MFA Costume Design: Admission Requirements

Create an account to begin the application process. This is where you’ll complete each step in the application and receive updates on your application status. Add your personal background and academic history.

Your artist’s statement should discuss your goals and their relationship to your past experience, as well as evidence of your interest in performance-based design whether in theater, film, installation, writing, or other related forms.

Maximum length of one page single spaced or two pages double spaced.

For your portfolio, please submit: 

• Examples of production work including all preliminary work, such as rough sketches, models, technical sketches, and research.
• Documentation of fully realized original work through video, photographs, scripts, and storyboards, as well as documentation of works-in-progress.
• Fine art work including drawings, paintings, textile work, sculpture, performance, etc., or photographic documentation of the aforementioned.

If you experience technical difficulties while uploading your portfolio, please email admissions@calarts.edu.

Tell us about one person, place, thing, or event that has helped shape your artistic practice.

• Duration: minimum of 30 seconds, maximum of 90 seconds.
• Speak directly to the camera.
• Do not read from a prepared statement.
• No edits.
• No special effects or on-screen overlays.
• File should be uploaded or linked directly to the portfolio section of the CalArts application.
• Does not require professional-level equipment; cell phone cameras are fine.

Two letters of recommendation are required. At least one recommendation should be written by a person who understands your work, such as an art teacher.

All letters of recommendation should be received by the application deadline, so it’s important that you contact your recommenders months before. We request that you submit the requests for your letters of recommendation through the online application, as it will allow you to track when we receive your requested letters.

If this is not possible, you may download the Letter of Recommendation Form (PDF) and have your recommender send their letters by mail to the Office of Admissions. Please choose only one method - either through the online application (preferred) or by mail - per recommender. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted via credentialing services such as Parchment or Naviance.

Mailed letters of recommendation should be sent to:

CalArts Office of Admissions
24700 McBean Pkwy.
Valencia, CA 91355
United States of America

All letters of recommendation must be written in English or accompanied by a certified English translated document.

• You’ll be contacted if an interview is requested by the faculty. Not all candidates will be invited to interview. The location and format of the interview (virtual or in-person) will be determined after you receive your invitation to interview. 
• Prospective students must complete the admissions application requirements and the online portfolio to be considered for admission. The online application must be submitted before an interview will be scheduled.

CalArts School of Theater faculty will participate in URTA events for Experience Design and Production candidates in Chicago and virtually. Applicants interviewing via URTA are still required to complete the online application. If you plan to participate in URTAs and are considering CalArts, starting a CalArts application is an important first step.