Know the Language
As a new college student, you will be introduced to a new breadth of words. You might have heard of some of these words before, but might not be sure about their meaning, or how they relate to your education. The academic advising team has compiled a list of words and terms that you may hear and use during your time at CalArts.
| Metier | A student’s chosen program or “major” |
| Metier units within Critical Studies | History or Appreciation classes taught by a student’s school that are eligible for Critical Studies credit. Ex: Film Student taking Film History |
| Other Metier units within Critical Studies | History or Appreciation classes that are eligible for Critical Studies credit that are taught outside of the student’s métier (program). EX: Film Student taking Art History |
| Curriculum | The courses offered by an institution |
| Syllabus/ syllabi | A summary or outline of a class, or course of study |
| Breadth requirement | 15 of the 46 required Critical Studies units must be distributed into these seven categories, CI, H, SS, CS, SM, MS, OM (see key at the bottom of the page) |
| Residency requirement in Critical Studies | All BFA students must complete at least 12 Critical Studies units at CalArts, the distribution of these 12 units matter, see an advisor for details. |
| Critical Studies Foundation requirement | A first-year required course that a student will take during the first or second semester of their first year. Each first-year student is required to choose from a variety of classes that are eligible for foundation credit. These classes can fall in the following categories and have a writing intensive workshop: CR, CO, H, SS, CS, SM (see key). |
| Writing Arts | A first-year required course that will be assigned to a student during the first or second semester of their first year. This class is required for all first year students, unless they have regionally accredited transfer credit for Freshman English Composition or AP Credit for English Composition with a score of three or better. This course introduces students to key concepts underpinning the relation between art and society. |
| Work study | Work-study is a jobs program for students with financial need. CalArts offers both federal work-study and institutional work-study. Work-study is a campus-based program administered by the Financial Aid Office, which sets the packaging guidelines used to award work-study. Work-study eligibility is awarded after grants, scholarships, loans and other aid for which you are entitled. |
| Transfer credit | Accepted when credit was taken at a regionally accredited college or university, with a grade of C or better or Pass, a score of 3 or better is earned on the Advanced Placement Exam(s) or a score of 4 or better is earned on the IB exam. All classes must be college-level. Transfer credit falls into three categories, Critical Studies (academic), Studio (art-related), or Undistributed (neither art or academic in nature). |
| Registration | Refers to filling out registration forms, completion of all Financial Aid requirements when applicable, and the payment of tuition and fees. |
| Online class sign-up / In-person sign-up | Online class sign-up is limited to Critical Studies classes taught by Critical Studies faculty. All other courses, Metier Courses, will be signed up for in person, during class sign-up in-person. |
| Non-traditional grading system | HP: Pass with Excellence, P: Pass with quality, LP: Passing, NX: Student did not attend class with sufficient frequency (maximum allowance is three absences), NC: Work did not meet criteria for credit, NG: No grade assigned by instructor, W: given when student officially withdrawals from the Institute during that semester, I: Incomplete: temporary evaluation through a mutual agreement between the student and instructor. Incompletes must be resolved within one semester, or it will convert to a NC, M: Temporary evaluation given in the first semester of a two-semester sequence course. We do not have a g.p.a. calculation as a result of our non-traditional grading system. |
| Progress summary | A summary of Critical Studies requirements, and a student’s progress within those requirements during their time at CalArts |
| Mid- residency review/ Graduation review | The reviews are part of the CalArts experience, and allow the student and their faculty to communicate about the progress of the student. |
| Semester goals/ yearly goals | Each undergraduate student is strongly encouraged to take and complete at least 15 total units each semester in order to reach 120 units by the end of their fourth year. Undergraduate students are required to take and complete a minimum of 12 total units each semester in order to remain a full-time student. Each BFA student also has to complete their Critical Studies goals each semester, which can be found on their Critical Studies Progress Summary. |
| Mentor | This is a faculty member from the student’s school, and is the artistic guide and contact person for the student regarding their artistic progress and métier requirements. |
| Academic advisor | This Institute Academic Advisor complements the services provided by the students mentor with academic counseling, and guidance. |
| Peer academic advisor | The Peer Academic Advisors are a selected group of students who have been trained to help you maneuver through your academic requirements, and help make your transition to CalArts as smooth as possible. |
| BFA | Bachelor’s of Fine Arts |
| MFA | Master’s of Fine Arts |
Critical Studies Key
Critical/ Intellectual Skills (CI), Computing & Research Skills (CR), Creative & Critical Writing (CW), Humanities (H), Social Science (SS), Cultural Studies (CS), Science & Math (SM), Metier Studies (MS), Other Meter Studies (OM), Elective (E)
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