Richard G. Rowan, Paula S. Wallace, May L. Poetter and Paul E. Poetter founded SCAD in 1978. According to the SCAD website, the aim of the institution was to provide access to art and design programs that were not readily available in southeastern Georgia during the late 1970s. The state of Georgia legally incorporated SCAD on September 29, 1978, with its first academic year beginning in the fall of 1979. The New Georgia Encyclopedia describes SCAD's first academic year---the college consisted of 71 students, eight faculty members, four staff members and five trustees. During the 1979-1980 academic year, SCAD offered eight majors. By 2009, SCAD had grown to offer the highest number of degrees and specialties of any U.S. art and design college, with 42 major and 52 minor programs.
The New Georgia Encyclopedia reports SCAD to have an enrollment of more than 9,000 students at it campuses around the world and online in 2009. The number of foreign students studying at SCAD has grown since its founding, making up around 10 percent of the student body in 2009. A number of programs are available for students, including bachelor's and master's programs such as Master of Fine Arts, Master of Architecture and a Master of Urban Design program.
SCAD has developed its campus in Savannah to include a number of architecturally important buildings in the city. In addition to its Savannah campus, SCAD has developed a campus in Atlanta and opened its first international campus in Lacoste, France. According to The New Georgia Encyclopedia, SCAD will open a new campus in Hong Kong during the 2010 academic year.
SCAD has been influential in preserving the historic buildings of Savannah since the college's inception in 1978. The first building bought as a classroom and administrative buildings was the former Savannah Volunteer Guard Armory bought in spring 1979. Continuing along this theme, SCAD bought a number of historic buildings in Savannah, including a Greek revival building that was the former home of the Central of Georgia Railway, which became the SCAD Museum of Art in 2002. A number of organizations, including the Historic Savannah Foundation and the Art Deco Societies of America, have honored the preservation work performed by SCAD.
SCAD offers a comprehensive athletics program, making it the first art and design college in America to do so. The New Georgia Encyclopedia reports SCAD to be a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, offering sports such as basketball and fencing.