Beyond our famously collaborative atmosphere, CalArts provides formal opportunities to explore additional areas of study.
This allows for both undergraduate and graduate students to gain a richer, more diversified educational experience, encouraging students to broaden their skills and perspectives alongside their primary discipline.
Digital Arts Minor (BFA)
The Digital Arts Minor is designed to help undergraduate students grasp the knowledge to build, engineer and design innovative custom systems to impact our understanding of how technology can be used in the arts. A student who completes the Digital Arts Minor has demonstrated aptitude in computer programming, web design, video editing, digital fabrication, digital sound production, and knowledge of the historical context of digital arts.
Digital Arts BFA minor academic requirements
Digital Arts minor request form
Integrated Media Concentration (MFA)
Integrated Media is a supplemental concentration offered by many MFA programs at CalArts. It is designed specifically for advanced students whose creative use of technology—in particular digital media—goes beyond their primary areas of study.
The Center for Integrated Media supports all IM students across CalArts, enabling them to apply new technologies and integrate multiple media and disciplines into new forms of expression. Prospective graduate students who are interested apply to a specific métier MFA program and indicate their intention to be considered for Integrated Media on their application. Integrated Media applications are reviewed jointly by MFA program faculty and Integrated Media faculty.
The Center for Integrated Media
Integrated Media admission requirements
Integrated Media MFA concentration academic requirements
Arts Education Minor (BFA) / Arts Education Concentration (MFA)
Beginning in Fall 2024, the Arts Education minor/concentration will prepare undergraduate (BFA) and graduate (MFA) students to develop their own personal teaching philosophy in preparation for classroom teaching at all levels. The undergraduate minor will be focused on teaching K-12 students, and the graduate concentration will address both K-12 and higher education.
Students will explore historical and contemporary theories of learning from a critical perspective, as well as develop fundamental skills in course planning, classroom management, and working with today’s diverse student populations.
Arts Education BFA minor requirements
Arts Education MFA concentration requirements
Music Theory Minor (BFA)
The minor in Music Theory is intended for undergraduate students who wish to receive advanced training and accreditation in Music Theory as a supplement to their major, with applications to the analysis and creation of music in concert, film, popular, jazz, electronic, Western, non-Western, historical, contemporary, and experimental styles.
Students who complete the minor in Music Theory will have deeply engaged with an array of theoretical and analytical approaches applicable to music of diverse historical, stylistic, and cultural origins. We believe that such conceptual breadth and flexibility are needed by musicians who want to understand and creatively participate in our contemporary Western musical culture, which increasingly encompasses an unprecedented confluence of different styles and aesthetics.
Music Theory BFA minor requirements
Critical Studies Minors (BFA)
Students who have completed their Level 100 and Core Curriculum requirements have the option of obtaining a Minor in Creative Writing, Humanities, Social Science, Cultural Studies, or Science & Math. To complete a minor, students are required to take 18 units from their designated area of concentration. Speak with Academic Advising for more information.
Critical Studies BFA minor request form
Critical Studies Independent Study
Students who have completed their Level 100 and Core Curriculum requirements have the option of working closely with a Critical Studies instructor on a well-defined academic project for elective credit. Typically these will be awarded 1 unit and only in exceptional circumstances will be awarded 2 units. Independent Studies allow for further research and development of themes and ideas students have encountered in Critical Studies courses and/or in their métiers; they will not replace Critical Studies courses or requirements. Independent Studies may comprise no more than 10 units of the total 46 needed to graduate.
To obtain credit for an independent study, the student must fully define his/her project in a written Independent Study proposal learning goals drawn from the Critical Studies rubric. The proposal must also include a schedule of meetings and assignments jointly determined by the student and the instructor. Independent Study contracts can be obtained in the Registrar’s office.
InterSchool Degree (BFA and MFA)
An InterSchool Degree, or double major, is available to a small number of advanced third- and fourth-year undergraduates and graduate students whose skills, previous training and artistic interests warrant pursuing a degree in more than one school at CalArts. Such specialized courses of study must set clearly defined objectives and have the approval of the deans of the participating Schools.