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California Institute of the Arts

Glendale Community College (GCC) Transfer Agreement

COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRANSFER PATHWAYS

Transferring to the CalArts School of Art

In order to facilitate transfer of qualified students from the Glendale Community College Photography Department into the School of Art BFA Photography & Media program at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Glendale Community College and CalArts agree to enter into the following transfer agreement. Under the terms of this agreement, CalArts will give priority consideration to applicants who have successfully completed the GCC transfer track or equivalent admissible portfolio and will waive the application fee.  

This agreement does not guarantee admission to CalArts. However, faculty from GCC and CalArts will review the portfolios of students pursuing the photography program at GCC in order to identify those who are most likely to successfully transfer into CalArts. There will be ongoing communication between the two faculties about the progress of the students in the GCC photography program to ensure they are on track to transfer to CalArts.  

Applicants from GCC will need 60 units of baccalaureate level work to transfer into CalArts as a BF A3-l student (aka: junior standing), including 22 units of Critical Studies (aka: general education) units. GCC students are advised to consult the following general education transfer guide to determine how specific general education courses may apply to the CalArts Critical Studies requirements. Also included is a metier (aka: major) course transfer guide which students may refer to for information regarding courses in Photography/Media. The courses listed in that guide are recommended but not required for GCC students preparing to transfer to CalArts. 

These transfer guidelines are subject to change at the discretion of CalArts. CalArts reserves the right to make changes or updates to this agreement at any time. Degree requirements will be determined by the catalog requirements in place at the time students are admitted to and matriculated into CalArts.

Transfer map

The following metier courses are recommended to help GCC students prepare their application portfolios and are not necessarily transferable but will help in year-level placement at the discretion of CalArts faculty when making admissions decisions. 

Photography and Media

CalArts CourseUnitsRecommended Glendale College Courses to Transfer 

First Year  

Traditional B&W New Lab Foundation Critique (2 semesters) Foundation Seminar (2 semesters) 
3 Workshops  (Total 20 metier units)

4PHOTOGRAPHY I 00 *- Introduction to Photography (digital) (4 units) 
and 
PHOTOGRAPHY IO I *- Introduction to Traditional Photography (B&W) (4 units)  and  ART HISTORY 199* (History of Photography) (3 units)  And one of the following: 
PHOTOGRAPHY I 03* - Medium and Large Format Photography (traditional film based) (4 units) PHOTOGRAPHY 111 * - Lighting I (4 units) PHOTOGRAPHY 130* - Photoshop and Lightroom for Photographers (4 units) 

Second Year  

Undergrad Seminar Special Topics class BFA Seminar 
Two technical classes Plus electives  (Total 10 metier units)

4 or 3

PHOTOGRAPHY 112 *- Lighting II (4 units) PHOTOGRAPHY 132 *- Digital Photography II (4 units) One of the following 14 level classes: 
PHOTOGRAPHY 140* (Fine Art Photography) PHOTOGRAPHY 144* (Documentary Photography) PHOTOGRAPHY 146* Advanced Projects Class (4 units) PHOTOGRAPHY 170 - Field Studies in Photography (3 units) e.g. Baja campus community project (recommended for CalArts) 

PHOTOGRAPHY I 05 - Projects in Traditional

Photography (3 units)- semester-long projects

(recommended for Ca!Arts)

PHOTOGRAPHY 160 - Photoshop (elective)

PHOTOGRAPHY 142*-Commercial Photography (4 units)

(optional for CalArts)

Critical Studies recommended courses

CRITICAL STUDIES REQUIREMENTS AT CALARTS: A total of 46 Critical Studies units are required for a BFA from CalArts. Students must complete a minimum of 8 units in residence at CalArts from among the following CalArts categories: COM, CRW, CST, HMN, SCM or SOC.

Students from Glendale College will need the equivalent of 22 General Education/Critical Studies units –including one course from each Breadth Requirement Area *** plus Optional Breadth Courses**, and electives *

(46 units are required for the Bachelor of Arts (BFA) 8 units of which have to be completed in residence at CalArts.)

CalArts Critical Studies CategoryUnitsSuggested Bakersfield College courses 
Cultural Studies*** (CST)3 UnitsARTH IOI, 101H, 102, 102H, 103,104, 105, 106, 108, 109, 111,112,113, 115, 118, 119, 120, 121, 125, 199 
ETH 124, 125, 132, 164, 166 
HIST 122,131,132,133, 133H, 135,136,140,141, 141H, 152, 170,180 
LING 101, 102, MEDIA 110 
Humanities*** (HMN)  3 UnitsARTH IOI, I0IH, 102, 102H, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 125, 199 
HUMAN 105, 105H, 106, 110, 111, 115, 117, 125, PHILO 48, 49, IOI, I 12, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121 
Science and Math*** (SCM)3 UnitsASTRO 102, 103, 110, 120 
BIOL IOI, 102, 112, 114, 115, 120, 121, 122, 123, 123H, 125, 125H, 126,129,131,140,141,142,298 CHEM IOI, 102, 105,106,110, 120,121,298 GEOG IOI, 102, 103, 106, 107, 110, 111, 155, 160, 170, 171 
GEOL 101, I0IH, 102,104,105,111, ll!H, 112, 115, 120 
PHYS IOI, l0IH, 102, 103, 105, 106, 110 
MATH 100, 102, 103, 103E, 103E H, 104E, 104EH, 105, 105H, 107, 107H, 108, 108H, 110, I JOA, 1108, 112, 112+, 133, 135, 136, 136+, 136A, 1368, 136H, 138, 139 
Social Science*** (SOC)3 UnitsANTHR IOI, 102, 102H, 103, 104, 105, 111, 114, 150 
HIST 103, 104, 105, 106, 111, l l lH, 113, 115, 116, 117,118, 118H, 119,120,121,122,131,132,133, 133H, 135, 136, 140, 141, 141H, 152, 170, 180 POL S 101, 102, 103, 104, 106, 108, 110, 110H, 111,112,114,115,170,171 
PSYCH 101, l0IH, 103,104, 104H, 105,106, 110, 111, 113, 115,131,150,170,200,203 
SOC S IOI, 105, 110, 120, 127, 130,146,200 SOC IOI, 101 H, 102, 103, 104, 105, I 08, 114, 13 I, 140, 141,171,200 
Creative Writing**  (CRW)  3 UnitsENG IOI, IOI+, I0IH, 102, 102H, 103, 104, 105, 106, 109, 110, 111, I 12, 114, 115, 117, 118, 122, 123, 125, 127, 128,130,212, 
JOUR 102, 107, 210, 250 
CS Elective*3 Units

ASL 101,102, 103, 104  ARMEN IOI, 102, 103, 104, 115, 116, 117, 125, 126, 127 
CHfN 101, 102, 
FREN IOI, 102, 103, 104, 
ITAL IOI, 102, 103, 104, 130 
JAPAN IOI, 102, 103, 104 
KOREAN 101, 102 
SPAN IOI, 102, 103, 104, 115, 116, 124H, 131 Or Any other language 

ECON IO I, I 02, I 02H, I 05, I 11 (Same as History I 16), 127, 170 

SPCH 100, 101,103, 104, 106, 108, 115 MCOMM IOI, 105, 120 

***Breadth requirement: one course from each area 

**Optional Critical Studies Breadth courses 

Critical Studies electives 

***Breadth - Courses from any of the Breadth areas can also be applied to the elective area. 

*CalArts delivers a two semester Level-100 sequence that serves as our “College Writing” requirement. Transfer students with 15 Critical Studies approved transfer units are exempt from this requirement. English 101 or its equivalent will likely be a prerequisite for most Bakersfield College courses that receive Critical Studies credit.  

CSU and/or UC Transferable courses from a California Community College are eligible for transfer upon review by the Office of the Registrar.