Brooks College in Long Beach historically offered career-oriented associate degrees (18-24 months) across animation, fashion design and merchandising, interior design, multimedia and graphic design. The curriculum emphasized hands-on skills for entry-level creative roles. The college's offerings described here reflect its 2006 catalog; its subsequent operational status and program availability should be verified before making enrollment decisions.
Overview
Brooks College in Long Beach was a career-focused design institution centered on practical training for creative industries. Located in a coastal city known for arts, music and a lively nightlife, the college emphasized hands-on coursework intended to prepare graduates for entry-level roles in animation, fashion, graphic and interior design, multimedia and merchandising.
Programs and credentials (as described in 2006)
Brooks College offered short-term associate degree programs aimed at rapidly preparing students for industry work. Program descriptions from that period included:
Animation
Students could earn an Associate of Science in an 18-month program that covered character animation and motion techniques intended for professional animation pipelines.Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising
The Fashion Design track led to an Associate of Arts in an 18-month program that combined fundamental design and marketing skills. The college also listed Fashion Merchandising among its offerings, focusing on retail and product presentation.Interior Design
A 24-month Associate of Arts in Interior Design emphasized creating functional commercial and residential spaces and included studio work with practicing designers.Multimedia
The Multimedia Associate of Science (18 months) covered web and interactive media fundamentals: animation for the web, 3D modeling basics, digital image editing and audio capture, with the goal of preparing students for roles such as web or content designers.Graphic Design
The Graphic Design Associate of Science (18 months) included typography, illustration, print production, publication and packaging design, and introductory animation - skills useful in studios, print shops or publishing.Skills and career focus
The curriculum emphasized applied skills (software, production workflows, portfolio development) and career-ready outcomes. Graduates were positioned for entry-level roles: designers, production artists, design assistants, web content specialists and merchandising coordinators.
Current status and next steps
Brooks College's program descriptions above reflect its offerings around 2006. The institution's operational status and program availability changed after that time and require verification before relying on it for current education planning.
If you are researching design and media programs today, compare program length, accreditation, student work outcomes and current industry alignment when evaluating any school.
- Confirm the current operational status of Brooks College (open/closed/merged) and the year of any closure or change of ownership.
- Verify historical program credentials and lengths (Associate of Science vs Associate of Arts and 18- or 24-month durations) from archival catalogs or accreditation records.
- Confirm accreditation status of Brooks College in 2006 and any subsequent accreditation changes.
- Locate an authoritative source for Brooks College campus location and contact information as of 2006 and after.