Another opportunity: In addition to the immersive Pre-College program in San Francisco (which offers the option of new on-campus housing), CCA will be scheduling two summer credit courses for local commuting high school students on the Oakland campus (where housing will not be available) June 28–July 23. These courses are not part of the Pre-College program.

Additional resources

Completed applications are processed and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. An application won’t be reviewed until all materials—including transcripts, fees, and scholarship materials, if applicable—are received. Within two weeks of receiving your completed program application, we’ll email you an admission notification including studio and housing placement.

• View important dates and deadlines
• Apply for merit and need-based scholarships
• View Pre-College FAQs

Pre-College for international students

International students are welcome to attend CCA’s Pre-College Program. It’s a wonderful way to pursue your artwork while experiencing American culture and get acquainted with a new country’s academic and college life.

Strengthen and exhibit your work

CCA’s Summer Atelier is a noncredit, nonresidential program available to students who'll have completed their freshman or sophomore year of high school by June 2021. With different courses held on both our campuses, you’ll either attend the San Francisco Atelier or Oakland Atelier. You’ll hone your skills, learn new concepts and techniques, and meet others from around the Bay Area who share your interest in art. At the conclusion of the program, you'll participate in a student exhibition.

Course example

In the Graphic Novel Workshop at the Oakland Atelier, students learn what it takes to write and draw comic books, manga, and graphic novels. Discover how to create an effective narrative and present a story using images, then develop a short comic while working to create a distinct and personal illustrative style. Both traditional media and digital drawing tools are used, addressing a wide breadth of options when developing a preferred toolset. Participants also learn about self-publishing techniques in print and online, how to print work, and how to set up a basic website where they can publish their work digitally.

Young Artist Studio Program

Since its inception in 1997, our Young Artist Studio Program (YASP) has provided an exciting opportunity for youth who have recently completed the sixth, seventh, or eighth grades to be immersed fully in the practice of artmaking in a professional art school setting.

YASP features focused summer classes that meet in the morning and afternoon, with a 45-minute break for lunch (a lunch plan is available). Tuition includes all material and lab fees, and each day, students work on various projects based on their desired subject. The all-day programs culminate with an exhibition held in CCA’s Oliver Art Center, where family and friends have an opportunity to see what the young artists have created during their time in YASP.

Please note: Due to the COVID–19 pandemic and efforts to contain its spread, all of our summer youth programs have been canceled for summer 2020. We hope to resume these programs in summer 2021.

Inspiration and guidance for high school students

Our studio art courses for high school students, which are held throughout the year, are special opportunities to develop your drawing skills and experience rigorous artmaking coursework and in-class expectations, preparing you for college and launching your own creative practice. Please email [email protected] for details.

Have questions?