Even in its earliest days, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh operated with an eye toward employer's needs. In 1921, America was in the throes of a consumer buying frenzy. The advertising business was booming, stoking America's interest in the new and improved. In response to this emerging marketplace, The Art Institute graduated commercial artists who designed billboards and magazine ads that competed for the attention of the buying public.

Just over 80 years and six downtown locations later, the mission of The Art Institute to train students for creative careers remains the same. Otherwise, the resemblance is minimal for the flagship school of The Art Institutes system of schools.

For starters, the curriculum has expanded and changed to prepare graduates with creative skills. The technology revolution has impacted the art, design, and entertainment fields in ways most people never dreamed. The hallmark of The Art Institute has always been industry-relevant curricula. Now students enjoy 17 computer labs, equipped with program specific technology. Still, our curriculum is firmly rooted in the fundamental elements of design and composition. Our students learn the fundamentals of drawing, perspective, color theory, and design principles before they begin to tackle specialized software programs.

In addition to our historically successful two-year associate's degree programs, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh made history in January 2000 as the first post secondary career school to obtain bachelor's degree-granting status from the Pennsylvania State Department of Education.

Now, students have the potential to augment their earnings upon graduation and to better arm themselves with the tools and the knowledge needed to compete in today's art market. This also means that students enrolled in the bachelor's degree program have an extra year to enjoy college life and the sights and sounds of Pittsburgh, and an even better chance to be catch a foul ball careening out of PNC Park! (This has yet to happen, but you never know...)

In 2001, The Art Institute relocated all the way across the Golden Triangle and into an entirely renovated historic landmark building located at 420 Boulevard of the Allies. More square feet, more classrooms, more computers, even more vending machines -- everything is newer, larger, and better equipped to handle the needs of today's students.