Academic Advising

At CalArts, the Institute 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.

 

Our mission is to guide students toward fulfilling overall degree requirements and promote agency throughout their CalArts experience. BFA students regularly visit our Advisors to plan for course registration, understand degree requirements and to stay on track for graduation.

They 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.

     

All students are assigned an Institute Academic Advisor to assist in academic planning and understanding what is required to graduate from CalArts. Advisors provide guidance to students on institute requirements and policies beyond the school level, and the Critical Studies requirements for BFA students. Students can attend advising meetings to plan for course registration, and to better understand degree requirements.

  • 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 understand how to 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.

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. 

The Academic Advising office is located in the F207 suite and can be reached throughout the year by emailing academicadvising@calarts.edu to schedule an appointment.