Admissions

Transferring from LACC to CalArts

CalArts and Los Angeles City College (LACC) are committed to expanding educational opportunities for a wide range of voices and experiences, and to fulfilling a larger vision of access, equity, and inclusion in the study of the arts. 

LACC students may pursue program-specific pathways in music and photo & media studies that include courses transferable to CalArts, and that help students prepare admissible portfolios with the possibility of higher year-level placement upon admission.

These pathways, while not guaranteeing admission, prepare LACC students for a competitive transfer application to The Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts (HASOM), and the CalArts Photography & Media Program. 
 
Faculty and staff at both institutions work closely together to support students for application and program transitions. Priority consideration is given to LACC students who have successfully completed the AA-T degree in Music or Photography. CalArts waives the application fee.
 
For more information about transfer agreements with LACC, please contact the CalArts Office of Admissions at admissions@calarts.edu, or 800-545-ARTS (800-545-2787).

Transfer Agreement Between California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and Los Angeles Community College (LACC)

Effective Fall 2020

In order to facilitate transfer of qualified students from the Los Angeles Community College (LACC) Photography Department into the School of Art BFA Photography & Media program at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), LACC 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 LACC transfer track or equivalent admissible portfolio and will waive the application fee.

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

Additionally, as part of this transfer agreement, CalArts will refer students to the LACC photography program when they have potential for growth, but who may have some obstacles to direct enrollment at CalArts. Where appropriate, CalArts will share information regarding these applicants with LACC in order to facilitate their enrollment into the LACC photography program.

LACC students should be aware that CalArts Photography & Media BFA3 students are expected to have a mid-residency exhibition in the first semester of the BFA3 year and should prepare the year prior to transferring.

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. 

Applicants from LACC need 60 units of baccalaureate level work to transfer into CalArts, including 22 units of general education courses. While the transfer agreement does not guarantee admission into CalArts, it does provide priority consideration and personal guidance for transferring students. 

Critical Studies Recommended Courses

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

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

Photo and Media Program

New Transfer Agreement Offers LACC Photo Students Priority Consideration and Pathway to CalArts

The Photography & Media Program at CalArts' School of Art has developed a special transfer student transfer pathway with Los Angeles City College (LACC). 

The Photo & Media Program pathway, while not guaranteeing admission, prepares LACC students for a competitive transfer application to the CalArts Photography & Media Program. 
 
Faculty and staff at both institutions work closely together to support students for application and program transitions. Priority consideration is given to LACC students who have successfully completed the AA-T degree in Photography.CalArts waives the application fee.
 
For more information about the new Photo & Media Program transfer pathway, please contact CalArts Office of Admissions at admissions@calarts.edu, or 800-545-ARTS (800-545-2787).

Photography & Media Courses

The following métier courses are recommended to help LACC 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.