American Intercontinental University

Summary

American InterContinental University (AIU) is a private, for-profit institution headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1970 in Lucerne, Switzerland, AIU offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through both on-campus and online programs. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is part of the American InterContinental University System, which includes Trident University International. AIU provides flexible learning options designed to accommodate the needs of working adults and international students.

History

In 1970, American InterContinental University was established in Lucerne, Switzerland, by American couple Jack and Helen Barnette. Initially known as the American Fashion College of Switzerland, the institution aimed to offer American-style education in Europe. In 1971, it gained recognition as an American degree-awarding institution and began offering associate and bachelor’s degrees in 1974.

In 1976, the Swiss campus expanded by opening a branch in Atlanta, Georgia, known as the American College for the Applied Arts. Two years later, in 1978, the Lucerne campus relocated to London and was renamed the American College in London. By 1978, the institution had approximately 300 students and began diversifying its academic offerings to include fields such as commercial art, interior design, and business.

The 1980s saw further expansion, with the addition of a campus in Los Angeles in 1982. In 1987, AIU received initial accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. However, the Los Angeles campus was closed in 2010. Additional campuses were established in Atlanta Dunwoody and South Florida in 1998, though the South Florida campus was closed in 2015.

In 1996, Steve Bostic acquired the institution and rebranded it as American InterContinental University. The university continued to grow, and in 2001, AIU launched its online division, which was recognized as a separate campus in 2002. This move allowed AIU to reach a broader audience, offering flexible learning options to students worldwide.

In 2001, AIU was acquired by Career Education Corporation, a publicly traded operator of for-profit schools. In 2020, Career Education Corporation was rebranded as Perdoceo Education Corporation. Under this new ownership, AIU has continued to expand its academic offerings and maintain its commitment to providing quality education.

Top Arts Programs

Fashion Marketing, BBA

American InterContinental University’s BBA in Fashion Marketing degree program is an accredited business administration degree with a concentration in fashion marketing. This program has courses designed to help students to explore consumer behavior, trend forecasting, visual merchandising and marketing communications. Offered on campus at AIU’s Atlanta, Georgia location, this degree program provides the opportunity to study fashion marketing in a dynamic, in-person learning environment.

AIU’s fashion marketing undergraduate courses help students apply quantitative tools and fashion marketing concepts to analyze and interpret marketing and business trends, work to develop innovative solutions, and utilize media and technology in the fashion markets. This degree program is designed for working adults seeking to enhance their understanding of marketing in the fashion industry and looking for an education rooted in business principles and key retail concepts.

Potential career paths for a Fashion Marketing BBA include Management Analyst, Industrial Production Manager, Sales Manager, Store Manager and Supply Chain Manager. “[The business courses] hit on the main topics: employee relations, HR, management – all the different issues that companies handle. I really liked the employee relations courses and how companies want to bridge the gap and build that trust between the company and its employees,” says Ashley L., Former Student, 2021 Graduate, Bachelors of Business Administration.

Music Production BFA

AIU’s BFA degree in Media Production with a Specialization in Audio Recording and Sound Design provides studio-based, creative and technical knowledge, skills, and abilities relevant for pursuing a career in audio recording. This degree program emphasizes learning the fundamentals of audio engineering and electronic music creation, general media production, editing, and foley special effects sound production. The program helps students develop specific skills required to produce audio tracks for productions, such as motion pictures, television, music videos and recording.

Courses for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Media Production with a Specialization in Audio Recording and Sound Design start every five weeks, on the Atlanta campus. By studying key topics in audio recording and sound design, students will learn how to perform all three phases of audio production, from pre- to postproduction; record and edit music and audio using software and recording technologies common in the industry; develop audio projects from concept to finished product, on-time and on-budget, to a client’s specifications; and collaborate with other students and industry professionals.

Students will have the opportunity to advance their creative and technical abilities in building professional soundtracks, including effects editing, automatic dialog replacement, dialog editing, audio sweetening and foleying, composing and mixing music for films and videos, and enhancing moving images with innovative sound design. You may also choose to pursue a certification in AVID Pro Tools. The curriculum is taught by instructors with current experience in the recording industry and who can share the qualities and skills sought in the competitive marketplace for creative professionals in film, video and audio fields.

Film Production, BFA

AIU offers a professionally-focused BFA in Film Production degree program with a focus on digital film and video Production designed to offer industry-relevant knowledge and skills applicable in the film, video and audio markets. The BFA in Film Production degree program offers an opportunity to learn the art and science of digital filmmaking. Students can immerse themselves in each phase of the process by creating their own film and video project. Students can also work to gain hands-on experience with screenwriting, filming, working with talent, lighting, and camera operation and editing the final product.

Students undertake courses in screenwriting; field recording techniques; directing; advanced digital cinematography; and postproduction recording. Courses start every five weeks, on the Atlanta campus. By studying key topics in filmmaking, students can learn how to develop and create film and audio projects, from pre to post production; use filmmaking equipment and software common in the industry; make create decisions relevant to their context and audience; engage in screenwriting, filming, lighting, camera operation, and editing; and complete media projects from concept to finished product, on-time and on-budget.

Upon earning a BFA in Media Production, students should understand the foundational aspects of media production, editing, sound design for film, and special-effects production in a studio setting. They explore the art and science of digital filmmaking, gain technical competency with industry software, cameras, grip and lighting, and recording technologies, and will create their own film and media portfolio. They will also gain hands-on experience with screenwriting, filming, working with talent, lighting, camera operation, and editing the final product. After completing the Audio Production II class, film specialists have the opportunity to become AVID Pro Tools certified users.

Online Master’s Degree in Healthcare Management

The Master of Healthcare Management is a specialized online degree program that explores how healthcare is managed across government, law, marketing, business, accounting, ethics and information systems. This one-year program prepares students to develop in-depth, industry-relevant business knowledge in their field and provides them with a core of specialized knowledge and skills for healthcare management.

AIU’s online MHCM degree program is designed for busy professionals who will develop a comprehensive, holistic understanding of how the healthcare industry works. The intensive 45-credit online program introduces students to competitive strategy and the theories and models in strategic management. The course focuses on formulating, evaluating, developing and the implementation of strategies in health care organizations. At the completion of this course, students will understand how strategic management is used to help advance health care organizations with strategic management and business decision making.

This course also introduces a comprehensive overview of federal, state, and local health care laws related to ethical issues, privacy, security and fraud, medical records and technology, confidentiality issues, and their effect on patient rights and care. It examines different legislation, regulation, and accreditation. There is a review of the requirements of various government agencies, such as the Office of the Inspector General and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and a consideration on how these government agencies handle fraud and abuse cases, risk management, business ethics, corporate compliance, and accreditation.

In the increasing shift towards digitalisation, the course examines how leaders foster a strategic mindset and use modern technology, new trends in data collection, and strategic best practices to develop and execute marketing strategies in healthcare. At the end of the course, they will have the tools to create approaches in developing a health care business plan by bridging the gap between marketing theory and modern tactics.

The flexible online program lets students access the classwork wherever an internet connection is available. AIU’s virtual resources are equipped with an online library and round-the-clock tech support. AIU provides students with convenience, flexibility, and the academic support to accommodate complex work and family schedules. No GRE or GMAT is required to enrol in the graduate degree programs.

Job Integration Rate

The job integration rate at American InterContinental University varies by program and location. For online graduates, approximately 91% are employed one year after graduation. On the other hand, for graduates from the Atlanta campus, about 80% are employed two years after graduation, and the same percentage is employed six years after graduation. The median earnings for online graduates two years after graduation are $27,700 per year, which increases to $37,300 after six years. Similarly, for Atlanta campus graduates, the median earnings are $27,700 two years after graduation, rising to $37,300 six years later. AIU provides extensive career support services, including resume assistance, career planning, and access to a network of over 100,000 alumni, helping graduates connect with potential employers. The university also hosts employer webinars to further assist students and alumni in their job search.

References

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