The top art school in the country according to U.S. News & World Report, the Rhode Island School of Design offers graduate and undergraduate programs in fields including painting, photography, industrial design, illustration, sculpture and graphic design. During their freshman year, students study in a foundational program that nurtures creativity in three areas: two-dimensional design, three-dimensional design, and drawing. The school also features six weeks of coursework, either on or off-campus, during the traditional winter break geared toward a specific field.
Rhode Island School of Design
2 College Street
Providence, RI 02903
401-454-6300
risd.edu
The Art Institute of Chicago offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees as well as master's degrees in areas including art, writing, art history and art education. The school provides specializations in disciplines such as ceramics, interior design, sculpture, fashion design, sound and photography. The graduate program, which U.S. News & World Report ranks as the third-best in the country, features additional specializations in art journalism and art history as well as dual-degree tracks in art history and arts administration. Students also have a number of certificate programs available to them, such as historical preservation and writing.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
37 S. Wabash Avenue
Chicago, IL 60603
312-629-6100
saic.edu
With a graduate program that U.S. News & World Report ranks fourth in the country, the Maryland Institute College of Art lays claim to the being the oldest degree-granting art college in the country. In addition to graduate studies, the college, founded in 1826, features undergraduate curricula in painting, environmental design, animation, illustration, photography and printmaking, among many other fields. The school offers bachelor's degrees in fine arts, master's degrees in both arts and fine arts, and a comprehensive program for students interested in teaching. In this teaching track, students earn first a BFA and then an MA.
Maryland Institute College of Art
1300 Mount Royal Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21217
410-225-2256
mica.edu