Choosing the environment that best suits their lifestyle and interests enables students to enhance their university experience and career preparation. Students can elect to study at SCAD in
Savannah or
Atlanta, Georgia; in
Lacoste, France; online via
eLearning; and soon in
Hong Kong.
SCAD provides the learning environment creative students need to flourish. Full-time SCAD students take three classes per quarter. This tightly focused schedule enables students to acquire the knowledge and master the skills required to advance in their chosen field. All classes are small—with a student/faculty ratio of 16:1.
Traditional courses meet for two-and-a-half hours twice a week for lectures and individual or group work. Online courses are asynchronous with students and faculty participating in discussion postings and Web chats. Fridays are open for studio time or collaboration outside class with students and faculty.
SCAD off-campus programs enhance the total educational experience. Students earn degree credit while gaining a more global perspective on art, architecture and design.
SCAD’s residential study-abroad location in
Lacoste, France, offers immersion in the rich culture of Provence. Course offerings each quarter are varied to apply to all majors and are taught by SCAD professors.
All courses at SCAD are taught by
full professors with the credentials and experience to prepare students for professional careers.
SCAD faculty continuously encourage students to refine their work, to enter competitions, and to perform, screen, exhibit and publish through university organizations, events, galleries and partnerships. Student work is featured in
shopSCAD,
student media,
industry partnerships,
signature events,
galleries and SCAD publications, and is often shown to
visiting artists.
In every major, SCAD provides interaction between SCAD students and luminaries in their fields. Lectures, workshops and field trips allow students to connect with professionals who share insight and critique student work.
The
distinguished faculty program brings noted artists or designers to teach courses at SCAD. Cat Chow, Patrick Dougherty, Nene Humphrey, Sandy Skoglund and Carrie Mae Weems have participated in the program.
SCAD students and alumni benefit from an extensive array of
career services. Career advisers provide individual guidance about course options, résumés, portfolios, interviews and job-search strategies. Workshops and classes cover entrepreneurship, branding, salary negotiation, socially responsible careers and more.
Throughout the year, students are placed in internships with leading companies such as MTV, Pixar, Macquarium/Fathom Studios, the New York City Metropolitan Opera, Ralph Lauren, JCB Inc., Ruffian, Liz Claiborne, Apple, Turner Studios, BCBGMaxAzria Group, Digital Domain, Choice Hotels, General Motors, Rhythm & Hues Studios and JCPenney, as well as with noted artists such as Ghada Amer and Joyce Tenneson. These internships often lead to full-time, permanent employment.
Specialized educational resources facilitate research and build knowledge. In every department and program, SCAD students work with advanced, professional-level technology, equipment and resources.
For example, SCAD is a Digidesign Certified Pro School for sound design and students can become Pro Tools certified before graduating. Sequential art students create work using Cintiq displays.
SCAD signature events throughout the year promote awareness of art and design fields. These events include the Savannah Film Festival, SCAD Style, Inspire, the student Fashion Show, the Sidewalk Arts Festival, the architectural history Savannah Symposium and the Game Developers eXchange, and draw more than 100,000 attendees. Unique venues such as the Trustees Theater host extraordinary festivals, symposiums, performances, concerts and films.