Visual & Critical Studies: How to Apply

California College of the Arts admits to its graduate Visual and Critical Studies 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 Curatorial Practice, Design, Fine Arts, or Writing programs must complete two separate applications and follow the admissions requirements for each program.

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 (see 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. Explain how the program fits into your writing and career goals. Describe what has influenced your desire to write about visual arts, design, and architecture, mentioning the theories and texts that are of particular interest to you.

Portfolio
The portfolio must consist of two writing samples in hard copy (5,000 words maximum per sample) demonstrating your interest in the field of visual and critical studies and your creative potential.

Due to the volume of submissions received, we are unable to return portfolios. Applicants should NOT submit their only copies of image files, artworks, or writing samples.

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.

Two 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, please provide the email address for your recommenders. Your recommenders will receive the recommendation form electronically to fill out and return to CCA.

Interview
Applicants may be contacted to arrange an interview with the graduate Curatorial Practice Program coordinator or a faculty member.

Dual-Degree Opportunities

Students who wish to apply for the dual-degree option must submit separate applications to each of the two intended programs.

International Applicants

In addition to the above stated application requirements, international applicants must submit supplemental materials. Please review carefully prior to applying to the Visual and Critical Studies Program.

All documents and portfolio are due by January 15, 2009:

Include application materials when applying online. If you cannot send electronically, please mail 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 Curatorial Practice Merit Scholarships: the graduate curatorial practice admissions committee selects a limited number of outstanding students for a prestigious graduate merit scholarship. For the 2008-09 academic year the renewable awards was $10,000 per year.

The Dean’s Scholarship: the Dean of the College selects highly qualified applicants to receive these select competitive and endowed awards. The awards range from $1,000 to full tuition.

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.

Visual & Critical Studies
Information Night

Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
November 13, 2008
RSVP encouraged

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Application materials should be mailed to:

CCA
Office of Enrollment Services – Graduate Admissions
1111 Eighth Street
San Francisco, CA 94107