The Summer Writing Skills Workshop Intensive is a six-week, 3-credit program for admitted international undergraduate students who are beginning fall study at CCA.

Program dates: July 15–Aug. 23

Many new students register to take WSW-ESL in the fall semester. The summer offering of this course allows students to get a head start in their first-year course work.

Taking this course in the summer also allows students to get comfortable on campus, make new friends, and work closely with faculty and writing coaches before the busy fall semester begins.

Location/Housing
Program Fees / Payment Information
Refund/Withdrawal Policy
I-20 Document for F-1 Student Visa
Arrival / Airport Information

The first two weeks of this program provide students with the opportunity to explore and familiarize themselves with the San Francisco Bay Area and both CCA campuses.

Students explore the city, while visiting fine arts museums and contemporary art centers. CCA staff assists students with practical life skills such as opening a U.S. bank account, selecting a cell phone plan, and using public transportation and libraries.

During the next four weeks of the program, students work with faculty to develop the building blocks of college-level reading, writing, and speaking.

Discussion is based on short articles on intercultural issues, works of literature and art-related essays. Comfort with spoken communication is developed through partner and small-group projects and presentations.

Students receive individualized instruction and writing help from student academic coaches each evening.

There are also fun, optional group activities in the student residence as well as weekend field-trip opportunities.

Students may receive 3 units of Humanities and Sciences elective credit upon successful completion, including passing the English Placement Examination at the end the course.

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Location

The program takes place on CCA’s San Francisco and Oakland campuses.
Take a CCA campus tour!

The San Francisco Bay Area 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.

Summer Housing / 6 weeks

San Francisco

Two weeks / Check-in Saturday, July 13 -- Checkout Saturday, July 27, 2013
During the first two weeks of the program, students are housed at a historic student residence in San Francisco. An in-house chef prepares breakfasts and dinners. Students prepare lunches for themselves on the weekdays, or purchase lunch at the inexpensive café on campus.

Each room (double occupancy, private bathroom) is fully furnished and includes wireless internet access. Students also have access to spacious community lounges and study areas.

Oakland

Four weeks / Check-in Saturday, July 27 -- Checkout Saturday, August 24, 2013
The final four weeks of the program, students are housed in Clifton Hall, the student residence on CCA’s Oakland campus. There are shared kitchens on each floor where students can prepare meals for themselves. Inexpensive student cafés are nearby, too.

Due to the immersive nature of the program, this housing is required of all participants.

Housing check-in: Saturday, July 13, 2013
Housing checkout: Saturday, August 24, 2013

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Program Fees

Program Tuition: $4,600

Fee includes tuition for 3 units of undergraduate college credit; excursion expenses, including museum and other admission fees; transportation; one-on-one tutoring; classroom materials, art supplies.

Fee does not include registration fee, airfare and transportation to/from airport, housing, meals, health/travel insurance.

Housing Fee: $1,375
Housing fee includes two weeks at the San Francisco student residence, with daily breakfast and dinner included. Moving costs from San Francisco to Oakland, four weeks at the Oakland campus student residence.

Health/Travel Insurance

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 to summer health insurance coverage, please let us know and we will put you in touch with CCA's health insurance provider.

Note: Once the fall semester begins, all international students are required to purchase the CCA Kaiser Health insurance plan. Kaiser coverage for the school year begins on August 15, 2013.

For more information, please visit the resource page for CCA’s Office of Access and Wellness.

Total Program Costs

  • $4,600 tuition fee ($325 nonrefundable tuition deposit + $4,275 tuition balance)
  • $50 nonrefundable registration fee
  • $1,375 housing fee
  • $150 refundable housing damage deposit

A $150 damage deposit will be collected in addition to the tuition and housing-fee payment. If there is no damage to the room or residence, this charge will be returned to the student in full.

Total: $6,175 (U.S. funds)

Enrollment & Payment Information

Some 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. All incoming international students are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Enrollment is limited and determined on a first-come, first-served basis. If interested in enrolling in the summer program, please contact Assistant Director of International Admissions Shiraz Chavan in the Enrollment Services Office as soon as possible.

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 nonrefundable enrollment deposit is required to secure your place in the program.)

Full Program Fee Payment Deadline

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

The tuition balance; registration, housing, and health insurance fees; and damage deposit are due on or before May 15, 2013. A $100 late fee may be charged in the event the balance is received after May 15.

Important: Failure to submit the program fee on or before May 15 may lead to the loss of the student’s place in the program.

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Refund/Withdrawal Policy

Housing Fee Refund: 100 percent housing refund for withdrawals on or before May 15, 2013. No housing refunds issued after May 15, 2013.

Tuition Refund: 50 percent tuition refund for withdrawals on or before Monday, June 3, 2013. No tuition refunds issued after June 3, 2013.

All withdrawal requests must be emailed to Assistant Director of International Admissions Shiraz Chavan and Summer English Coordinator Grace Remy on or before June 3, 2013.

Please make sure you receive an email confirmation of your withdrawal request.

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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 are 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 May or early June 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.

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Arrival / Airport information

Plan to arrive at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Saturday, July 13, 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.

(Please note we will not be able to meet you at the airport if you arrive prior to July 13. Also, you will need to make separate housing arrangements for all day(s) you arrive prior to July 13, the official check-in date.)

More Information

Questions regarding admission to CCA’s Summer Writing Skills Workshop 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 information should be directed to:

Grace Remy
Summer English Coordinator
Office of Special Programs

Email: gremy@cca.edu
Phone: 510.594.3774