Critical Studies Undergraduate Requirements

School of Critical Studies

A CalArts education is based on both artistic and intellectual rigor. To ensure that each undergraduate has the broad knowledge and cultural sophistication needed for successful arts careers in today's world, all candidates for the BFA degree must complete the Critical Studies Undergraduate Requirements in addition to coursework in their individual programs.

Critical Studies Undergraduate Requirements

School of Critical Studies

A CalArts education is based on both artistic and intellectual rigor. To ensure that each undergraduate has the broad knowledge and cultural sophistication needed for successful arts careers in today's world, all candidates for the BFA degree must complete the Critical Studies Undergraduate Requirements in addition to coursework in their individual programs.

Critical Studies Undergraduate Requirements
Candidates for the BFA degree must complete least 46 Critical Studies semester units as part of the overall 120 units needed for graduation. This amounts to an average of three Critical Studies classes per semester and represents nearly 40 percent of each BFA student's course load over four years. Courses on dance history and other subjects related to dance can fulfill a portion of this requirement.

Undergraduate general studies

The School of Critical Studies comprises 20 core faculty and four staff, and employs at least a dozen Adjunct Faculty annually to teach across its broad curriculum. Critical Studies is responsible for the general BFA education of CalArts students registered in the five other Schools: Art, Dance, Film/Video, Music and Theatre. It also offers an MFA degree in Writing and participate in the MFA in Integrated Media.