BA · 2025-2026
Art
College of Creative Studies — Art
This CCS major uses an advisor-negotiated curriculum. The plan below is suggested — finalize every quarter with your faculty advisor.
Official sources · CCS
College of Creative Studies requirements
CCS uses its own General Education system (not LASAR or GEAR). IGETC completion fulfills CCS GE requirements. Courses must be approved by faculty advisor or pre-approved program list.
180 quarter units · 8 CCS GE courses · Ethnicity required · 6-quarter CCS residency
Application requirements
CCS admission is separate from the UC application. Apply via the CCS online application in addition to UCSB.
- Letter of intentRequired — separate from UC application essay
- Letters of recommendation2 required (PDF upload)
- TranscriptsUnofficial scans from all institutions
- PortfolioWork samples required — see apply page for format
- Supplemental materialsEncouraged — research, projects, or work samples
- • Portfolio of artwork required — quality and range of work reviewed by faculty.
- • Letter of intent to CCS Art faculty.
- • Two recommenders familiar with your artistic ability.
- • Supplemental: artist statement, exhibition history, or additional work samples.
Official major sheet — 2025-2026
Parsed from department major sheet. Verify on GOLD progress check.
Required courses
- ART CS 15 · 4 units
- ART 1A — Visual Literacy · 4 unitsLetter grade required
- ART 1C — Art Symposium · 4 unitsLetter grade; encouraged multiple times
- 7-seriesCompletion of 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D lecture portions
Studio units (freshman entry: 72 total)
72 unitsSophomore transfer entry: 54 studio units. Junior transfer: 36 studio units.
Average ~18 studio units per year; typically 2 studio courses per quarter.
Studio courses in CCS and L&S Art Department.
Non-studio units (freshman entry: 32 total)
32 unitsSophomore transfer: 24 non-studio. Junior transfer: 16 non-studio.
At least 8 units art history (ARTH) for letter grade or advisor-approved.
Includes Art Theory, 7-series lectures, courses informing studio practice.
Other requirements
- Internship · 1 unitsMinimum 1-unit internship or equivalent professional experience
- First-Year EvaluationRequired milestone
- Mid-Residency ReviewRequired milestone
- Senior ExhibitionRequired capstone
- • Unit-based requirements vary by entry year. Specific studio courses negotiated with faculty advisor.
- • Plan shows unit targets rather than fixed course sequences.
Major regulations
Minimum 40 upper-division units combined (studio + non-studio).
Up to 16 Independent Study units may apply.
Focus areas: Painting/Drawing, Sculpture/Spatial Studies, or Book Arts.
Quarterly faculty advisor approval required.
4-year plan — 180 units
180 quarter units · 8 CCS GE courses (unrelated to major) · Ethnicity required. Suggested plan — finalize with faculty advisor.
Year 1
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 2
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 3
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 4
Fall
Winter
Spring
Data sources
Course lists are snapshots from official UCSB pages—not a live scrape. Verify prerequisites in the UCSB General Catalog.
College-wide CCS rules (8 GE courses unrelated to major, Ethnicity, 180 units, quarterly faculty advising) apply in addition to major requirements. See Student Handbook and UCSB Catalog — CCS degrees.