These days, the words “bachelor’s degree” include a lot more than the traditional training in liberal arts or the sciences.
Advances in technology have prompted the development of schools dedicated to training in fields that didn’t exist years ago, and technology, business, fine art and design institutes are competing for students and dollars within the college market.
The Chicago area is rich in opportunities for those seeking training in a variety of such fields. Here’s an overview of some of those schools and programs.
– Illinois Institute of Art. Not to be confused with Chicago’s Art Institute, this school was formerly the Ray Vogue College of Design, which was founded in 1912.
The school offers a bachelor of fine arts degree in such areas as fashion design, marketing and management, interior design, media arts and computer animation.
“We work hand in hand with employers to ensure people get the training they’ll need for the jobs they want,” said Julie Spencer, associate director of admissions. “People are looking for skills in the visual arts, and want computer training along with a creative career. We know that the two biggest careers throughout the rest of the ’90s will be in the culinary arts and computer animation.”
Spencer says movies such as Walt Disney’s “Toy Story,” the first film animated entirely with computers, have introduced a new variety of career possibilities.
The school has a Chicago location at 350 N. Orleans St. and another in Schaumburg. Enrollment is slightly less than 1,000, counting both campuses. The tuition is $208 per credit hour, and full-time students pay around $10,000 per year. Call 800-351-3450.
– DeVry Institute of Technology. DeVry has 10 campuses throughout the United States, plus four in Canada. Chicago has one campus, and another is in suburban Addison.
According to public relations manager Cathy Klepeck, the school is sometimes misunderstood as being a trade school.
“We don’t offer training in any of the trades or mechanic-type things,” Klepeck said.
The school offers bachelor degrees in accounting, business operations, computer information systems, telecommunication and technical management, and a program known as electronic-engineering technology. An associate’s degree in electronics is also available.
The tuition is $3,470 per semester. Call 630-953-2000 for more information.
– International Academy of Merchandising and Design. Located at 4 N. State St. in Chicago, the academy offers associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in six programs: interior and fashion design (two separate programs); advertising and design; merchandising management; computer graphics; and interactive media.
President Linda Weldon says about 800 students attend the school, a mixture of recent high school grads and adults looking for another career.
An associate’s degree requires 90 units, a bachelor’s 180. Weldon says tuition runs slightly over $200 per credit hour. Day and evening programs are available. Call 800-ACADEMY.
– Harrington Institute of Interior Design. Director of admissions Wendy Davidson says the school offers just one bachelor of fine arts degree program, in interior design.
“We have approximately 350 students who are taking courses in interior design; that’s all we offer,” Davidson said. “Our courses are taught in the studio format, where students get a lot of hands-on application. They’re trained in commercial, residential and institutional design.”
Robert Marks, the school’s president and dean, says the school took first and second place nationally in the American Society of Interior Design last year and also placed 100 percent of its graduates in jobs.
The tuition costs $4,960 per semester for full-time day students and $2,322 for part-time evening classes. No individual fee per class or credit hour is allowed. Call 312-939-4975
Of course, earning a four-year degree will cost you. If you’re looking for help with tuition, the best place to start is the same place you’d start if you were pursuing a traditional college degree: the federal government.
Mary Dorrell, financial aid coordinator for DeVry Institute, says that the biggest pool of money to tap into is available through Title IV and the higher education amendment.
“Students should apply through what is called a FAFSA application, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid,” Dorrell said. “Applications are available at high schools, libraries or the school students plan to attend. There’s also campus-based aid as well.”
More information about FAFSA is available by calling 800-4-FED-AID.
Besides Title IV money, Dorrell says two other major sources are grants and work programs.
“Grants are money that doesn’t have to be repaid,” said Weldon. “Pell Grants are the most common awarded and are provided through federal subsidy.”
Davidson says new financial aid forms are available in February and urges students to apply early. “It takes about four to eight weeks to hear if you’ll receive any aid,” she said.
