Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) teaches undergraduate and graduate students in the midst of a thriving creative community in Columbus, Ohio. CCAD has 11 undergraduate majors in its Bachelor of Fine Arts program and Master’s programs that produce graduates equipped to shape culture and commerce at the highest level.
CCAD’s undergraduate majors are Advertising & Graphic Design, Animation, Comics & Narrative Practice, Fashion Design, Film & Video, Fine Arts, Game Art & Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture & Design, and Photography.
In the nationally ranked Advertising & Graphic Design program, you’ll catapult yourself into an influential career, whether you work for yourself or with advertising and design industry leaders. With the multidisciplinary skills you’ll gain in this award-winning program at CCAD, you’ll be well equipped to take risks, influence decision-makers, and propel social movements.
Life is full of movement, and you’re here to capture it. In the nationally ranked Animation program, you’ll dive right into cutting-edge animation techniques and learn 2D, 3D and experimental styles, as well as game art, motion graphics, digital modeling, and more. You’ll have access to industry-standard facilities and expert guidance from creative faculty.
Comics & Narrative Practice is our groundbreaking program devoted to telling stories with words and images. You’ll create original comics and graphic novels and learn how to shape narrative elements and invent signature styles, stories, and characters. You’ll meet with top industry practitioners and immerse yourself in the profession, culture, and art of comics. Gain practical experience with story pitches, prepress, budgeting, and marketing.
As the home of the third-highest concentration of fashion designers in the U.S. (right after New York and Los Angeles), Columbus offers a fashion-forward backdrop for your ever-evolving designs. Our innovative and nationally ranked Fashion Design program provides you with a rich understanding of the business of fashion so you can successfully create wearable art with purpose. Our students and graduates go on to contribute to some of the largest and most creative fashion brands in the world.
Sharpen your creative eye with real-world assignments in our Film & Video program. You’ll explore every aspect of the filmmaking process at CCAD — from pre-production through post-production and distribution — working with faculty who not only teach, but practice professionally. Whether you want to make films, motion graphics, fine art installations, commercials, documentaries or music videos, you can make them all at CCAD with the newest industry gear and tools.
In our Fine Arts program, you'll realize your artistic vision. Deepen your creative journey by learning cutting-edge art theory while expanding your practice in any number of mediums, including drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and painting. Take part in intensive studio courses, network with internationally renowned visiting artists, and immerse yourself in the professional world with a methodology and worldview that are essential to any career.
In our Game Art & Design major, you will be able to share and build games created through your unique perspective. You’ll learn everything game-making, from introductory coding to playable prototypes, and you’ll develop the skills and confidence to create both digital and physical game-ready assets alongside emerging trends in augmented and virtual technologies.
Change the visual landscape with cutting-edge illustrations and learn to communicate ideas clearly through pictures in our nationally ranked Illustration program. You’ll master the latest technology, study under industry leaders, and go on to create beautiful works that tell stories through printed books, motion graphics, or fabric patterns.
You’ll discover problems and their solutions in our Industrial Design program, where collaboration is key. Projects with peers, faculty, and clients like General Motors and Airstream are the norm. You’ll become an inventor, innovator, and game-changer. You’ll reimagine and execute the design of everything from boats and bicycles to shoes, water bottles, and other everyday products.
You’re not a decorator — you’re a designer who’s changing the way we interact and engage with our built environment. In our Interior Architecture & Design program, you’ll solve social problems and design spaces that change the way people live, work, and engage with one another. Courses in hand-sketching, computer modeling, and communications will translate your vision into a wide range of spaces and industries.
Photography surrounds us, but you've got an eye for what stands out. In our Photography program, you’ll work with industry professionals to refine your vision and learn the business of photography. You’ll use the best gear and software to become well-versed in multiple photographic formats — a master of the darkroom and cutting-edge digital technology.
Learn more about each major and find your creative community at www.ccad.edu/majors.