Transfer Credit

To receive transfer credit, you must submit all official transcripts (or AP exam scores). For transfer credit of studio coursework, you must also submit a portfolio. CCA will send you an evaluation of transfer credit within one month of the offer of admission.

Academic credits received from regionally accredited institutions are usually transferable to CCA if they fulfill requirements for the BA, BFA, or BArch. A grade of C or better (or pass, in pass/fail courses where a pass is equivalent to a C or better) is required in order to transfer credits from other institutions.

Transfer credit for studio courses is based on a portfolio review and corresponding transferable coursework. If CCA has an established studio transfer articulation guideline with your school, the portfolio review for placement may be waived for specific courses (see articulation guidelines). Studio units that do not meet CCA studio requirements may be used as studio electives. BA and BFA applicants may transfer a maximum of forty-five studio semester units; BArch applicants may transfer a maximum of sixty-three studio semester units. Once you are a CCA degree student, you may only transfer a maximum of twelve additional units.

Transcripts must be provided for evaluation prior to the end of a student's first semester of attendance in order for courses taken prior to entrance into CCA to be considered for transfer credit.

CCA is on the semester system. Students transferring from an institution on the quarter system can calculate the value of transferable credits at CCA by counting quarter units as two-thirds of a semester unit.

Transfer Credit for Second-Degree Students

BA and BFA applicants with a previous undergraduate bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university will automatically receive transfer credit for all of the CCA humanities and sciences requirements except art history, which is considered on a course-by-course basis.

BArch applicants with a previous undergraduate bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university will automatically receive transfer credit for all of the CCA humanities and sciences requirements except art history courses, Math for Architecture, and Physics for Architecture. These are all considered on a course-by-course basis.

Advanced Placement Credit and International Baccalaureate (IB)

Advanced Placement (AP) exams administered by the College Board are accepted as credit toward fulfilling both humanities and sciences and studio requirements, depending on which exam has been completed. A score of three or higher is granted transfer credit. Advanced Placement for studio work is based on a portfolio review. Advanced Placement studio credit that does not meet major studio requirements may be used as credit for studio electives.

Students who complete the International Baccalaureate (IB) exams and earn a score of four or higher will be granted transfer credit. CCA may transfer a maximum of thirty units from the IB exams.

See also Advanced Placement (AP).

Articulation Guidelines

CCA has articulation guidelines for transferring coursework from selected California community colleges.

CCA Accepts IGETC

CCA now accepts the Inter-segmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). See Articulation Guidelines.