Design: How to Apply
The Graduate Program in Design at CCA admits students who have demonstrated intellectual curiosity, academic promise, and creative achievement, with a special emphasis on candidates who wish to expand beyond traditional categories and transcend media disciplines.
The chair and faculty carefully review each candidate’s portfolio, which should include a balance of personal, academic, and professional work if the applicant has been employed in the design field.
All eligible candidates are evaluated on a thorough review of their qualifications and preparedness for graduate study.
January 15, 2009 is the fall 2009 application deadline. (Late applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis.)
Note: the fall 2009 graduate application is now available (at right).
Application Requirements:
- Application ($50 nonrefundable fee required)
- Portfolio
- Personal essay
- Résumé / Curriculum vitae
- Two letters of recommendation
- Official college transcripts
Application
Applicants must complete and submit the application online; hard-copy, or paper, applications are no longer accepted. Apply online now. All applicants are required to pay a nonrefundable $50 application fee. (Note: Due to the volume of applications received, CCA is unable to return any materials; please do not submit any original artworks or writings.)
Personal Essay
A personal essay of 500 to 1,000 words must accompany the application. Identify three strong design influences on your thinking, process, and work. Influences can include designers, movements, design examples, or cultural events. Describe each influence and how it has shaped you.
Portfolio
Due to the volume of submissions received, we are unable to return portfolios. Applicants should not submit originals of image files, artworks, or writing samples.
The portfolio may include still images, time-based media, interactive media, or other creative pieces. Applicants are encouraged to include examples of personal work, in addition to academic and professional work.
Your portfolio should consist of 20 to 30 examples in digital format, submitted via website or on CD or DVD. Web format is preferred, even if presented on DVD. Note: all submitted files should be Macintosh compatible. Digital files may be in any universal audio, video, graphic, web, or CAD format (e.g., JPG, AIFF, MOV, PDF). SWF format is preferable if submitting work in Flash.
Write your name, address, and telephone number in permanent marker on the jewel case and the disk. If you are submitting a URL, please include the entire website on DVD (as a precaution). Slides are not accepted.
Do not submit work for which your participation was in a production capacity only. Your portfolio should include a description of each piece by number, title, completion date, your specific role in the design, and production of the piece, and any other relevant information.
Résumé / Curriculum Vitae
Please outline your educational and professional background and relevant experiences and activities, including community work.
Transcripts
Official, sealed transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate studies must be sent directly from each college or university you have attended to the Enrollment Services Office—Graduate Admissions (address below and at right).
All admitted students must verify completion of a bachelor’s degree, including official notation of date of graduation, no later than July 1. Unofficial (unsealed) copies are not accepted.
For international applicants, all transcripts must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation of the original.
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required from academic or professional sources. No personal recommendations please. We highly recommend that you take advantage of our electronic recommendation process. This will ensure that we receive your recommendations in a timely fashion and it is convenient for your recommenders.
When submitting your electronic application, you can provide the email address for your recommenders. Your recommenders will receive the recommendation form electronically and then return it electronically to CCA.
Interview
Applicants may be contacted to arrange an interview with the graduate Curatorial Practice Program coordinator or a faculty member.
In addition to these requirements, international students must submit the additional requirements.
We do recommend, when it is possible, to mail your portfolio, transcripts, and other supplemental documents together by the deadline date.
All documents and portfolio are due by January 15, 2009:
Application material should be mailed to:
California College of the Arts
Enrollment Services Office—Graduate Admissions
1111 Eighth Street
San Francisco, CA 94107-2247
Phone: 415.703.9523
Fax: 415.703.9539
graduateprograms@cca.edu
Merit Scholarships: the graduate admissions committee selects a number of outstanding students for prestigious graduate merit scholarships. For the 2008–09 academic year the renewable awards was up to $16,000 per year.
Diversity Scholarships: the graduate division awards several entering students special diversity scholarships. Last year these renewable awards ranged from $8,000 to $20,000 per year.
Teaching Assistantships: teaching assistantships are based on merit and are awarded by the graduate chairs in conjunction with graduate faculty in the second year.
Information Night
Thurs., Nov. 6, 2008: RSVP encouraged.
Apply Online
Application materials should be mailed to:
CCA
Office of Enrollment Services – Graduate Admissions
1111 Eighth Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
Related Links
Design
Graduate Studies
Financial Aid
International Students
Visiting Designers/Scholars