The Art Institute of Austin

The Art Institute of Austin

By Community Impact Newspaper Staff Friday, 06 June 2008

The first floor of the old Farmers Insurance building near Toll 45 and IH 35 in Round Rock has been completely remodeled.

A sleek flat-panel TV rests against the wall in a lobby that once served as an employee cafeteria. Down the carpeted hallway, an old office space is being turned into an audio production booth. Nearby, pupils work at rows of brand-new iMacs in a computer lab. In a classroom across the hall, students slide drawings into their portfolios.

The Art Institute of Austin opened its doors March 31 and has more than 100 students. The school has 38,000 sq. ft. of space and offers bachelor’s degrees in graphic design, interior design, photography, audio production, web design and interactive media, fashion retail management and animation. Two associate’s degrees are also offered for graphic design and web design.

President Thomas Newsom said the school’s smaller size creates a more intimate learning environment, with no large lecture halls and low teacher-to-student ratios.

“We pride ourselves on providing some direct contact with faculty and students,” he said. “We focus on an applied arts education that really gives students a hands-on experience in the classroom and gives them the skills they need to prepare themselves for entry level jobs in their careers.”

Despite being within the Round Rock city limits, The Art Institute of Austin is so named for its Austin postal address. The school is a branch of The Art Institute of Houston.

Enrollment is expected to spike in the fall, but Newsom said the school is capable of expanding quickly to accommodate a larger student population.

“The positive reaction we’ve gotten from the community has been fantastic. It’s exciting to know we have a great future here in Central Texas.”

The school is based on a quarter system. Full-time students can get the 180 credit hours needed for a bachelor’s degree in three years or the 105 required for an associate’s degree in two years.

The Art Institute offers open enrollment. Applications are accepted anytime before classes start.