Transfer Applicants
A Creative Culture of Critique (2009) by Ted Hayden (Film)
In order to prepare for your transfer to California College of the Arts, we recommend that you speak with an Enrollment Services Counselor.
Planning allows you to maximize your number of transferable units and enroll in courses that will best prepare you for entry into CCA. Our staff will work with you to help you navigate the transfer process.
While we do not have transfer course requirements, we do recommend that transfer students take a balanced load of beginning-level academic and studio courses, such as the following:
- English Composition
- Introduction to Art History or Modern Art History
- Beginning Drawing
- 2D Design
- 3D Design or Sculpture
- Introduction to Digital Media and Film
Careful planning can help you complete entry-level academic and studio courses before transferring to CCA.
Community College Articulation Guidelines
CCA has developed articulation guidelines for the transfer of coursework from more than 40 community colleges. The guidelines provide CCA course equivalents at many community colleges.
If we have an agreement with your local community college, the community college should also have this information on file.
California Transfers
CCA is the first visual arts school to honor the Inter-segmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC).
Completion of the IGETC pattern in its entirety will enable students to complete 33 semester units of the 51 humanities and sciences units required at CCA.
Students from outside California, or not enrolled in the IGETC plan, will continue to receive academic transfer credit based on a course-by-course evaluation.
Application Requirements: Transfer Applicants
For more detailed application instruction, see Application Requirements.
- Application ($60 application fee required)
- Personal essay
- Transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- Portfolio (see Transfer Portfolio Requirements)
Transfer Portfolio Requirements
If you're a transfer student, submit a portfolio consisting of 15–20 images. For advanced studio placement, a portion of the images must reflect studio course assignments, personal projects, or work experience in your area of concentration.
Transfer credit is assessed based on successful completion of transferable studio work, as well as portfolio quality. Waivers for the Core entry requirements (2D, 3D, 4D, Drawing) are given based on successful completion of studio work and overall portfolio quality.
Students with 18 or more studio units that meet the aforementioned grade and portfolio requirements also may receive waivers for the Core entry requirements. Portfolios should include images reflecting competency in drawing, 2D and 3D organizational principles, and work that covers digital technologies or film.
