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Academic Policies

Full-Time Enrollment

Full-Time Enrollment

All degree and certificate seeking students at CalArts are expected to attend on a full-time basis.  Full-time status at CalArts depends on the School and the degree program in which a student is enrolled, and is defined as the following:

  • 12 units per semester for all undergraduate students, all graduate students in the Schools of Art, Dance, and Music.

  • 10 units minimum per semester for all doctoral students in the School of Music

  • 9 units minimum per semester for all graduate students in the Schools of Critical Studies, Film/Video and Theater.

  • 6 units minimum per semester for all second year, low-residency MA students in the School of Critical Studies.

These are the minimum units students must enroll in to qualify for full-time status and to remain in good academic standing.  However, students typically must enroll in additional units each semester in order to meet program requirements, and to graduate within the expected number of semesters.

Students who fail to enroll in the minimum units required for full-time study will be flagged for failure to meet minimum expectations for progress to the degree, and will be subject to the terms of CalArts Academic Standing and Métier Standing policies.