In addition to CalArts’ naturally collaborative atmosphere, the Institute offers opportunities for undergraduates and graduates to pursue other courses of study concurrently with their chosen discipline.

Collaboration

A large part of a CalArts educational experience can be found among your fellow students. As a selective arts institution, your peers will not only push you to excel, but also partner with you in creative collaborations. The original vision for CalArts was to create a shared space where both visual and performing art forms could cross-pollinate, creating a collaborative, interdisciplinary arts environment. Many artistic partnerships that began organically at CalArts have long continued after graduation.

Integrated Media Concentration

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 in IM as a supplemental concentration apply to the relevant métier MFA program and indicate their intention to be considered for IM on their admissions application. 

Applicants to IM should review the IM portfolio and essay requirements in addition to their métier program requirements. These applications are reviewed jointly by MFA program faculty and IM faculty. For more information, visit the Center’s website.

InterSchool Degree

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.

Digital Arts Minor

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.

For more information on the Digital Arts Minor, please email Ajay Kapur, associate provost for Creative Technologies and director of Music Technology: Interaction, Intelligence & Design (MTIID), at akapur@calarts.edu.

Digital Arts Minor 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.

The design of the program requires: two core academic courses (6 units), two electives (6 units), and one teaching practicum (3 units), for a total of 15 units. The two core courses and one of the electives will be offered through the School of Critical Studies and count as Critical Studies (core) requirements so that in most cases BFA students will not need to take additional courses. A teaching practicum will provide teaching experience and serve as a capstone for the program.

As a result of participating in the Arts Education minor/concentration, a student will be able to:

  • Develop a personal teaching philosophy based on their artistic practice that cultivates cultural and linguistic relevance, equity, and inclusivity.
  • Apply contemporary theories of learning within the arts from a critical perspective toward practical aspects of teaching.
  • Explain the historical development of educational philosophies and the role of education in society. 
  • Identify indicators of learning differences and mental health issues and modify teaching style and materials appropriately. 
  • Demonstrate skills in course planning, syllabus development, assignment and assessment design, and classroom management.