’s McEwan School of Architecture was founded in 2013, and its undergraduate architecture program prides itself on incorporating three different cultural backgrounds into its architecture curriculum. 

Seeking to create a northern design culture, the program combines experiential learning with sustainability ethics as students study for its Bachelor of Architectural Studies degree. 

The graduate architecture program takes the program’s intent further with its approach toward designing for a northern environment. 

The program spans two years and couples an intensive research component with the experiential learning begun in the undergraduate program. 

Coupled with its design thesis, this program graduates architects who will be among the leaders in developing sustainable and respectful structures in the future.  

University of Manitoba Faculty of Architecture (Winnipeg, MB)

Aspiring architects in the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Architecture begin developing a multidisciplinary educational background upon admittance into the school’s Bachelor of Environmental Design program. 

The first two years of study have undergraduate architects learn alongside future city planners, landscape architects, and interior designers before moving in either a landscape and urbanism, architecture, or interior environment stream. 

Upon attaining their Bachelor of Environmental Design degrees, students are positioned to apply for acceptance into one of the four master’s-level graduate programs under the auspices of the Faculty of Architecture. 

Master’s degrees in city planning, landscape architecture, and interior design are offered alongside the school’s Master of Architecture program. 

The two-year program provides multiple making and creating labs and work in the design studio before culminating in a design thesis. 

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With a unique blend of large, bustling cities and jaw-dropping landscapes, North Carolina perfectly balances the best parts of living, offering up something of value for everyone! 

This is also what makes the possibility of attending any of the renowned art schools in North Carolina so profoundly appealing.

By enrolling in any of the top North Carolina art programs, students are doing more than just investing in education; they are engaging in one of the nation’s most historic, beautiful states. 

From the foothills of the mountains to the rushing waterfalls that fill this stunning corner of our nation, North Carolina offers up the best parts of the natural world. 

Students in search of inspiration are guaranteed to find it within just an easy drive of any of the nationally recognized art programs in this state. 

Filled with hip, lively “college towns,” North Carolina draws a constant flow of students from all over the world. 

By enrolling, these diverse class bodies bring forth new ideas, changing perspectives, and brand-new experiences.

What better environment for a flourishing young artist? 

To learn more, read on! These schools are ranked according to each program’s placement in the Niche.com ranking of best art colleges.

10. East Carolina University School of Art & Design (Greenville, NC)

One of the most popular public universities in North Carolina, the East Carolina University School of Art and Design takes pride in embracing the power of diversity to enrich both art and the human experience.

The best way to take this valuable step is through the education of young minds all across the state and beyond. 

What better way to do so than by engaging the artists on campus in valuable outreach programs?

Regular community programs are this university’s chosen method to combine the power of art and volunteer work, deepening each student’s relationship with their work through practical steps.

Recent programs in the Jenkins Fine Art Center– such as the recent Scott Avett exhibition, titled Stories about the Education of an Artist– raise funds that go directly back into the student body, empowering future young artists through scholarships and making education more accessible for the next generation. 

Through its plethora of readily available teaching resources, the East Carolina University School of Art and Design assists in classrooms from the ground level up, training young minds from youth to become the most creative possible artists. 

By opening the doors to diversity early, this university expands the opportunity to learn even beyond the walls of tuition.

9. Barton College (Wilson, NC)

Though built on a foundation of Christian principles, Barton College opens its doors to students of all walks of faith. 

These open-minded principles shine through in their ranking– among the top twenty universities in the South– and in the success of their flourishing arts program!

From theater to painting, Barton College embraces all forms of cultural arts in order to provide students with the most inclusive learning experience possible. 

After gazing through the stunning paintings available in any of the Barton art galleries, students can study on a smaller scale at the William Hackney Library. 

A weekend trip to the interactive Imagination Station museum just outside the campus grounds is a great way to relax, engage with new subjects, and find new inspiration to bring back to their own work, proving the value of an all-encompassing education. 

No matter how a student hopes to gain inspiration and pursue their art, Barton College is here to spur innovation and help them reach their goal! 

8. Appalachian State University (Boone, NC)

Any potential art student hoping to draw inspiration from the beauty of the natural world around them is destined to feel right at home at Appalachian State University.

Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian State University is surrounded by the kinds of views that have inspired some of America’s greatest impressionistic art. 

Spanning across a total 500 acres, this campus is widely considered one of the most gorgeous locations in the nation, and that inspiration shows through in their thriving art program. 

This inspiration shines through in their engaging educational programs, including participation in the most recent Buskers Fest and the successful wine label design challenge.

Collaboration is an essential element of education at Appalachian State University. 

As a regular step in art review, students hang their work in HOW Space, opening the door for the positive critique that helps shape students future artistic endeavors.

By graduation, Appalachian State University hands every student the tools they need to find a practical purpose for their education, whether that be art education, art therapy, or design. 

By helping students find an outlet for their creativity, this university guides students on the path to discovery and places them firmly on the road to a fulfilling career. 

7. University of North Carolina, Asheville (Asheville, NC)

To gauge the success of the University of North Carolina Asheville campus, one need only look at where its flourishing alumni have gone.

To date, graduates of this arts program have gone on to find national fame in their field, most recently including alumni Iris Gottlieb. 

Their first illustrated collection, Seeing Gender: an Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression, serves as a perfect example of how art can change the world. 

Though this compelling book contains written elements inspired by Gottlieb’s own identity, the illustrations from this professional artist have set it apart as a bestseller. 

In a review by the School Library Journal, Heather Waddell stated: “Each bright spread can stand alone, making this the perfect book to flip through at leisure.”  

Prior to this, the illustrator’s art found a home in Smithsonian Magazine, Sephora, Ford, and Google, among other companies willing to prove the value of art in advertisement and inspiration alike. 

From start to finish, a rigorous arts education at this university guides students from their first day to the completion of their dreams!

6. Western Carolina University School of Art & Design (Cullowhee, NC)

Whether a student hopes to minor in art or achieve their full MFA, the Western Carolina University School of Art and Design has the tools they need to succeed.

It’s no lie that an education in the arts can be expensive. In addition to the typical university expenses– tuition, books, and housing– art students are responsible for buying the materials with which they will work. 

Luckily, the Western Carolina University School of Art and Design makes learning accessible. 

In addition to general grants and financial aid, this department provides a series of art-specific scholarships, easing the financial burden and taking steps towards knowing that any student can feel the freedom to follow their dreams. 

Through a robust visiting artist program that dates back to the early 1980s, the Western Carolina University School of Art and Design has empowered young artists through free talks, exhibits, and lessons, allowing them to gain invaluable new perspectives to put into practice with their own work.  

5. UNC Greensboro School of Art (Greensboro, NC) 

From the minute that a student enrolls in the University of North Carolina Greensboro School of Art, they are immersed into a world in which the arts are celebrated as they deserve.

On campus, students are pushed to their furthest limits and nurtured into creative shape by a team of professors dedicated to helping them reach their vision.

A constant circulation of galleries and performances ensures that even the most creatively frustrated student has what they need to exit that slump and find their inspiration.

Off-campus, the thriving Greensboro art scene is guaranteed to help students from all over the country feel right at home. 

The Greensboro Arts Hub is dedicated to keeping artists throughout the community informed, engaged, and excited about new opportunities in the form of both events and grants. 

Through this endlessly supportive environment, students can find funding, seek out innovative ideas, and join a community of like-minded individuals. 

4. Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC)

After enrolling at Wake Forest University, students are guaranteed more than just a rigorous education in the arts. They are welcomed into one of the best college towns in America. 

While not enjoying the sights, studying at the local museums, or hiking on nearby trails, students at Wake Forest are privy to one of the most innovative educations in the nation. 

An art degree at Wake Forest includes the possibility of hands-on experience through internship opportunities and design practicum. 

Famously, the Diggs Gallery has made worldwide news after being recognized as one best regional collections of African art. 

By utilizing valuable connections at the nearby Reynolda House Museum of American Art and the Brooklyn Museum, faculty work hard to ensure that students have the networking skills they need to advance their careers beyond the campus. 

3. UNC-Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC)

As one of the top universities in the nation, The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill campus has a major draw, pulling some of the top minds from all over the country. What better way to ensure a thriving arts program?

Utilizing every bit of its national recognition, this university provides a near-constant rotation of visiting artists and stunning galleries, such as the recent BASEMENT X Peel group exhibition featuring faculty and alumni alike. 

All year round, students have the opportunity to learn from some of the most creative minds in the country as they use their art to address social issues and inspire change.

The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill campus views art in a purposeful lens, helping students treat their own work as a laboratory of “experimentation, examination, analysis, and engagement.” 

With this manner of respectful approach, it’s no wonder that so many alumni have recently shot into success, including Southern Prize finalist Elizabeth Cornejo and Chateaubriand Fellow Weizin Xhou. 

2. Davidson College (Davidson, NC)

At Davidson College, art is more than just recognized; it is celebrated.

Though this college embraces tradition through the use of typical galleries and exhibits, it strives to bring artistic visions to life in an entirely new way. 

By hosting art festivals such as the Gather, Learn, and Graze event, Davidson College allows students to show the world their art through live entertainment and fun.

This spirit of joy infects the entire campus, helping art become more than just a feature of college life. 

Davidson College openly views artistic courses as a major part of the liberal arts college experience and does everything possible to support young artists both in and out of the stereotypical classroom. 

Seeing as how this university has regularly achieved high rankings as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the nation, their open-armed approach clearly works!

1. Duke University (Durham, NC)

Earning a first place at the top of this competitive list is the arts program available at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. 

While housed on this campus, students have the opportunity to do more than simply study their art; they can put it to use, explore the world around them and gain the diverse experiences they need to build their personal portfolios.

Through a thriving study abroad program and community based learning experiences, Duke supports each young artist’s drive to learn more about the world around them. 

Only by truly immersing themselves in these possibilities can students take advantage of the world-class studio spaces available on campus.

Through the Art, Art History, and Visual Studies Antiracism Program, Duke University teaches art students to put their creativity to work where it counts most. 

Here, visiting speakers and exhibitions provide both inspiration and valuable lessons in culture, showing the impact of a well-rounded education in a totally new way. 

Whether a student is hoping to learn more about painting, art history, photography, or design, there is little place better for this exploration than the campuses in North Carolina!

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