Harrington College of Design (1931â€"2015) was a for-profit college in the Loop area of Chicago, Illinois that closed in 2015. It had offered students programs leading to either a master's, bachelor's, or associate's degree upon completion of the Interior Design Program, Digital Photography Program, or Communication Design Program. Each program is credentialed with multiple levels of accreditation (see below). The school was a for profit college and is owned by Career Education Corporation. According to administrators, the college is winding down operations and will close permanently by August 2018. As of April 2015, no new students are being admitted.
History
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The school traces its history to 1931, when Frances Harrington, a practicing interior designer, traveled to Chicago to provide a series of lectures for interior design professionals. She soon found a growing interest in the study of interior design and expanded her offerings by creating the Harrington Institute of Interior Design.
As Harrington Institute grew, Ms. Harrington began providing diplomas to her qualified day division students. When she retired in 1959, her former student Robert Marks assumed leadership of the school. Marks added many programs and degree options to the school's curriculum. Changes in programs, which are now under the guidance of the school's professional Advisory Board, are driven by input from the design industry's professional organizations. In 2003, Harrington Institute changed its name to Harrington College of Design after being purchased by Career Education Corporation, and proceeded to expand the school's design-related programs of study. The school moved to its current location at 200 W. Madison Street and mandated an annual 20% enrollment increase, which they were able to sustain for a few years until the economy faltered then crashed in 2008. The campus at 200 W. Madison Street in Chicago closed at the end of the summer semester in August 2015. Harrington College possibly continues to function and teach under the Columbia College roof, serving Master’s or associate degree student, until [MONTH & YEAR].
Accreditation
Harrington was regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools from January 01 2010 until June 30 2015 and nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools to award associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. Since the school has both regional accreditation and national accreditation, most schools will accept their credits in transfer and recognize their degrees for entry into graduate programs.
Additionally, Harrington is recognized as a private college by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) and is authorized by the IBHE to confer associate, baccalaureate and master's degrees. The Interior Design Program leading to the bachelor of fine arts degree is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (formerly FIDER). Harrington College of Design recently received re-accreditation from the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.
Harrington College of Design’s Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (formerly FIDER). The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Interior Design is not accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.
Programs
Harrington College of Design offers Bachelor's and associate degrees in Interior Design, Digital Photography and Communication Design:
Interior Design Program
- Master of Interior Design (MID) â€" Designed for students with a bachelor's degree in interior design or a related design discipline.
- Master of Arts in Interior Design (MAID) â€" Designed for students with a bachelor's degree in any other discipline.
- Bachelor of Fine Arts â€" Designed to prepare students for the first phase of becoming a licensed design professional by providing courses in such areas of study as 2D Design, Programming for Interior Design, Experimental Design and Portfolio for Interior Design.
- Associate of Applied Science â€" Designed to prepare students for the design assistant level of the industry by providing courses in such areas of study as Color: Perception & Application, Architectural Detailing and Construction, and Programming for Interior Design.
Digital Photography Program
- Associate of Applied Science â€" Designed to prepare students for the digital photography industry by providing courses in such areas of study as Imaging and Studio Practices, Studio Lighting, Location Lighting and Commercial Photography.
Communication Design Program
- Bachelor of Fine Arts â€" Designed to prepare students for the advertising industry by providing courses in such areas of study as Typography, Environmental Graphics and Web Process.
Campus
Harrington has a six-story vertical campus located in Chicago's renowned area called the Loop. The glass and granite building reflects the surrounding cityscape and serves as a learning laboratory. The campus is 82,000 square feet (7,600Â m2). Three floors of the campus serve as a display space, designed to hold a mix of classrooms, galleries and offices. Harrington also has an extensive library that contains updated digital research for students.
Organizations
Harrington College of Design belongs to several organizations:
- American Society of Interior Design (ASID) Student Chapter â€" Helps students gain connections with professionals in the design industry.
- International Interior Design Association (IIDA) â€" A professional networking and education association that serves the interior design community.
- American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) â€" The leading association of photographers supporting photographers.
References
External links
- Harrington College of Design
- Marketwatch, 9 March 2010: Harrington College of Design Awarded Regional Accreditation