Fine Arts: How to Apply
Admission to the graduate division is highly selective and competitive. CCA admits to its graduate Fine Arts Program students who have demonstrated intellectual promise and creative achievement. Candidates are evaluated based on a thorough review of their qualifications and preparedness for graduate study.
Students interested in applying to the dual-degree program with the Visual and Critical Studies Program must complete two separate applications and follow the admissions requirements for each program.
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 (top 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.
Describe your work and outline your artistic and educational objectives.
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 must include still images, time-based media, interactive media, or other creative visual pieces. Applicants are encouraged to include examples of personal work, in addition to academic and professional work. Use a CD (for still images) or a DVD (for time-based media). Each may be submitted, but please indicate one as primary and the other as supplementary. The primary disk will be reviewed first, and supplemental materials may or may not be reviewed.
CDs should contain 15 JPGs (fewer than two megabytes each). Label each file with your last name, the first letter of your first name, and the slide number (e.g., Doe_J_01.jpg). Please enclose a corresponding list in hard copy identifying each work by number, title, dimensions, medium, completion date, and any other relevant information.
DVDs should include one 5-minute (or shorter) preview and at least two full-length projects. Please enclose a corresponding reel list in hard copy identifying each work in order, with titles, running time, completion date, and any other relevant information. DVDs should be in NTSC format.
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
Graduate Fine Arts Merit Scholarships: the graduate fine arts admissions committee selects a limited number of outstanding students for the prestigious graduate merit scholarships. For the 2007–08 academic year the renewable awards ranged from $15,000 to $30,000 per year.
Diversity Scholarships: the graduate division awards several entering students special diversity scholarships. Last year these renewable awards ranged from $7,000 to $19,000 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
Wed., Nov. 12, 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
Graduate Fine Arts
Graduate Studies
Financial Aid
Social Practices
CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts
International Students