CCA offers a Master of Advanced Architectural Design (MAAD); Master of Architecture (MArch); Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Design, Fine Arts, or Writing; Master of Arts (MA) in Visual and Critical Studies or Curatorial Practice; and a Master of Business Administration (MBA in Design Strategy).

• Master of Advanced Architectural Design (MAAD)
• Master of Architecture (MArch)
• Curatorial Practice (MA)
• Design (MFA)
• Fine Arts (MFA)
• MBA in Design Strategy
• Visual & Critical Studies (MA)
• Writing (MFA)

Grading

Fine Arts and Writing use a Pass/Fail (P/F) grading scheme. All other graduate programs (Architecture (including MAAD), Curatorial Practice, Design, Design Strategy, Visual and Critical Studies) use A-F grades based on a 4.3 scale. Individual courses are graded based on the program in which they are offered. If a course is cross-listed, the grading scheme is based upon the locus of the primary section.

If a student enrolled in a "graded" program takes a course in a P/F program, that student receives a "P" or "F" on their transcript for that course. A "P" neither has a grade point attached nor will it affect GPA. An "F" has zero points attached and will affect GPA.

If a student enrolled in a P/F program takes a course in a graded program, the instructor assigns them a grade, and the Registrar will convert that grade to a "P" or "F". A grade of "C" or higher is converted to a "Pass" and a grade of "C-" or lower is converted to a "Fail". A student in a P/F program may be subject to academic probation or dismissal if he or she fails to make satisfactory academic progress. After one "F" a student may be subject to academic probation, and two or more "F's" would be grounds for possible dismissal.

A student in a "graded" program may be subject to academic probation or dismissal if his or her semester or cumulative GPA falls below a 2.66 (below a "B-" average), and two instances of academic probation would be grounds for dismissal. Additionally, the minimum passing grade for a graduate Architecture student in a required studio course is C+. A grade of C or lower will require a student to repeat the course. Graduate architecture students need to retain a cumulative GPA of 2.66 (B-) in their studio courses or may be subject to academic probation or dismissal (even if their total GPA is above a 2.66).

Please review additional information on Grade Appeals »

Extensions

Students who are unable to complete the work for a course due to a family emergency, personal illness or other extenuating circumstances may request an extension.

At least two-thirds of the semester's course work must be completed and the student must be passing the course to be eligible for an extension. Extensions are not granted to students on academic probation.

If a graduating student receives an extension for a course taken in that student's last term at CCA, that student's degree will not be posted until the final passing grade has been received by the Registrar from the instructor.

Students who have received an extension must complete the outstanding course work and have a grade turned in within 5 weeks of the end of the term; instructors may set earlier deadlines at their discretion. If the student completes the work by the deadline, the instructor will assign a final grade for the course.

Otherwise, the instructor or the Student Records Office will assign a grade of F for the course. The student's schedule will be adjusted if they receive an F for the class and it is a prerequisite for another course they are enrolled in, Notification of any schedule changes will be sent to the student's CCA email account.

Students on financial aid who do not complete all of their course work in a given semester may be required to complete that course work the following semester in order to maintain their financial aid eligibility. Completion of this work is in addition to any other enrollment and eligibility requirements.

Transfer Credit Policy

CCA has developed an integral multiyear graduate program. However, under special circumstances transfer credit is given to students who have done graduate-level courses at colleges and universities that have been accredited by their regional associations.

Transfer credit may also be considered for courses taken at institutions that lack regional accreditation, but have been accredited by specialized agencies or at institutions outside the United States that have been chartered or authorized by their national governments.

All requests for transfer credit must be made during the admissions process, in advance of matriculation.

In general, transfer credit is only considered for courses that satisfy CCA graduation requirements, have been completed with a grade of B or better, and have been completed within the past 10 years.

Graduate students may obtain transfer credit for a maximum of 6 units.

Portfolio reviews are required to determine the credit that will be given for studio courses. All transcripts that reflect studio courses completed at other institutions must be accompanied by samples of work in order to be considered for credit toward any CCA studio requirements, including studio electives.

Students must have their program chair's approval for all transfer credits.

Internships

Internships may be taken for elective credit in all graduate programs except for Curatorial Practice.

Please consult with your program's office for details.

Graduate Assistantships

Near the end of each semester the graduate programs will notify students of teaching assistantship positions available for the following term. Students must apply to the graduate programs for these positions.

Teaching assistantships are based on merit and are awarded by the graduate chairs in conjunction with graduate faculty.

Dual Degree

It is possible to complete the MFA program and the MA in Visual and Critical Studies program as a three-year dual degree. It is also possible to complete the MFA in Design and the MBA in Design Strategy as a three-year dual degree.

Incoming and current MFA students who wish to pursue the MA in Visual and Critical Studies must apply to the MA program before the end of their first year in order to complete the dual degree. Fine Arts students pursuing the dual degree will only be awarded a studio for the four contiguous semesters of MFA study.

Thesis Format & Deposit Instructions

General physical format

The thesis must be in a format that fits on library shelves, such as a bound volume, upright standing container, or folder.

Dimensions: maximum= 12" tall, 11" wide, 3" thick

Media: should be composed of archivally stable material, at least part of which must be readable without the use of a sight-assisting device; if the thesis is digital or audiovisual, it must be accompanied by representative samples in printed form. (Digital or audiovisual material that is no longer readable will not necessarily be retained by the library in future years.)

Surrogates: theses that do not meet the above format requirements should be deposited in the form of a surrogate that represents the thesis project, such as printouts, photographs, textual descriptions.

Exceptions: the library will accept oversized theses or those not otherwise fitting the above requirements when faculty and the library director agree the thesis is an outstanding work or example to be retained for historical and research purposes.

Identifying Content

Each thesis must be accompanied by one or more sheets of paper that include the following information (presented legibly, using a permanent-ink pen):

• a title for the thesis, or specified as "Untitled thesis"
• student's official name on record with the college
• program or department to which the thesis is submitted
• degree for which the thesis is being submitted
• names of faculty charged with approving thesis
• date of thesis approval

Along with

• an abstract that is no longer than a single side of paper
• alternative name under which work is created, if applicable (e.g., El Greco, Dave Eggers)
• year degree is being awarded (if different from approval date)
• year thesis was created (if different from approval date)

Submission

The granting department should deposit the thesis in the Simpson Library no later than three months after the degree is awarded.

Theses from the last five academic years are housed in Simpson Library; theses from previous years are housed in Meyer Library.

Schedule of Classes

Please check the Course Schedule for current course offerings.

Access

All college facilities—shops, labs, spray booth, and the like—are available to all currently registered students who qualify for use.

Please see the appropriate studio manager in each area to gain access.