Graduate Student Orientation
Welcome to California College of the Arts!

California College of the Arts has enhanced the graduate-student experience:
- development of new award-winning graduate studios and facilities
- the augmentation of our stellar faculty body with new tenure-track faculty and international visiting artists
- the growth of new graduate programs that provide a deep interdisciplinary dialogue for all students
We have also built many bridges with Bay Area companies and organizations to pave the way to your career after graduation.
CCA's faculty, administration, and staff expect you to be deeply engaged not only within your program but also with the other resources at the college as well as with the remarkably creative community that surrounds us.
With great anticipation, your families, friends, and campus community are preparing to welcome and support you for this important milestone.
2023 Fall New Graduate Student Orientation & Chimera Welcome Week
New Graduate Student Orientation will be on a Moodle online course. Completion of the online new student orientation is required prior to attending in-person Welcome Week and the start of the semester. Incoming students will receive a notification to your CCA email address with log-in information. The Chimera Welcome Week schedule will be available on the portal on August 1st.
[ONLY GRADUATE STUDENTS] In order to confirm your participation to Chimera Welcome Week 2023, please complete this form.
Schedule of Events for Graduate Students 2023
Thursday, August 24th, 2023
Event |
Time |
Location |
Description |
Target Audience |
---|---|---|---|---|
Graduate Student Check-In |
9-10AM |
Main Building (1111 Eighth St., San Francisco, enter on Irwin St.), Student Lounge |
Graduate students are required to check-in to participate in events and workshops. Here, you will receive your schedule and CCA swag bag! |
All incoming Graduate students (domestic, international, transfer, commuter) |
International Student Services Session: International Graduate Students |
10-11AM |
Main Building, Timken |
Mandatory for all incoming International Graduate students. ISS will introduce their office and give important immigration information. |
International Graduate Students |
Student Panel & The People's Meet-Up (open to all undergraduate & graduate students) |
10AM-12PM |
Main Building, Nave Presentation Space/Nave |
Learn about tips, tricks, and experiences from students and student leaders. After, chat and mingle with panelists, staff, and faculty. |
All incoming Graduate & Undergraduate students (domestic, international, transfer, commuter) |
Graduate Session Rotations |
11:10AM-12:25PM |
Main Building, Locations vary |
Sessions will introduce important resources, information, and offices that will help you thrive at CCA! |
All incoming Graduate students |
Late Graduate Student Check-In |
11:30-12:30PM |
Blattner Hall, Multipurpose Room (75 Arkansas St, San Francisco) |
Check-in for graduate students who were not able to check in earlier. |
All incoming Graduate students |
Graduate Meet & Greet Lunch |
12:30-1:30PM |
Blattner Hall, Multipurpose Room (75 Arkansas St, San Francisco) |
Join the Graduate programs in a lunch meet & greet with faculty, staff, and peers. Lunch provided. |
All incoming Graduate students |
Graduate Session Rotations |
1:35-2:50PM |
Main Building, Locations vary |
Sessions will introduce important resources, information, and offices that will help you thrive at CCA! |
All incoming Graduate students |
Graduate Specific Program Meetings |
2:55-3:55PM |
Main Building, Locations vary |
Expect communications from your specific graduate programs on specific times/locations. |
All incoming Graduate students |
On-Campus Job & Resource Fair (open to all undergraduate & graduate students) |
3:30-5:30PM |
Main Building, Nave Presentation Space/Nave |
Meet offices/departments and learn about work-study jobs available for the Fall 2023 semester. |
All students (incoming & continuing Graduate & Undergraduate students (domestic, international, transfer, commuter)) |
Friday, August 25th, 2023
Event |
Time |
Location |
Description |
Target Audience |
---|---|---|---|---|
CCA Convocation Day |
1:40-3PM |
Main Building, Nave |
Join the presidents, VP's, and Deans in an important community gathering - an official welcome into the CCA community! |
All incoming Graduate & Undergraduate students (domestic, international, transfer, commuter) |
Chimerapalooza |
3:10-5PM |
Main Building, Nave/Nave Presentation Space |
TBA |
All students (incoming & continuing Graduate & Undergraduate students (domestic, international, transfer, commuter)) |
6 Steps to a Successful Orientation
Step 1: Read the Admitted Graduate Students' Webpage
- The 10 Easy Steps to Enrollment contains comprehensive information regarding financial aid, health insurance, and more.
Step 2: Read Student & Program Technology Requirements
- All incoming students are required to own an external storage device and laptop that meets CCA’s minimum system requirements, outlined on the Student Technology Requirements page. Students who know their intended major should purchase the laptop and external storage device specific to their programs, listed on the Program Technology Requirements page.
- Access to software for classroom-use such as Moodle, Mural, and VoiceThread can be found on the Student Software page and project-specific software like Adobe, Autodesk, Rhino and many other titles on the Creative Software page.
Step 3: Determine Health Insurance Eligibility
- Health Insurance
- All students who are registered in 12 or more units per semester (9 units per semester for all graduate students) are considered full-time students. They are, therefore, required to have health insurance coverage.
- The college has secured a group health insurance policy (an Aetna PPO plan) that provides year-round coverage.
- Part-time students are ineligible for CCA student health insurance.
- Waiving Student Insurance
- You may waive CCA's coverage by submitting an online waiver application before the end of the add/drop period.
- A student's own health insurance must meet minimum coverage requirement to qualify for an approved waiver.
Step 4: Read the Student Handbook
- The Student Handbook serves as a guide to the programs, policies, procedures, requirements, and resources of CCA.
- Students are strongly encouraged to read the entire handbook.
Step 5: Join Graduate Student Alliance (GSA) on Facebook & follow Office of Student Belonging & Inclusion (OSBI) on IG
- Graduate Student Alliance (GSA) directors are fellow students who play an integral role in advocating and funding events for the graduate student community.
- Add "CCA GSA" to your Facebook page and get connected with other current CCA graduate students.
- OSBI IG: @ccaosbi
Questions
Email orientation@cca.edu more info about graduate student orientation.
Contact your desired graduate program directly for program-specific information.