School of Art

What is the philosophy of the CalArts' School of Art?
CalArts emphasizes conceptually oriented, idea-based art practices. We also constantly strive to push the limits of what might be considered art, photography, or graphic design, and encourage our students to experiment at the edge of their chosen discipline.

How is an admissions decision made, and who makes it?
It is the faculty of each program, working together, that decides who to admit. The decision is made after considering the submitted portfolio, which includes images of work and a personal statement of intent.

Is an interview necessary for admission?
Not for undergraduate applicants, although we recommend a visit to campus. All short-listed candidates for the MFA are invited to the campus for a final interview with the faculty. If you are unable to attend in person you may arrange a phone interview.

How late are your facilities open, and who is allowed to use them?
Production facilities and studios are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The facilities are open to ALL Art School students who have demonstrated their ability to use the equipment properly and safely. Thus Art or Graphic Design Students may check out photo equipment and use darkrooms, Photography students may use the Supershop, and so on.

I have a Bachelors degree but it is in an unrelated field. May I apply for one of your MFA Programs?
Yes. It is not uncommon for students to gain acceptance into one of our MFA Programs without having earned a Bachelors in an art-related field (however, all MFAs must have earned Bachelor degrees of some kind). Of course, all MFA applicants must demonstrate strong artistic abilities along with an awareness of contemporary practices in their chosen discipline. MFA applicants who submit impressive materials may be accepted at an upper-level BFA status if their work and statement suggest they could use further education before advancing to the Master's level.

Does CalArts offer teaching assistantships to MFAs?
Yes and no. Yes, we offer a variety of positions to our second year MFAs assisting faculty members in the day-to-day chores involved in instruction. No, we do not have a system where graduate students teach the undergraduate classes. We have a student/faculty ratio that works out at 9:1, and are proud to offer undergraduates direct access to all faculty.

Do you offer other kinds of graduate assistantships?
Yes, there are a number of research and support assistantships available, from helping in the production labs, to documenting student exhibitions, to organizing the Paul Brach Visiting Artist Lecture series.

What kind of facilities do you offer?
Please click here for a full description of our production facilities.

Program in Art

How many students are enrolled in the Program?
Each year there are approximately 130 students enrolled in the Art Program. Of these, about 45 are MFA students.

Are studio spaces allotted to enrolled students?
Yes, each student is given workspace appropriate to year level and need. BFA1s and 2s typically share studio spaces, while 3rd and 4th year BFAs and all MFAs are given private studios.

Are there exhibition opportunities for students?
Yes, Art Program students have many such opportunities throughout their time of residence. There are seven, school-operated galleries on campus, dedicated to the exhibition of student work. Many undergraduates will show in the context of class exhibitions, students in their final two years are encouraged to mount individual shows, and all BFA4s are expected to do so. MFA students have solo shows in each year of residence. In addition to the School spaces there is a student-run gallery for less formal presentations and group shows.

I have been making illustration, life drawings, or comic-inspired sketches. Is this the kind of work you're looking for in a portfolio?
No. The Program in Art looks for creative work that pushes the bounds of traditional art practice and gives evidence of strong conceptual/intellectual abilities. Often, interested students with exceptional life drawing skills find themselves more satisfied by CalArts Character Animation Program. This Program is part of the School of Film/Video. Please see here for more information on this Program.

I have been making very craft-based or decorative works. Is this the kind of work you're looking for in a portfolio?
No. The Program in Art looks for creative work that pushes the bounds of traditional art practice and gives evidence of strong conceptual/intellectual abilities.

What classes will I take as a student in the Program?
The Program in Art allows for a great deal of flexibility and independence in designing a curriculum appropriate for a student's needs. Required courses as of January 2007 are as listed.

BFA
First Year
-Foundation Seminar
-What Makes it Art?
-Two Workshops
-One Independent Study
  At least two classes from the following (both years, 4 total classes):
  -Drawing
  -Practical Painting
  -Sculpture: Expansive Objects
  -Alternative Practices
  -Time Based Studio
  -Print & Digital Media
  -Mac for Artists

Two workshops during the Practicum and one Independent Study during Spring semester

Second Year
- Post Foundation Seminar and Critique

  At least two classes from the following (both years, 4 total classes):
  -Drawing
  -Practical Painting
  -Sculpture: Expansive Objects
  -Alternative Practices
  -Time Based Studio
  -Print & Digital Media
  -Mac for Artists
  -Expansive Fields

Two workshops during the Practicum and at least one Independent Study each semester

Third Year

Two workshops during the Practicum and at least one Independent Study during Spring semester

Fourth Year
-Professional Development course
A final thesis project or exhibition is required, details to be approved by the mentor.

MFA
Each student will fashion a course of study in consultation with the mentor. There
is an expectation that a student will present a project or exhibition during the first
year, and a requirement of such a presentation by the end of the second.

What do graduates do after leaving CalArts?
The emphasis of the Program is on preparation for a career in the fine arts, and our alumni are amongst the most honored in the world, exhibiting their work in museums, galleries and non-profit spaces internationally. Our students learn to think creatively and entrepreneurially and find many ways to support their careers, working in all aspects of the film, television and advertising and related media businesses, as well as teaching and other areas that utilize their strong visual and conceptual skills.

Program in Graphic Design

How many students are in the Program?
Approximately 85, about 20 - 24 of whom are MFAs.

Are students given workspaces?
Yes. All students are assigned desk space within the studio/classroom of their year level. These are private cubicles in the context of an open work area. Students are expected to bring their computers and other production tools to this classroom studio, and work as much as possible within the close-knit environment of the Design program.

I would like to apply at the 1st year BFA level, but have very little completed work in Graphic Design. Do I have a chance of being admitted?
Yes. The Graphic Design faculty is accustomed to making admissions decision at the BFA 1 level based on minimal amounts of design supplemented by drawings, painting, photography, and other examples of visual work. Please keep in mind the emphasis on ideas and arrange your supplementary materials accordingly (in other words, include supplementary materials that add to our understanding of your conceptual abilities, not simply of your drawing, painting, etc skills).

Do you offer an emphasis in advertising, product design, or illustration?
No. The CalArts Program in Graphic Design does not formally offer areas of specialization in any Design subcategory. However, areas of particular emphasis include typography, motion graphics, and web design.

Should my portfolio include examples of typography?
Yes. The faculty would love to see examples of your use of type.

What classes will I take in the Program?

BFA
First Year
-Macintosh for Designers
-Basic Photo for G.D.
-Graphic Design I
-Skills for Visualization
-Design Issues

Second Year
-Basic Digital Video for G.D.
-Typography I & II
-Graphic Design II
-Image Making I
-Digital Production for G.D.

Third Year
-Graphic Design III
-Typography III & IV
-Beginning Web Design or
Beginning Motion
-Historical Survey of Graphic Design
-at least one Program elective

Fourth Year
-Graphic Design IV
-Prof. Practice for G.D.
-at least two Program electives

MFA
PMFA Year

-Visual Literacy
-Historical Survey of G.D.
-Typographics

First Year
-Graduate Seminar I
-Historical Survey of Graphic Design
-Graphic Design Theory
-Typographics

Second Year
-Graphic Design Theory
-Graduate Seminar II
-at least one Program elective

What do graduates do after leaving CalArts?
CalArts Program in Graphic Design alumni have great success finding design-related employment. Often, graduates choose to remain in southern California, though many seek positions in San Francisco, New York, or internationally.

Program in Photography and Media

How many students are in the Program?
Approximately 75 total, 20 of whom are MFAs.

Are students given studios?
Photo and media students are supported by a variety of workspaces according to year level and need. In their first years undergraduates share workspace; BFA4s typically get private studios. All MFAs are given large private studios.

Are there exhibition opportunities for students?
Yes, Photo and Media Program students have many such opportunities throughout their time of residence. There are seven, school-operated galleries on campus, dedicated to the exhibition of student work. Many undergraduates will show in the context of class exhibitions, students in their final two years are encouraged to mount individual shows, and all BFA4s are expected to do so. MFA students have solo shows in each year of residence. In addition to the School spaces there is a student-run gallery for less formal presentations and group shows.

Should my portfolio show samples of all the projects I've worked on or be more focused? Should it consist only of photographic works?
The faculty are interested in how you present sustained ideas through bodies of work, so it is better to send slides of one or two series rather than samples from several. The portfolio need not consist solely of photography. Any examples that will give the committee an understanding of what you are thinking about in your art are appropriate.

Do you offer courses in commercial photography?
While many of the technical and conceptual skills learned in CalArts Photo courses are applicable to the commercial field, the Program heavily emphasizes a fine arts oriented photographic practice.

What courses will I take while in the Program?

BFA
First Year
-Foundation Photography
-New Lab
-One technical workshop each semester

Two Practicum workshops

Second Year
-BFA Think Tank
-Undergraduate Critique
-Independent Study(at

Two Practicum workshops

Third Year
-Undergraduate Critique

-Independent Studies

Two Practicum workshops

Fourth Year
-Critique and Exit
-Independent Study

General BFA Requirments (P.M.)
-History of Photography

-Video History

-Network Culture

-Visual Semiotics

MFA
-Graduate Independent Study (4 semesters)
-Graduate Seminar (2 semesters)
-Graduate Critique (2 semesters)

The following are required of any MFA without comparable undergraduate
credits (to be decided by mentor):
-History of Photography
-Modern Art History in Review
-Video History
-Network Culture
-Visual Semiotics

What do graduates do after leaving CalArts?
The emphasis of the Program is on preparation for a career in the fine arts, and our alumni are amongst the most honored in the world, exhibiting their work in museums, galleries and non-profit spaces internationally. Our students learn to think creatively and entrepreneurially and find many ways to support their careers, working in all aspects of the film, television and advertising and related media businesses, as well as teaching and other areas that utilize their strong visual and conceptual skills.