Fall semester enrollment deadline Aug. 13

The American College of the Building Arts (ACBA) (www.buildingartscollege.us) is still accepting applications for new students for the Fall 2010 semester. Potential students can apply through Aug. 13.

The College is the very first in the United States to offer a four-year program teaching trades through liberal arts education.

Tuition for full-time degree seeking students is $9,936. Acceptance criteria include a completed application, high school/college transcripts, application fee of $50, essay (300-500 words), portfolio that shows the artistic abilities of the applicant, SAT 1050/ACT 22 (if no college experience) and a personal interview with an admissions officer. With an innovative education model and under the direction of ACBA's highly experienced faculty, students are trained in the traditional building arts - architectural stone, carpentry, forged architectural ironwork, plaster working, preservation masonry and timber framing. Its similarity to Les Compagnons du Devoir, a 600-year-old French training school for artisans, is not accidental, as this world-renowned school for master artisans was an inspiration for ACBA.

"We created our curriculum to teach students skills that practically vanished from our modern world. After graduation, they will use these skills to preserve our America's historic heritage," says John Paul Huguley, the college's founder.

The college is located at the old Charleston City Jail in the heart of historic downtown Charleston. Its placement in one of the oldest buildings in Charleston and one of the most beautiful historic cities in the United States allows the college's students to learn trades and the importance of preservation while preparing them for a career in the modern world.

"Many of our students select our college because they are passionate about historic preservation and are also looking for a different college experience," continues Huguley. Students spend 18 hours per week in workshops and 12-15 in a class room.

This unique education prepares them for the competitive world of the construction industry. Many, however, fall in love with the art of historic preservation during their internship (in the U.S. or abroad).

For more information visit the website at www.buildingartscollege.us.

About ACBA:

The American College of the Building Arts educates and trains artisans in the traditional building arts to foster exceptional craftsmanship and encourage the preservation, enrichment, and understanding of the world's architectural heritage through a liberal arts education.