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California Institute of the Arts

  • The CalArts Way

    Learn about our approach to the full development of the creative abilities of visual and performing artists.

    How We Work

    Programs of Study

    Explore our unique undergraduate and graduate degree programs and specializations from our six world-renowned Schools. 

    Find a Program

    CalArts Schools

    • Art
    • Critical Studies
    • Dance
    • Film/Video
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Extended Studies

    Academic Resources

    • Academic Calendar
    • Library
    • Academic Catalog
    • Registrar
    • Academic Support
    • Provost's Office
    • Performance and Exhibition Spaces

    Beyond Campus

    • REDCAT
    • Community Arts Partnership (CAP)
    • Center for New Performance (CNP)
    • Reef Residency
  • Why CalArts?

    Start your CalArts journey by learning more about our vibrant community.

    What sets us apart

    Admissions

    • Application Process
    • Admission Requirements
    • International Applicants
    • Transfer Applicants
    • Veterans
    • Accepted Students
    • FAQs

    Tuition

    • Tuition and Fees
    • Payment Options
    • Payment and Refund Deadlines

    Financial Aid

    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Aid for Undergraduate Students
    • Aid for Graduate Students
    • Aid for International Students

    Visits and Events

    • Campus Tours and Information Sessions
    • Open Houses
    • Regional Events
    • Meet Our Counselors
  • Career Services

    Explore our holistic approach to creative career development with workshops, advising, and networking opportunities.

    Patty Disney Center for Life and Work

    Campus Life

    • The CalArts Student Experience
    • Housing
    • Dining
    • City of Santa Clarita
    • Connecting to LA
    • Campus Safety
    • Graduation 2025

    Student Services

    • Health and Well-being
    • Sexual Respect
    • Disability Services
    • International Student Support
    • Student Conduct
    • Parents and Families
  • Giving

    Your gift empowers the next generation of transformative artists. 

    Give to CalArts

    Alumni

    Join our worldwide alumni community to grow personally and professionally with resources and support.

    Get involved

    Institute

    • About CalArts
    • Mission and Values
    • Equity and Diversity (IDEA)
    • Leadership
    • History
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Academics

The CalArts Way

Learn about our approach to the full development of the creative abilities of visual and performing artists.

How We Work

Programs of Study

Explore our unique undergraduate and graduate degree programs and specializations from our six world-renowned Schools. 

Find a Program

CalArts Schools

  • Art
  • Critical Studies
  • Dance
  • Film/Video
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Extended Studies

Academic Resources

  • Academic Calendar
  • Library
  • Academic Catalog
  • Registrar
  • Academic Support
  • Provost's Office
  • Performance and Exhibition Spaces

Beyond Campus

  • REDCAT
  • Community Arts Partnership (CAP)
  • Center for New Performance (CNP)
  • Reef Residency

Admissions & Aid

Why CalArts?

Start your CalArts journey by learning more about our vibrant community.

What sets us apart

Admissions

  • Application Process
  • Admission Requirements
  • International Applicants
  • Transfer Applicants
  • Veterans
  • Accepted Students
  • FAQs

Tuition

  • Tuition and Fees
  • Payment Options
  • Payment and Refund Deadlines

Financial Aid

  • Financial Aid Basics
  • Aid for Undergraduate Students
  • Aid for Graduate Students
  • Aid for International Students

Visits and Events

  • Campus Tours and Information Sessions
  • Open Houses
  • Regional Events
  • Meet Our Counselors

Life at CalArts

Career Services

Explore our holistic approach to creative career development with workshops, advising, and networking opportunities.

Patty Disney Center for Life and Work

Campus Life

  • The CalArts Student Experience
  • Housing
  • Dining
  • City of Santa Clarita
  • Connecting to LA
  • Campus Safety
  • Graduation 2025

Student Services

  • Health and Well-being
  • Sexual Respect
  • Disability Services
  • International Student Support
  • Student Conduct
  • Parents and Families

About

Giving

Your gift empowers the next generation of transformative artists. 

Give to CalArts

Alumni

Join our worldwide alumni community to grow personally and professionally with resources and support.

Get involved

Institute

  • About CalArts
  • Mission and Values
  • Equity and Diversity (IDEA)
  • Leadership
  • History

Academic Resources Menu

  1. Academic Calendar
  2. Library
  3. Academic Catalog
  4. Registrar
  5. Academic Support
    1. – Awards, Grants, and Project Support
    2. – The Writing Center
  6. Provost's Office
  7. Performance and Exhibition Spaces
  • Visit
  • News
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  • Apply
  1. Home
  2. Academic Support

Academic Support

Academic Resources

  1. Academic Calendar
  2. Library
  3. Academic Catalog
  4. Registrar
  5. Academic Support
    1. – Awards, Grants, and Project Support
    2. – The Writing Center
  6. Provost's Office
  7. Performance and Exhibition Spaces

CalArts offers one-on-one academic support in the form of individual advising and through the Writing Center. Academic Advisors complement the guidance that students will receive from their mentors, while Writing Center tutors help students on a variety of writing-oriented tasks.

Mentors

Each student at CalArts is assigned a faculty mentor to guide their creative development through one-on-one meetings, course selection each semester, and yearly mentor reports. Faculty mentors are practicing artists in the same field as their mentees. These mentor relationships often extend beyond CalArts, leading to post-graduation collaborations.

Some students form strong bonds with their assigned mentors, while others may seek guidance from different faculty members. The diverse faculty provides a wealth of shared creative experiences, allowing students to work closely with various faculty members throughout their degree program.


Academic advising

At CalArts, all students are assigned an Institute Academic Advisor to assist in academic planning and understanding what is required to graduate. The Academic Advisors complement the guidance students receive from their mentor within their métier. Advisors work collaboratively with students, mentors and schools in order to help students identify and achieve their academic goals. BFA students regularly visit our Advisors to plan for course registration, understand degree requirements and to stay on track for graduation.

Advisors often assist in connecting students with other academic opportunities and resources within the institute, and promote student’s agency by providing positive encouragement for students to develop self-authorship and meet their goals.

Contact Academic Advising

Office hours
Spring and fall semesters: Monday–Friday from 10 am–4 pm

Email: academicadvising@calarts.edu
Room number: Suite F207

Advising FAQ

  • It is each student’s responsibility to know the requirements and policies that are relevant to their role as a student at CalArts. They should know how to access and interpret their degree audit. At CalArts, this personalized tool is called “My Progress” and found within Self-Service.
  • BFA students are required to complete a minimum number of Critical Studies units each semester, and need to earn 46 Critical Studies units, including 8 units of specific units taken at CalArts and 4 subject areas to complete the Critical Studies requirement.
  • The majority of academic paperwork, final review of degree requirements and conferral of degrees is administered by the Office of the Registrar. To access Registrar resources, visit them on the Hub.

Role of Advisor and Mentor

BFA students are assigned both an Academic Advisor and a Faculty Mentor.

Faculty Mentors provide guidance in métier requirements and artistic goals. Students can work with their mentor to ensure adequate progress in métier requirements and that all program and school expectations are being met. 

Academic Advisors provide guidance on overall institute requirements and the Critical Studies requirements for BFA students. Students should meet with their advisor to verify that all curricular requirements are being met at an adequate pace to meet their anticipated graduation date. 

Research consultations

The CalArts Library has a librarian for each school to help students on their research journeys. Consultations can be scheduled online and in the library at the iPad kiosk.  Research consults are set to 45 minutes. Appointments are available from Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm, subject to availability.

Book a research consultation


Need help writing? Learn more about the CalArts Writing Center 

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California Institute of the Arts

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24700 McBean Parkway
Valencia, CA 91355
Phone: 661-255-1050

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