CCA believes that international students add immeasurably to the overall environment of our graduate programs, creating a dynamic exchange with American students at the college.
For this reason, the Office of Special Programs has developed the International Grad Prep Intensive, a customized summer course that introduces incoming international students to American classroom culture while further developing their English language and academic skills.
Program dates: June 17 - July 24 (6 weeks)
This program is for admitted international graduate students preparing for fall study at CCA.
Is this Program for You?
Summer Scheduling
Location/Housing
Program Fees
Refund/Withdrawal Policy
Health/Travel Insurance
I-20 Document for F-1 Student Visa
Arrival / Airport Information
About International Grad Prep Intensive
CCA’s International Grad Prep Intensive is a six-week, noncredit program designed to introduce incoming graduate students to the college’s academic culture while improving their English communication skills. Its structure and goals have been shaped by the real-life experiences of international graduate students and faculty.
As a participating student, you will explore contemporary issues and critical methods that are relevant to all of CCA’s graduate programs. Faculty and guest workshop facilitators guide you through inquiry-based activities, research, and writing processes. Collaborative projects help you gain experience with group work and project presentations.
You will also have the opportunity to connect with San Francisco as a physical site and a rich cultural environment. Organized walking tours and outings to museums, libraries, and design centers are enriching, fun opportunities to develop visual literacy and acquire language skills in context. These activities are planned with your academic and creative interests specifically in mind.
Over the course of the program, CCA staff members are available to assist you with practical life skills, as needed, such as opening a U.S. bank account, selecting a cell phone plan, and using public transportation and public libraries. Having this information helps you get oriented and organized well before the fall semester begins.
Is the Grad Prep Intensive for You? Enrollment Information
All incoming international graduate students are welcome and encouraged to attend; enrollment, however, is limited.
The Grad Prep Intensive is open to all incoming international students admitted to a CCA graduate program for fall 2013. Some incoming international graduate students are required to take the summer program as a condition to their acceptance at the college. Others enroll for the many benefits the program provides to new students.
If interested in enrolling in the International Grad Prep Intensive, please contact Assistant Director of International Admissions Shiraz Chavan in the Enrollment Services Office at your earliest convenience.
Summer Scheduling
The Grad Prep Intensive is scheduled for the six weeks immediately preceding the "Studio 0" summer course that is required for many in-coming CCA graduate Architecture and Design students.
Students who do not take "Studio 0" have a three-week break between the end of the Grad Prep Intensive and the start of the fall semester.
During this break, these students have the option to continue to meet with instructors and graduate student mentors to work on supervised projects and further prepare for the start of fall semester.
These assignments do not preclude using the break for a trip home, travel inside of the United States, or finding an apartment before the fall semester begins.
Summer Graduate Housing
San Francisco is one of the most popular destinations in the world, well known for its world-class art museums, shopping, music, restaurants, summer street festivals, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the energy created by the technology and design industries.
Due to the immersive nature of the program, all students are required to reside in summer graduate housing for the six weeks of the program. After the program, ends, students are free to move into housing of their choice before the start of the regular academic term.
Housing check-in: Saturday, June 15, 2013
Housing checkout: Saturday, July 27, 2013
Program Fees
Program tuition: $3,995
Fee includes excursion expenses, including museum and other admission fees; San Francisco public transportation passes; one-on-one tutoring; class materials, course reader.
Fee does not include registration fee, airfare and transportation to/from airport, housing, meals, health/travel insurance.
Housing Fee
$1,350 (6 weeks, shared room)
Single rooms may be available upon request.
A damage deposit of $150 will be collected along with the tuition and housing fee payments. If there is no damage to the room or residence, this $150 will be returned to the student in full.
Total Program Costs
- $3,995 tuition fee ($325 nonrefundable tuition deposit + $3,670 tuition balance)
- $50 nonrefundable registration fee
- Housing fee $1,350
- $150 refundable housing damage deposit
Payment Information
Program fees may be paid by wire transfer, check (payable to California College of the Arts), Visa, American Express, Discover, or MasterCard.
Note: A $325 enrollment deposit is due on May 1, 2013 and is required to secure your place in the program. This deposit is nonrefundable.
Full Program Payment Deadline
May 8, 2013
The tuition balance, registration fee, housing fee, and damage deposit are due on or before May 8, 2013. A $100 late fee may be charged in the event the balance is received after May 8. (Important: Failure to submit the full program fee on or before May 8 may lead to the loss of the student’s place in the program.)
If you are interested in participating in the intensive and it is after May 8, please contact Summer English Programs Coordinator Grace Remy regarding program availability.
Refund/Withdrawal Policy
Students who withdraw on or before May 15, 2013, will receive a 50 percent refund on tuition and housing fees. No refunds issued after May 15, 2013.
All withdrawal requests must be emailed to Assistant Director of International Admissions Shiraz Chavan, and to Summer English Coordinator Grace Remy, on or before May 15, 2013. Please make sure you receive an email confirmation of your withdrawal request.
Medical Insurance Fee
Medical costs in the United States are very expensive. All participants are required to have health insurance for the duration of the program that is valid for medical care in the United States, should they experience illness or injury while studying in California.
If a student needs a referral for summer health insurance coverage, please let us know and we will put you in touch with CCA's health insurance provider.
For more information, please see the resource page for CCA’s Office of Access and Wellness.
I-20 Document for F-1 Student Visa
Students are required to submit the CCA I-20 Request form and all required financial documentation in order to receive the I-20 document necessary for the student visa interview at the U.S. embassy.
(The I-20 form and additional information about how to apply for an F-1 visa is available by visiting the Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA) website.)
Students should carefully plan ahead and make appointments for their visa interview as soon as possible, scheduling appointments in April 2013 at the very latest.
For more information and to make an appointment for a visa interview, visit the U.S. Department of State website.
Arrival / Airport Information
Plan to arrive at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Saturday, June 15, 2013. A CCA representative will meet students at the airport to oversee their transportation to the residence hall.
Additional information will be emailed to registered students.
(Note: We will not be able to meet you at the airport if you arrive prior to June 15. Also, you would need to make housing arrangements for the day(s) you arrive before the 15th, the official check-in date. There may be the opportunity to extend the checkout date for summer stay with prior planning.)
More Information
Questions regarding admission to CCA’s International Grad Prep Intensive should be directed to:
Shiraz Chavan
Assistant Director of International Admissions
Enrollment Services Office
California College of the Arts
1111 Eighth Street
San Francisco CA 94107
Email: schavan@cca.edu
Phone: 415.703.9520 or 800.447.1278
Fax: 415.703.9539
Questions regarding program details should be directed to Summer English Coordinator Grace Remy.