GRAD PREP INTENSIVE

For admitted international graduate students preparing for fall study at CCA

Translations

Please use the following translations of CCA's Grad Prep Intensive information sheets (PDFs): Korean | Chinese (simplified or tradtional) | Spanish

Goals | 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

6 weeks / June 18 – July 25, 2012

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.

About The Program

The structure and goals of the International Grad Prep Intensive have been shaped by the observations and experiences of past and current international graduates students, as well as graduate faculty. Many students enter CCA graduate programs with sophisticated creative skills, but have not had the opportunity to develop comfort discussing their projects and interests in English in a group setting. Similarly, before beginning graduate study in the United States, many students are not aware of the myriad differences they will experience in their program’s classroom culture -- from the way that teachers and students relate to one another, to formatting and style in academic writing.

At CCA graduate-level studio coursework requires comfort with English conversation, familiarity with the specialized vocabulary of a student’s particular professional field, and experience with project presentation in English. Graduate-level seminars at CCA require the close readings of critical texts as well as familiarity with methods of organization and concept development in written work.

Additionally, it is essential for students to become fluent in Western academic methods of citing outside sources. Students frequently draw upon the research and work of others in order to support and enrich their own ideas. Students must be prepared to research and to contribute to their field of study without committing inadvertent plagiarism due to cultural differences in academic standards.

Because of the cultural component and introduction to specialized vocabulary within each professional field, this program has proved immensely beneficial even to those international students who have a high level of proficiency in English.

Goals of the Grad Prep Intensive

The International Grad Prep Intensive is a six-week, noncredit program designed to accomplish the following goals:

Goal One: Develop Language

The first goal is to improve students’ English language proficiency in all skill areas. The program is customized to meet participating students’ communication needs and academic interests.

The program offers a safe environment in which to develop confidence in English conversation and everyday communication. Students also become comfortable with in-class participation, developing strategies for group communication and successful project collaboration. These critical skills foster full engagement in graduate-level coursework.

Students are assigned readings on contemporary issues and critical methods relevant across graduate programs. These articles are kept in mind while researching in preparation for exhibitions and site visits. In class participants become familiar with current research and new perspectives in their areas through group study of selected published works, including works by CCA faculty and program chairs. Students are assigned frequent short written response papers and led through the writing process through the completion of several mid-length research and writing projects.

Goal Two: Encounter Academic Culture and Student Resources at CCA

The summer intensive incorporates workshops that investigate the academic expectations of CCA graduate programs. Current graduate student mentors address language and culture-related issues that affect student success, including: the importance of participation and speaking in class, research methods, writing process, source citation, and “voice.” These workshops provide a comfortable place for students to practice these skills, have explicit conversations about cultural differences, and to ask questions openly.

Meetings with key CCA staff provide an in-depth orientation and give students the ability to easily find the support they need during the school year. Students enjoy small group conversations with staff from Enrollment Services, Educational Technology, Health and Wellness, Public Safety, International Student Affairs and Programs (ISAP) Office, Career Services, the campus libraries, and the Learning Resource Center (LRC).

Also of great benefit, participating students get to know their programs’ administrators and meet faculty members from their departments before the fall semester begins.

Goal Three: Explore Place

The third goal of the International Grad Prep Intensive is to connect with San Francisco as a physical and cultural location. Walking tours and outings to museums, libraries, and design centers are culturally enriching and fun. These site visits provide the opportunity to develop visual literacy and language in context and are planned with the academic and creative interests of the participating students in mind.

CCA's Office of Special Programs 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 public libraries. This information allows students to get organized before the fall semester begins.

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Is This Program 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 2012. 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.

Previous participants have come from a host of countries, including Brazil, China, India, Poland, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Participants discover lasting friendships and become part of a community -- both of which ease the transition into the college. As new friends, many have proceeded to find an apartment together, to work collaboratively on interdisciplinary projects, and to host dinners for each other throughout the year.

If interested in enrolling in the International Grad Prep Intensive, please contact Assistant Director of International Admissions Shiraz Chavan in the Enrollment Services Office as soon as possible.

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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.

Architecture and Design students who do not take "Studio 0," along with students entering the following graduate programs: Curatorial Practice, Fine Arts, MBA in Design Strategy, Visual and Critical Studies, and Writing, 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.

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Summer Graduate Housing, 851 California Street (6 weeks)

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.
Students are housed in San Francisco's most desirable neighborhood, Nob Hill. One block from Huntington Park, surrounded by mansions and historic buildings such as Grace Cathedral and the Mark Hopkins Hotel, this location is ideal for a quintessential San Francisco experience. The views from Nob Hill are spectacular; San Francisco's famed cable cars run directly in front of the residence.
Each room (double occupancy, shared bathroom) is fully furnished and includes wireless internet access. Residents have the use of a community kitchen, community rooms, and on-site laundry facilities.

Due to the immersive nature of the program, All students are required to reside at 851 California Street for the six weeks of the program.

Note: Although meals are not included with housing, many inexpensive restaurants and cafes are conveniently located nearby. Previous participants have enjoyed cooking and dining together.

Housing check-in: Saturday, June 16, 2012
Housing checkout: Sunday, July 28, 2012

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Program Fees

Program Tuition: $3,900

• 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, book(s), health/travel insurance.

Housing Fee

$1,350 per student (6 weeks, shared room)
Single rooms may be available upon request for an additional $600. If interested in a single room, please contact Grace Remy, gremy@cca.edu.

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

• $3,900 tuition fee ($325 nonrefundable tuition deposit + $3,575 tuition balance)
• $50 nonrefundable registration fee
• $1,350 housing fee
• $150 refundable housing damage deposit

Total: $5,450

Payment Information

Program fees may be paid by wire transfer, check (payable to California College of the Arts), Visa, American Express, Discover, or MasterCard.
(Please note: A $325 enrollment deposit is required to secure your place in the program. This deposit is nonrefundable.)

Full Program Payment Deadline: April 20, 2012

The tuition balance, registration fee, housing fee, and damage deposit are due on or before April 20, 2012. A $100 late fee may be charged in the event the balance is received after April 20. (Important: Failure to submit the full program fee on or before April 20 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 April 20, please contact Summer ESL Programs Coordinator Grace Remy regarding program availability.

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Refund/Withdrawal Policy

Students who withdraw on or before May 15, 2012, will receive a 50 percent refund on tuition and housing fees. No refunds issued after May 15, 2012.
All withdrawal requests must be emailed to Assistant Director of International Admissions Shiraz Chavan, and to Summer ESL Coordinator Grace Remy, on or before May 15, 2012. Please make sure you receive an email confirmation of your withdrawal request.

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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.

Please 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, 2012. For more information, please visit the resource page for CCA’s Office of Access and Wellness.

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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 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 or early May 2012 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, June 16, 2012. 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 June 16. Also, you would need to make housing arrangements for the day(s) you arrive before the 16th, the official check-in date. There may be the opportunity to extend the checkout date for summer stay with prior planning.)

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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 ESL Coordinator Grace Remy.

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