Learning Resources

SCAD is home to a diverse community of talented individuals. SCAD students can choose from locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, Lacoste, France and Hong Kong. Online classes and degree programs are offered through eLearning. Students may choose to study for one quarter or longer at any other location through which their degree program is offered.

• Atlanta
• Hong Kong
• Savannah
• eLearning
• Lacoste

SCAD provides the learning environment creative students need to flourish. Full-time SCAD students take three classes per quarter; full-time graduate students take two. 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 an average faculty-to-student ratio of 1-to-16. Classes typically meet for two and one-half hours twice a week for lectures and individual or group work. Online classes 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 students learn to present themselves and their work in a professional manner. Students receive critical and thought-provoking feedback in a supportive environment that fosters creative achievement.

In many ways, SCAD has re-created the university experience, molding it to the unique needs and lifestyles of a diverse student body.

Class schedules, collaborative projects and internships are designed to teach and model real-world experiences. While SCAD is focused on helping students develop professional knowledge and master skills, the learning environment offers a full university experience to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the world around them.

Faculty members regularly assess students' achievement of learning outcomes and continually seek to improve and expand the curriculum to respond to professional needs and trends. Programs are evaluated and updated annually. Changes are made according to student interest, professional trends and learning outcome assessments.

All undergraduate programs begin with a core curriculum of foundation studies and general education courses to instill fundamental knowledge and teach skills necessary for success at SCAD. Foundation studies in studio arts build visual, conceptual and creative abilities, while general education courses in liberal arts develop critical thinking skills by providing an intellectual foundation and breadth of knowledge for lifelong learning.

 

SCAD provides students the flexibility to pursue their interests while gaining knowledge and expertise in a specific discipline. In addition, students can broaden their education and career preparation through a variety of elective subjects or by completing a double major or minor.

Graduate programs build on current levels of knowledge and achievement to help students reach personal and professional goals, advance understanding and skills in art and design, and assume leadership roles.

 

Through peer critiques and seminar discussions, students evaluate their own work through a self-critical perspective and analyze and explore old and new knowledge and skills in their fields. The graduate experience culminates in student teaching, internships and/or in a thesis or final project. Graduate students emerge from their studies at SCAD with a highly evolved theoretical and practical understanding of their fields.

SCAD off-campus programs enhance the total educational experience. Students earn degree credit while gaining a more global perspective on art, architecture and design. Students in all majors find sessions relevant to their career preparation and broaden their understanding of other cultures and societies. Recent destinations have included Australia, China, Dubai, Italy, Japan, London, Los Angeles and New York City.

SCAD Lacoste is a residential study-abroad location in France, offering immersion in the history and culture of Provence. Course offerings each quarter are varied to apply to all SCAD areas of study and are taught by SCAD professors. Lacoste is a beautifully preserved medieval village, known by artists for its extraordinary light and exquisite pastoral setting. SCAD Lacoste facilities date from the 9th to the 19th centuries, yet they feature a variety of modern amenities. SCAD Lacoste facilities include a library, gallery, dining hall and housing, as well as teaching studios dedicated to painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography and digital imaging. Students interact with visiting artists, take field trips to museums and historic sites in the area, and have an opportunity to exhibit their work at a local vernissage.

All courses at SCAD are taught by professors with exceptional credentials and valuable professional experience to provide each student with a comprehensive education and career preparation. The SCAD faculty of more than 700 professors is drawn from throughout the world. While many continue to publish, exhibit, design and consult, they are dedicated to teaching and sharing their expertise and professional connections with SCAD students and alumni. With an annual retention rate of 96 percent, the SCAD faculty is deeply committed to the mission and values of SCAD.

SCAD faculty members 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 gains exposure through student media, industry partnerships, signature events, galleries and SCAD publications, and is often shown to visiting artists, critics, curators and industry professionals.

In every academic program, SCAD provides interaction between SCAD students and luminaries in their fields. Through lectures, workshops and field trips, students connect with professionals who share insight and critique student work.

SCAD brings noted artists and designers to teach classes as distinguished visiting faculty. Cat Chow, Patrick Dougherty, Nene Humphrey, Alfredo Jaar, Sandy Skoglund and Carrie Mae Weems have taught at SCAD.

Visitors and lecturers include iconic designer Massimo Vignelli; editor-in-chief of Wired magazine, Chris Anderson; sequential artists Howard Chaykin and Klaus Janson; chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Jim Leach; founder and editor of Fraction Magazine David Bram; Tony Award-winning playwright Jeff Whitty; and Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Amy Astley.

The Savannah Film Festival, the SCAD Fashion Show, Commencement and other events also bring renowned actors, artists and designers. Recent visitors include Patricia Clarkson, Woody Harrelson, Fern Mallis, Hamish Bowles, Kelly Cutrone, Robert Klanten, Zac Posen, Angel Sanchez, Diane von Furstenberg Isabella Rossellini and Whoopi Goldberg.

Through sponsored projects, custom-designed classroom assignments or creation of commissioned work, students may participate in corporate partnerships and learn all aspects of product development-from contracts to market research, and from deadlines and presentations to client approval.

Students recently have worked on projects for United Colors of Benetton, American Greetings, VTech, Case-Mate, JCPenney, Newell Rubbermaid, FUZE Beverage, Swarovski, JCB, the Italian Trade Commission, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and many others.

SCAD is dedicated to offering an active learning environment that is engaging and collaborative. SCAD's Collaborative Learning Center is designed as a creative hub to facilitate authentic and collaborative learning opportunities for students, faculty and external partners. The center engages students in real-world projects through for-credit courses and gives them distinct opportunities to collaborate with top businesses, major organizations and distinguished artists. These collaborative learning opportunities set SCAD students apart from other university graduates and prepare them for successful careers.

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 that often lead to full-time, permanent employment. Students recently have interned with CARE, Nickelodeon, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Polo Ralph Lauren, Disney, Abercrombie & Fitch, HGA Architects and Engineers, Chico's, White House/ Black Market, Martha Stewart Living, Harper's Bazaar Magazine, Turner Classic Movies, www.buck.tv, NBC Sports, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Geographic, Foley + Corinna, Crown Point Press, Procter & Gamble, Juicy Couture, High Museum of Art, Global Mamas, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Anthropologie, Cartoon Network, with noted artists Sylvia Heisel and Amy Stein, and with fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg.

College Central, SCAD's online job portal, provides access to listings for 500,000 jobs and 20,000 internships. Access to the site is exclusive to SCAD students and alumni, and is available to them permanently at no cost. SCAD also maintains a private, growing database of more than 5,000 employers throughout the world.

Annually, hundreds of national and international companies and organizations recruit SCAD students and alumni. In 2011, more than 2,000 SCAD students and alumni attended the annual SCAD Career Fair, where more than 130 employers interviewed students, viewed portfolios and discussed career opportunities at their companies.

In 2010, more than 85 percent of SCAD alumni responding to a survey were employed in their fields or had been admitted to graduate school within six months of graduation.

Top 25 employers

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 an Avid Pro Tools Certification School for audio postproduction and students can become Pro Tools certified before graduating. Sequential art students create work using Wacom Cintiq displays.

Students of the building arts use the latest electronic design software including Bentley MicroStation V8, 3D Studio VIZ, SURFCAM AutoCAD, Autodesk Maya and Revit. Fibers students work with Compu-dobby looms, an electronic Jacquard loom and a Mimaki textile printer. The advanced technology labs for furniture and industrial design students include computer numerically controlled equipment for rapid prototyping and production as well as a large envelope five-axis CNC router and laser cutters. Computer resources include SolidWorks and Rhino 3-D. Seven 3-D printers allow students to print ABS and polycarbonate 3-D models of their computer-generated designs.

Photography students work in both digital and traditional formats. Computers and print labs are equipped with Macintosh computers, Adobe CS5 software, Imacon scanners and wide-format inkjet printers. Students can expose and process RA-4 photographic materials using a variety of high-resolution printers including a Durst Theta printer and an Epsilon printer.

Jewelry and objects students explore a wide range of technology in facilities for precision casting, finishing, enameling, laser welding, lapidary, anodizing, CAD/CAM, forming and stone setting processes. Resources include a laser welder and microscope system, a Stratasys Dimension SST 1200 printer for ABS plastic, two Solidscape T66 wax printers, and two Roland JWX-10 milling machines. Advanced modeling tools include SensAble pens with Claytools software.

Accessory design students use specialized equipment such as men's and women's shoe lasts, a shoe finishing machine and cylinder industrial sewing machines. Industry-standard Lectra Romans CAD software is used for designing bags and shoes. Fashion students use industry-standard dress forms, cutting tables, professional sewing machines and specialty finishing equipment. Digital labs offer an Infinity Plus plotter for patternmaking and a Mimaki textile printer, as well as software including Kaledo, Vision Fashion Studio, Gerber Suite, Lectra U4ia and Virtual Fashion Pro.

 

Students working in animation, game design and other digital media have access to a full motion capture lab, a private server for hosting large files and a powerful render farm. Students work with software programs and digital tools that include Autodesk Mudbox, Unity 3D, CryEngine, the Unreal Engine, ZBrush, 3ds Max, Final Cut Studio, Cinema 4D, Nuke, Mental Ray, Pixar's RenderMan, Houdini and Action Script.

 

Film students work with equipment found at major production and postproduction facilities, and use digital technology, nonlinear editing systems, digital audio workstations and comprehensive labs for screenwriting, scheduling and budgeting. Production facilities and equipment include Steadicam EFP, Super Panther and Fisher dollies, chroma key/green studio, sound stage and an ICON D-Control professional recording studio. Students have access to high-end Final Cut Red Suite, Avid Media Composer Nitris DX workstations, Media Composer software only stations, as well as a Symphony Nitris DX editing suite. Camera equipment includes Red One digital 4k cameras, Panavision Panaflex G2 cameras, Ariflex 416 film cameras and a diversified line of Sony and Panasonic HD cameras for file-based media acquisition, posting, and distribution.

 

Sound-specific production equipment includes 46 HD and LE Pro Tools workstations, two dedicated surround sound mix/mastering rooms, a music recording studio, a Foley sound stage, two dialogue recording and editing suites and a MIDI lab with synthesis and sampling technologies.

SCAD libraries are focal points for inspiration, information, study and research. Collections vary and are targeted to the needs of the SCAD community. At each location, the library contributes to every aspect of academic and intellectual life by providing a broad range of collections and services, including access to digital images, online databases, media, course reserves, archival materials and personalized research instruction.

SCAD galleries and exhibitions in Savannah, Atlanta, Hong Kong and Lacoste showcase the work of students, alumni, faculty and other distinguished and emerging artists.

The SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah is an integral part of the SCAD educational experience. The museum engages in education, exhibitions, research, collection care and programming. Among its significant collection of 4,500 objects, the museum has 17th- to 19th-century British and American works, including paintings by Van Dyck, Hogarth and Gainsborough, and prints by Hogarth, Goya and Renoir; 20th-century works by Picasso and de Kooning; a major African-American collection with iconic works by Bearden and Lawrence; 19th- and 20th-century photography; and designer costumes by Chanel and Christian Dior. A 60,000-square-foot expansion is underway to add galleries, classrooms, a café and a theater to the museum complex.

At each SCAD location, the university contributes to the enhancement of the surrounding community through heritage, cultural and educational programs, such as open discussions with acclaimed authors at the Ivy Hall Writers Series in Atlanta; exhibitions and public tours and workshops in Hong Kong; and performances and films in Savannah. SCAD is committed to restoring and reusing buildings that serve as architectural and historical touchstones for students as well as valuable resources for the local communities.

SCAD students, faculty and staff are involved in local arts groups and other non-profit cultural, civic and religious organizations. SCAD encourages good citizenship and volunteerism, and serves to enrich the cultural landscape at each SCAD location.

SCAD signature events throughout the year promote awareness of art and design fields in each SCAD community. Annual events include Savannah Film Festival, Atlanta Fashion Seen, Sidewalk Arts Festival, Sand Arts Festival, Game Developers eXchange and deFINE ART, and draw more than 100,000 attendees. Unique venues host extraordinary festivals, symposiums, performances, concerts and films.

Through the admission department, SCAD offers continuing education workshops and summer programs for all ages and levels of experience. At each SCAD location, these outreach programs introduce to a wider audience an appreciation for the arts and provide new experiences in creative expression.

Life at SCAD is active and engaging within and beyond the classroom. The SCAD experience includes programs and activities that promote student interaction, leadership and community service, and encourage a healthy lifestyle.

With more than 70 student organizations, SCAD students have many opportunities to meet others who share common interests-from improv comedy to skateboarding.

SCAD also sponsors student groups affiliated with professional organizations as well as clubs related to academic programs. Leadership development opportunities are promoted through all student organizations including the Student Activities Council and United Student Forum, and SCAD's award-winning online student news outlets and Internet radio stations. For students who want to become involved in the community, Service Opportunities for Students provides an array of volunteer programs.

SCAD student resources include a bus system that provides free transportation to and from class and late-night shuttles; a professional student success and counseling staff to serve as resources for any concerns and emergencies; and security officers who are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Specialists in learning styles and counseling help students adjust to university life and reach their personal and academic goals.

Student residence halls offer the opportunity for social engagement, involvement with the university community and a variety of programming events to support academic, career and social needs. Apartment-style and traditional residence halls feature live-in residence directors and amenities that include swimming pools, cafés, laundry facilities, fitness centers, computer labs and meeting rooms. In common areas, students can relax and watch television or play sand volleyball, pool or table tennis. Graduate-preferred housing provides graduate students with additional  living environment options.

SCAD competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in 16 men's and women's sports. SCAD athletics teams have won 12 NAIA Region XIV titles and 17 conference titles. In 2010, the women's swimming team earned the university's second consecutive NAIA national championship. Over the past nine years, the SCAD equestrian team has earned 13 American National Riding Commission championships and 10 individual Intercollegiate Horse Show Association championships.

In Atlanta, SCAD competes at the intercollegiate level in men's and women's cross country, golf and tennis.

Students also participate in a wide variety of intramural sports and outdoor activities at SCAD. Quarterly intramurals are open to anyone; teams include baggo, dodgeball, flag football, volleyball, indoor  and outdoor soccer, basketball, kickball, softball and Ultimate Frisbee. Outdoor activities include whitewater rafting, off-road biking, rock climbing, skiing and canoeing.