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Major Preparation in the School of the Arts and Architecture
The departments within the School of the Arts and Architecture offer the following majors:
- Architectural Studies
- Art
- Dance
- Design | Media Arts
- World Arts and Cultures
Applicants are considered on the basis of academic achievement as well as departmental screening requirements. California community college students are strongly encouraged to complete IGETC; all other transfer students are encouraged to make progress toward completion of the school’s general education requirements.
Applicants to the school must have a minimum 3.0 GPA at the time of application. In addition to the UC Application, applicants are required to submit supplemental application material (e.g., portfolio or audition, artist statements, and letters of recommendation; additional fees may apply). Applicants should begin working on the department’s supplemental application shortly after submitting the UC Application, as deadlines are strictly enforced.
Specific guidelines, requirements, deadlines and procedures may be obtained from the school’s website. Please see individual major sections below for more information.
Key Points
- Minimum GPA: 3.0
- IGETC not required but strongly encouraged
- Double-major possible: Yes, it’s possible to double major with a major in the College, but it can be difficult due to the high number of course requirements in most UCLA Arts majors. Double major requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Supplemental application required: Yes, see below for details.
- Supplemental application deadlines:
- Architectural Studies — January 20
- Art — January 20
- Design | Media Arts — January 20
- Dance — December 15
- World Arts and Cultures — December 15
Major Preparation for Individual Majors
The School of the Arts and Architecture offers the following majors for sophomore transfers. Please see admission criteria for sophomore transfers for more information.
Architectural Studies
The Architectural Studies major focuses on the built environment. The curriculum conceives of architecture as a cultural, creative and technical practice and a discipline with direct social impact. Within the context of a liberal arts education, a finely balanced set of architecture and urban design courses, which range from the history and theory of design to contemporary building technologies, provides students with a diverse foundation of knowledge in the field of architecture and prepares them for graduate school and careers in a wide range of fields.
Preparation for the Major
Admission to the architectural studies major is very competitive. The most important admission criteria is the supplemental application which requires a portfolio of creative work.
While it may be beneficial to complete the courses listed below as recommended preparation, there’s no guarantee they will transfer as exact UCLA equivalents. Substitutions for lower-division requirements will be determined by the department in the summer following admission. Syllabi or other descriptive course documentation may be required for consideration.
Recommended (not required) preparation for the major*:
- Two courses in the history of architecture (Pre-history–Mannerism and 1600–present)
- One course in the introduction to architectural studies
* Most transfer applicants will be required to complete these three preparatory courses at UCLA.
Portfolio and Supplemental Requirements
In addition to the general UC Application, applicants must submit a supplemental application that includes a portfolio of creative work. Additional fees may apply. Applicants must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the time of application. Students MUST complete the requisite two English courses and one math course by the end of Spring prior to transfer. Students are encouraged to take their required English and math courses as early as possible with at least one English course completed by the end of Fall.
More information
Art
The department is committed to professional art training and encourages new fields of investigation. Students complete coursework in the following areas: drawing, sculpture, painting, photography, ceramics, new genres and art theory.
Preparation for the Major
Admission to the art major is very competitive. The most important admission criteria is the supplemental application which requires a portfolio of creative work.
While it may be beneficial to complete the courses listed below as preparation/experience, they aren’t required for admission and there’s no guarantee they will satisfy major requirements and/or transfer as exact equivalents of any UCLA courses. Substitutions for lower-division requirements will be determined by the department in the summer following admission. Syllabi or other descriptive course documentation may be required for consideration.
Recommended (not required) preparation for the major:
One course each in:
- Drawing
- Sculpture
- Painting
- Photography
- Ceramics
- New genres [performance art, video art, installation, and non-studio work]
Four courses in art history including one course covering each of the following art historical periods:
- 1850s–1920s
- 1920s–1960s
- 1960s–present
Portfolio and Supplemental Requirements
In addition to the general UC Application, applicants must submit a portfolio of creative work. Additional fees may apply. Applicants must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the time of application. Students MUST complete the requisite two English courses and one math course by the end of Spring prior to transfer. Students are encouraged to take their required English and math courses as early as possible with at least one English course completed by the end of Fall.
More Information
Dance
The Department of World Arts and Culture/Dance is at the forefront of innovative, interdisciplinary and cross-cultural studies of the arts. It offers a curriculum in which students can explore the vital relationship of the arts and performance to cultural theory and criticism.
The Dance major thoroughly integrates learning to dance, learning to make dances and critical interrogation of dance as a cultural practice. Students learn about a variety of dance techniques from around the world throughout their studies. They enroll in a four-term sequence in dance composition, with additional opportunities to participate in the creation of their own dances. They also work as dancers in the creation of new works by faculty members and visiting artists. Further, they engage in a core of four courses in the study of scholarly discourse around the body and dance, launching a critical inquiry into their own study of bodily practices, internalization of the embodied experience, and how bodily ideas and embodied experiences are interpreted and communicated outwardly and interpersonally, both locally and globally.
Preparation for the Major
Admission to the dance major is highly competitive. The most important admission criteria is the supplemental application which includes an audition. While it may be beneficial to complete the courses listed below as preparation/experience, they aren’t required for admission and there’s no guarantee they will satisfy major requirements and/or transfer as exact equivalents of any UCLA courses. Substitutions for lower-division requirements will be determined by the department in the summer following admission. Syllabi or other descriptive course documentation may be required for consideration.
Recommended (not required) preparation for the major:
One course each in:
- Improvisation/choreography
- Dance history and theory
At least eight courses in various dance techniques, particularly:
- Modern/postmodern dance
- Hip-hop
- West African
- Ballet
Coursework focusing on using dance as a medium to connect and engage community
Audition, Interview and Supplemental Requirements
In addition to the general UC Application, applicants must submit a supplemental application (additional fees may apply). Dance applicants must audition, in addition to showing strong academic preparation and evidence of involvement in the arts and community that demonstrates interests in varied cultures.
All students must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the time of the application (November 30). Students MUST complete the requisite two English courses and one math course by the end of Spring prior to transfer. Students are encouraged to take their required English and math courses as early as possible with at least one English course completed by the end of Fall.
More Information
Design | Media Arts
The Department of Design | Media Arts emphasizes visual, audio, analytical theoretical and technology mediated work in design and media arts. This three-year program fully integrates computers and other digital technology into the curriculum. The uniquely challenging curriculum invites students to balance their aesthetic sensibility with logical reasoning, formal theories with practical application and contemporary thought with historical perspective.
Preparation for the Major
Admission to the School of Design | Media Arts major is very competitive. The most important selection criteria is the portfolio of creative work. While it may be beneficial to complete the courses listed below as preparation/experience, they aren’t required for admission and there’s no guarantee they’ll satisfy major requirements and/or transfer as exact equivalents of any UCLA courses. Substitutions for lower-division requirements will be determined by the department in the summer following admission. Syllabi or other descriptive course documentation may be required for consideration.
Recommended (not required) preparation for the major:
One course each in:
- Drawing
- Color theory
- Two- and three-dimensional form
- Digital media/computer design
- Programming for media arts
- Letterforms and typography
- Design history
- Design culture
- Interactivity and media arts
Substitutions for lower-division requirements will be determined by the department in the summer following admission. Syllabi or other descriptive course documentation may be required for consideration.
Portfolio and Supplemental Requirements
In addition to the general UC Application, applicants must submit a supplemental application that includes a portfolio of creative work. Additional fees may apply. Students MUST complete the requisite two English courses and one math course by the end of Spring prior to transfer. Students are encouraged to take their required English and math courses as early as possible with at least one English course completed by the end of Fall. Applicants must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the time of application.
More Information
World Arts and Cultures
The Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance is at the forefront of innovative, interdisciplinary and cross-cultural studies of the arts, offering a curriculum in which students can explore the vital relationship of the arts and performance to cultural theory and criticism.
The World Arts and Cultures major highlights culture and representation as key perspectives for understanding creativity in local and global arenas. Three areas of cross-cultural and interdisciplinary study are available: arts activism, critical ethnographies and visual cultures. These areas define the department’s commitment to a range of practices, including ethnography, activism, visual and related expressive arts, documentary and short films, museum and curatorial studies, performance and other creative perspectives and methods. Courses combine theory and practice and are grounded in culturally diverse artistic expressions.
Preparation for the Major
All preparatory coursework should be completed at UCLA. Substitutions for lower-division requirements will be determined by the department in the summer following admission. Syllabi or other descriptive course documentation may be required for consideration.
Supplemental Requirements
In addition to the general UC Application, applicants must submit a supplemental application (additional fees may apply). Successful applicants must have strong academic preparation and show evidence of involvement in the arts and community that demonstrates interests in varied cultures. All students must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the time of the application. Students MUST complete the requisite two English courses and one math course by the end of Spring prior to transfer. Students are encouraged to take their required English and math courses as early as possible with at least one English course completed by the end of Fall.
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