<p>Does anyone have any direct experience with American’s graphic design department, or know anyone who does? We have read the website/course info, but are interested in an insider’s perspective on the major. How are the professors?, approximately how many students are in the major?, what are internships like?, etc. Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi,
I don't have experience with the graphic design dept, but did want to let you know that you can reference the number of students by major at this link:
<a href="http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/provost/oir/PDF/07_table6A.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/provost/oir/PDF/07_table6A.pdf</a>
Hope that helps</p>
<p>I am a current AU student, but not in the art department. I do not know anyone who is majoring in any of the fine arts (which is saying something). This may be because these majors all hang out together. The building (Katzen) is nice and new. </p>
<p>However, I feel like funding for the arts is neglected. A friend of mine has taken an art class for non majors, and said that her high school funded the arts better. </p>
<p>My "experiences" or lack there of, may be due to AU's limiting access to non majors. Students can't take private music lessons, for example, if they are not majors or enrolled in some sort of musical ensemble. </p>
<p>Don't get me wrong. AU is a "good school." Obviously, it has some art/ graphic design majors. But AU is mostly known for its School of International Service, and its School of Public Affairs. Your experience would reflect that.</p>
<p>My d. is non-major, not enrolled in a musical ensemble, and not only has one set of private music lessons, but two - both classical and jazz. </p>
<p>And her classical teacher? Only a former winner of the Queen Elizabeth competition in Belgium (probably the second most prestigious piano competition in the world, after the Tschaikovsky.)</p>
<p>Yuliya</a> Gorenman</p>
<p>(but it is true: most students go to American for international service, public affairs, or international business, and one of the really good things is the ability to integrate curricula or double major between two of them.)</p>
<p>My roommate is a graphic design major, and form what I can gather it is a pretty well-respected program. She has held internships at design firms in the DC area. The Katzen center always has graphic design projects up...</p>
<p>My roommate works long hours in the design labs, but from what I can tell she learns a lot, likes her professors, and has a great portfolio to work with after graduation.</p>