The Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) is a for-profit art and design school in Lakewood, a suburb of Denver, Colorado, U.S. in the 40 West Arts District. The college was founded in 1963 by Philip J. Steele, an artist and teacher.
RMCAD is an institution offering campus and online undergraduate and graduate degrees, fully accredited, with majors in 3D animation, animation, art education, commercial photography, fashion design, fine arts, game art, graphic design, interior design and illustration. Graduate degrees include a Master of Arts in education, leadership and emerging technologies and a Master of Arts in design strategy and innovation.
Accreditation
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design - Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design prepares passionate students for creative careers, with an emphasis on individualized instruction in a success-oriented college campus and online environment....
RMCAD is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). In addition, RMCAD is also an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. The on-campus professional interior design BFA program and the online BFA interior design program (August 2016)are fully accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.
Students
Approximately 1,095 undergraduate students with a student body is 66% female, 34% male, 41% minorities and international students. Seventy-nine percent of students are out-of-state.
Student to instructor ratio is above average at 9 students for every 1 instructor and the average class size is 8 students. The average age of on-campus students is 23 and the average on-line student is 30.
History
RMCAD was founded in 1963 by Philip J. Steele, an artist and teacher. The college relocated several times as it increased enrollment. In 2003 the college moved from its 3-building Denver location, to its current and larger location in the suburb of Lakewood. In 2010, a group of investors who own Full Sail University purchased a controlling share of the college from the Steele family, and began an initiative to restructure the college and curriculum. In 2014, amidst a turnover of a significant number of key faculty, RMCAD rescheduled its in-person campus courses to align with the scheduling of online classes, and to cut costs moved most liberal arts courses on line. Currently, RMCAD is an affiliate of Full Sail University.
Campus
Rocky Mountain College of Art campus comprises 23 acres. The RMCAD campus has the designation of National Historic District. Currently, the campus has 17 structures, 11 of which are devoted to classrooms, common areas, and other support spaces, including four galleries and studio spaces. The campus is the former site of the Jewish Consumptives Relief Society (JCRS), included in the National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson County, Colorado and is located in the 40 West Arts District close to Casa Bonita. The campus is located in the city of Lakewood, Colorado which is between the city of Denver and the foothills of Colorado's Front Range mountains.
Galleries
The college has four main galleries; the Philip J. Steele Gallery, Rude Gallery, Alumni Gallery, and Student Gallery. The Philip J. Steele Gallery is the largest gallery on campus and is named after the founder of the college. Rude Gallery is a more intimate space in the Rude Building, and the Alumni Gallery is located in the main foyer of the Texas building. The student gallery is located in the EPiC building and is run by a jury of students who select the work to be displayed.
References
External links
- Official website