Art Schools and Programs in San Francisco
If you're interested in studying art, the San Francisco Bay Area has several top schools. San Francisco Art Institute's School of Studio Practice offers specializations in design & technology, new genres, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Located in downtown San Francisco, Academy of Art University's internationally renowned School of Fine Art offers painting, sculpture, and jewelry design classes, while just across the Bay Bridge California College of the Arts has programs in everything from community arts to ceramics, glass, metal arts, and illustration. One of the largest departments in the university, the art department at San Francisco State University offers more than 500 majors.
Fine artists in California make an average of $60,800 per year or approximately 30% more than in the U.S. overall. California is also expected to see more growth in fine art occupations -- 11% compared to 9% nationwide. Fields such as set/exhibit design and multimedia art are expected to see the most growth.
About: Founded in 1929, Academy of Art University offers AA, BA, BFA, MA, MFA and M.Arch degrees and portfolio development and certificates in fourteen diverse art and design majors. The Academy offers a unique environment of working professionals who are dedicated to passing on their knowledge and expertise to the artists and designers of tomorrow. Not only is Academy of Art University's San Francisco location both beautiful and exciting, but it is strategic in its proximity to the centers of many creative industries. The Academy's Career Services Department offers assistance to students and alumni in establishing connections with these companies. Academy graduates have been hired by prestigious firms worldwide, including Disney, Sega, Pixar, Hewlett-Packard & Hallmark Cards. Request Information
About: At DeVry, you can choose to attend full-time or part-time, days or evenings. You can also combine both classroom courses with online courses to help fit your personal schedule. Request Information
About: The world is changing so quickly that today we have jobs that didn't exist even five years ago. Most people can't even imagine what career fields will open in the next five years. But at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco, you have your fingers on the pulse. We can lead the way to creative career opportunities by providing art and design education. Request Information
About: Founded in 1871, SFAI is one of the oldest and most prestigious colleges of art in the US. SFAI is internationally renowned for leading the investigation and definition of contemporary art and the role of artists in global society. SFAI emphasizes vision, imagination, intellectual development, hands-on experience, and engagement with the world. Art making is defined by a broad spectrum of forms, philosophies, and aesthetic approaches, and does not presume distinctions between fine and applied art or the arts and other disciplines. Inspiration can come from anywhere: popular culture, art history, nature, politics, religion, science, cross-cultural experiences, community relationships. The faculty encourage students to be self-motivated and self-directed, and provide guidance and support. Artistic, personal, and intellectual development is fused so that the process of making work is a life-enriching experience and prepares students for a creative life. Ideally located, the main campus on Russian Hill overlooks the San Francisco Bay and the Graduate Center on Third Street is in the heart of an artist loft district. SFAI offers BA, BFA, MA, and MFA programs, and innovative Summer MFA, post-baccalaureate, and pre-college programs. Request Information
About: At TechSkills, you can begin your career training immediately, regardless of which course you intend to study. There's no waiting for classes to fill or semesters to start. And there's never a risk of classes being canceled. Your career education program will be customized just for you, so you can skip what you already know and progress at your optimal learning speed. Plus, you will be assigned your own personal instructor. Your instructor will monitor and evaluate your progress, answer questions and help with difficult subject matter, and ensure that your learning experience is productive and positive. You'll also have anytime access to TechSkills' subject matter experts nationwide. Request Information
About: Thousands of working students earn degrees from University of Phoenix every year. Since 1976, flexible class schedules and convenient locations have appealed to working students looking to advance their educations. Students can earn a degree sooner than they think and choose from more than 190 locations in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. In addition, the University of Phoenix offers more than 40 programs online. Ongoing enrollment means students can get started in their degree program any time. Courses emphasize practical application in real-world scenarios and are taught by professional faculty who are active in their fields. Request Information
About: The Art Institute of California - Sunnyvale is located in Santa Clara County, California, an area that makes up the world's premiere technology corridor, Silicon Valley. Sunnyvale's local population is only about 150,000, but the surrounding region is home to well over 2 million people. Students are only an hour's drive from the Pacific Ocean and Sunnyvale is also close to California's historic redwood forests. The city is bordered by the San Francisco bay to the north, Mountain View to the west, Santa Clara and San Jose to the east, and Cupertino to the south. The city is ranked as one of the safest in the country by the Morgan Quitno Safest City Award program and students enjoy a year-long mild climate. Request Information
About: At DeVry, you can choose to attend full-time or part-time, days or evenings. You can also combine both classroom courses with online courses to help fit your personal schedule. Request Information
Art and Design, University of California Extension - Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA US
Art M OPTI Village Institute, Art Workshop
San Francisco, CA US
Art Trek, Art Workshops
Bolinas, CA US
Asian Watercolors by Suzanna
San Francisco, CA US
California State University, Department of Art - Hayward
Hayward, CA US
About: A 21st century art program that develops students who are creative, aware, responsible individuals capable of effectively expressing their values in the media of their choice. Major options include traditional media, photography, multimedia, digital graphics, and art history. Facilities include state-of-the-art digital media software and hardware. Request Information
Carolynne Griffin Wildlife Workshops
San Francisco, CA US
San Francisco, CA US
About: Cartooning Classes: The museum offers cartooning classes for kids and adults. Kids classes are every Saturday during the summer and various Saturdays during the school year, for ages 6-14 years. Adult classes are offered a few times a year. The best way to find out when and how is to sign up for our email list on our home page. Volunteering and Internships: Volunteers and Interns make essential contributions to the Cartoon Art Museum. Their generous contributions are a constant source of much-needed assistance to all CAM activities, from daily operations to exciting special events. Internships range from Museum Studies, Exhibitions and Education to Administration and Development, see our internship listings at http://www.cartoonart.org/intern.html for more information. Join our team! Call 415-227-8666, for Internships, contact Summerlea Kashar at ext. 300 or office@cartoonart.org; for Volunteer opportunities, contact Andrew Farago at ext. 314 or gallery@cartoongar.org. Request Information
Cogswell Polytechnical College, Department of Art
Sunnyvale, CA US
About: Cogswell College, a prestigious WASC institution in Silicon Valley, offers a BA in Computer and Video Imaging (CVI) and a BA in Digital Motion Picture. The CVI degree offers specializations in Character Animation, Digital Illustration, Digital Motion Picture, Game Design, Modeling and Animation, Technical Director, Web Design, and Web Development. Our alumni hold positions at companies such as ILM, Pixar, PDI, Sony, Foundation Imaging, and many web and computer game production companies. We are dedicated to maintaining small classroom sizes with maximum exposure to software, techniques, and quality instruction it takes to make your portfolio shine in these competitive and exciting fields. Online applications are available. Request Information