APPLY TO CCS 

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Steps to Apply


Step 1: Apply to UCSB

If you are not currently enrolled at UCSB, or have not applied, then you will first need to submit the UC Undergraduate Application for UCSB, the standard form used to apply to any University of California campus. You will be asked to include your UC application ID in your CCS application.

Please note: When selecting two majors for admission on your UC Application, you should include your preferred CCS major as one of your selections, preferably the primary selection, unless you are also applying for the College of Engineering (CoE). CoE requires that your first choice major is Engineering.

Your CCS application will require your UCSB Application ID number or PERM number (assigned later in the process), so make a note of what it is.

If you did not choose a CCS major on your UCSB application, you can request a change using the instructions listed here 

Step 2: Review the Application Requirements

Take the time to the review the application requirements for the major you are interested in before you start an application. If part of the requirements for your program, once you initiate your recommenders, they will be sent the request. It may be advisable to contact them in advance.

Please note, students who are applying for UCSB at this time may only apply for ① CCS major. If admitted to UCSB, and you submit a positive (SIR), you may apply for a second major of interest at that time. For some programs, program committees want you to have completed a few quarters before application to your second major. Please contact the program for further guidance.

✗ Standardized test policy: The University of California does not use SAT and ACT scores in making Admissions decisions. In accordance with this ruling, CCS will not accept SAT, SAT Subject Exams, or ACT scores in our supplementary application. AP/IB scores may still be requested as noted, by major, below.

Application Requirements for Each Major

Art

Supplemental Application Materials (Portfolio)

Submitting your portfolio online: Please upload two files: an image list with the image number, title, date, medium and dimensions, (Word or pdf file), and a second file with images of 15-20 works COMPILED INTO ONE FILE. Save images as good quality jpegs, 150-300 dpi or higher, then compile all and convert to one pdf.  Images in the final pdf should be between 1/2 page and 1 full page in size each.  Please number each image to correspond to the image list. Please review your compiled portfolio to ensure images are all of a similar size before uploading. If appropriate, you may submit a supplemental video tour of your work in addition to the compiled portfolio. Work submitted should emphasize your ability in painting, sculpture, or book arts. You may wish to ask assistance from a teacher, counselor, or another individual with an objective and well-trained eye, to help you to select your best work. 

Letter of Intent

Write a letter to the attention of the CCS Art faculty, stating your academic interests, your reasons for wanting to study at CCS, and your background in Art. In addition, please describe any aspects of your personal background, accomplishments, or experiences with diversity that you feel are important in evaluating your application. This letter is separate from the essay required in the UC application.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are optional for CCS Art. If you wish, please list persons well-acquainted with your academic background and your ability in Art on the CCS Application. The CCS Online Application form will ask for your recommenders’ email addresses and will send them a prompt with a link.  This link will direct recommenders to instructions for uploading letters. We suggest notifying recommenders ahead of time that they should be expecting an email with instructions to upload their letter.  Please request that letters are saved and uploaded as a PDF in order to avoid formatting distortions.

Transcripts

In addition to the copies you send to the UCSB Office of Admissions, there is a section on the CCS Online Application where you must upload copies of your transcripts from every high school and college you have attended. Transcripts do not need to be official, so a scan or a picture of your transcripts may be uploaded (jpeg or PDF). If you are currently enrolled at UCSB, please submit a copy of your course history, which you can obtain using a screenshot from GOLD.  It is your responsibility to ensure that attachments uploaded to your application are clear and legible.

Biology

Letter of Intent

Write a letter to the attention of the CCS Biology faculty, stating your academic interests, your reasons for wanting to study at CCS, and your background in Biology. This letter is separate from the essay required in the UC application. 

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are required for applications to CCS Biology. Please list at least two persons well-acquainted with your academic background and your ability in Biology. The CCS Online Application form will ask for your recommenders’ email addresses and will send them a prompt with a link. This link will direct recommenders to instructions for uploading letters. We suggest notifying recommenders ahead of time that they should be expecting an email with instructions to upload their letter. Please request that letters are saved and uploaded as a PDF in order to avoid formatting distortions.

Transcripts

In addition to the copies you send to the UCSB Office of Admissions, there is a section on the CCS Online Application where you must upload copies of your transcripts from every high school and college you have attended. Transcripts do not need to be official, so a scan or picture of your transcripts may be uplodaed (jpeg or PDF). If you are currently enrolled at UCSB, please upload a copy of your course history, which you can obtain using a screenshot from GOLD. It is your responsibility to ensure that attachments uploaded to your application are clear and legible.

Supplemental Application Materials

Although submitting Supplemental Application Materials is not required for CCS Biology, it helps to give us a more complete idea of your skills and interests. If possible, upload examples of independent research, scientific reports or projects, or any other work that shows your ability and interests.

Chemistry & Biochemistry

Letter of Intent

Write a letter to the attention of the CCS Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty, stating your academic interests, your reasons for wanting to study at CCS, and your background in Chemistry. This letter is separate from the essay required in the UC application. 

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are required for applications to CCS Chemistry and Biochemistry. Please list at least two persons well-acquainted with your academic background and your ability in Chemistry/Biochemistry. The CCS Online Application form will ask for your recommenders’ email addresses and will send them a prompt with a link. This link will direct recommenders to instructions for uploading letters.  We suggest notifying recommenders ahead of time that they should be expecting an email with instructions to upload their letter.  Please request that letters are saved and uploaded as a PDF in order to avoid formatting distortions. 

Transcripts

In addition to the copies you send to the UCSB Office of Admissions, there is a section on the CCS Online Application where you must upload copies of your transcripts from every high school and college you have attended. Transcripts do not need to be official, so a scan or picture of your transcripts may be uploaded (jpeg or PDF). If you are currently enrolled at UCSB, please upload a copy of your course history, which you can obtain using a screenshot from GOLD.  It is your responsibility to ensure that attachments uploaded to your application are clear and legible.

Supplemental Application Materials

Although submitting Supplemental Application Materials is not required for CCS Chemistry and Biochemistry, it helps to give us a more complete idea of your skills and interests. If possible, submit examples of independent research, scientific reports or projects, or any other work that shows your ability and interests.

Computing

Letter of Intent

Write a letter to the attention of the CCS Computing faculty, stating your academic interests, your reasons for wanting to study at CCS, and your background in Computing. This letter is separate from the essay required in the UC application. 

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are required for applications to CCS Computing. Please list at least two persons well-acquainted with your academic background and your ability in Computing. The CCS Online Application form will ask for your recommenders’ email addresses and will send them a prompt with a link. This link will direct recommenders to instructions for uploading letters.  We suggest notifying recommenders ahead of time that they should be expecting an email with instructions to upload their letter.  Please request that letters are saved and uploaded as a PDF in order to avoid formatting distortions. 

Transcripts

In addition to the copies you send to the UCSB Office of Admissions, there is a section on the CCS Online Application where you must upload copies of your transcripts from every high school and college you have attended. Transcripts do not need to be official, so a scan or picture of your transcripts may be uploaded (jpeg or PDF). If you are currently enrolled at UCSB, please upload a copy of your course history, which you can obtain using a screenshot from GOLD.  It is your responsibility to ensure that attachments uploaded to your application are clear and legible.

Supplemental Application Materials

Although submitting Supplemental Application Materials is not required for CCS Computing, it helps to give us a more complete idea of your skills and interests. If possible, submit examples of independent research, scientific reports or projects, or any other work that shows your ability and interests.

Marine Science

This application is your chance to tell us about who you are and why the CCS Marine Science program is a great fit for you. In order to put your best foot forward in your application, we encourage you to spend time reading through the CCS Marine Science webpage to understand what makes this program different from studying on the broader campus and why these differences are meaningful to you.

Transfer students from on campus are encouraged to apply! Please check out the Major Sheet to learn more about potential coarse-loads and transfer requirements.

Please reach out to info@ccs.ucsb.edu if you have any questions about CCS, the Marine Science program, or the application process.

Letter of Intent

Write a letter to the attention of the CCS Marine Science faculty that is no more than 2 pages, double spaced. A strong letter will include ALL of the following. *Feel free to use these as headers in your letter and to respond to each as individual questions.*

  1. Tell us a little about yourself and why you are interested in studying marine science.

  2. What topics in marine science interest you and how would the ability to create a personalized curriculum help you achieve your personal and professional goals?

  3. We understand that co-creating your own curriculum with CCS advisors is enticing. However, everyone would benefit from this and we unfortunately don't have space for everyone in this college. We wish we did! With this in mind, tell us what creative endeavors you would like to pursue as a student in the CCS Marine Science program. Be as specific as possible.

  4. How will studying marine science in CCS, as opposed to other programs, help you achieve your goals?

This letter is separate from the essay required in the UC application and is the most important part of your application to the Marine Science program. 

*By multidisciplinary we are referring to an education in marine science that will span multiple disciplines including biology, geology, chemistry, physics, and disciplines of your choosing.

Transcripts

In addition to the copies you send to the UCSB Office of Admissions, there is a section on the CCS Online Application where you must upload copies of your transcripts from every high school and college you have attended. Transcripts do not need to be official, so a scan or picture of your transcripts may be uploaded (jpeg or PDF). If you are currently enrolled at UCSB, please upload a copy of your course history, which you can obtain using a screenshot from GOLD. It is your responsibility to ensure that attachments uploaded to your application are clear and legible.

Submitting Supplemental Application Materials

Although submitting Supplemental Application Materialsis not required, we highly encourage you to do so because it gives us a better sense of what you are interested in and how you’ve gone about pursuing your interests up to this point. If you talk about ways in which you've pursued your interest in marine science in your Letter of Intent, you can upload evidence of those efforts under this field.

So, what are Supplemental Application Materials? This is any work that shows a commitment to pursuing your interests in marine science. This might include a description of observations you made in your own backyard, on a field trip, online, or elsewhere to better understand some phenomenon that caught your interest, and the steps you took to learn more about it. This does not necessarily mean field or laboratory research. We understand that not every student will have had the opportunity to participate in field or laboratory research or generate scientific reports and that is more than okay! Our goal through this part of the application is to better understand your interests in marine science and how you’ve gone about pursuing them.

To prepare for writing this section, spend some time thinking about what examples you would use to describe to a friend or family member to help them understand just how curious and motivated you are to learn about marine science.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are not accepted for applications to the CCS Marine Science major. You do not need to solicit letters of recommendation in preparing for your CCS Marine Science application nor should you upload them as supplemental documents.

Mathematics

Please note Mathematics is no longer
accepting applications for Spring or Fall 2025

The letter of intent for CCS Mathematics applicants comes in the form of a series of short response questions.  These questions are intended to allow the CCS Mathematics faculty to gauge your academic interests, your reasons for wanting to study at CCS, and your background in Mathematics. These questions are separate from those required in the UC application, and responses are limited to 250 words per question.

1. Describe a mathematical problem that challenged you and what steps you took to find a solution.
2. What kinds of mathematics have you been exposed to beyond calculus, if any?
3. Describe any mathematical experiences or activities that you have been involved into other than taking high school math classes, if any (for example, math camps, math circle, community college classes, math clubs, math competitions, etc)?
4. What unique qualities and characteristics do you bring as an applicant that make you a good fit for CCS? How might your unique qualities help you achieve your goals during your time here?
5. Why have you chosen mathematics as opposed to another exact science or creative activity?
6. If there is anything else that you feel is relevant for your application, please share it here.

Letters of Recommendation

At least one letter of recommendation is required for applications to CCS Mathematics, but two letters are preferred. Please list persons well-acquainted with your academic background and your ability in mathematics, with at least one from a mathematics (or math-related subject) teacher or mentor. The CCS Online Application form will ask for your recommenders’ email addresses and will send them a prompt with a link. This link will direct recommenders to instructions for uploading letters. We suggest notifying recommenders ahead of time that they should be expecting an email with instructions to upload their letter. Please request that letters are saved and uploaded as a PDF in order to avoid formatting distortions.

Transcripts

In addition to the copies you send to the UCSB Office of Admissions, there is a section on the CCS Online Application where you must upload copies of your transcripts from every high school and college you have attended. Transcripts do not need to be official, so a scan or picture of your transcripts may be uploaded (jpeg or PDF). If you are currently enrolled at UCSB, please upload a copy of your course history, which you can obtain using a screenshot from GOLD.  It is your responsibility to ensure that attachments uploaded to your application are clear and legible.

Submitting Supplemental Application Materials

Although submitting Supplemental Application Materials is not required for CCS Mathematics, it helps to give us a more complete idea of your skills and interests. If possible, submit examples of independent research, scientific reports or projects, or any other work that shows your ability and interests.

Music Composition

Letter of Intent

This is not to be taken lightly!  Please type a one to three-page letter, addressed to the CCS Music Composition faculty, that answers the following questions:

  • What is your background in music?
  • When did you begin writing music and why?
  • Why are you interested in studying at the College of Creative Studies?
  • What are your career goals at this point in your life?  Do you intend to enter the professional music world?  Graduate school?  What would you like to be doing five years from now? Ten years?
  • Talk a little bit about your music.  Why are you interested in writing music?  Who are your major influences?  What instrument(s) do you play?  How do you go about your compositional process?  Where do you feel you are in your creative development?

 

Submitting Supplemental Application Materials

This is the most important aspect of your application to the CCS Music Composition program.  Materials to be submitted fall into four broad categories: 

Scores (required):  It is very important that you know how to notate music.  If you do not have a lot of experience in that, it is important that you make the attempt.  We cannot fully evaluate applications with only a single score.  Ideally, you should submit a minimum of two fully notated works.  Works may be handwritten or produced using a notation program such as Finale or Sibelius.  Handwritten compositions may be scanned or uploaded as images. 

Supporting materials: It is helpful, though not required, to include a paragraph about each work submitted.  For electronic works, the accompanying information should include technical notes, i.e. what program(s) you used in composing the work; your sound sources, etc., .pdf format is recommended.

Recordings (optional, but recommended):  You can upload a recording of your work(s) using the CCS Online Application, acceptable formats include mp3, mp4, m4a, webm, ogg and wav.  You may also submit recordings of electronic works or sequenced works that have not yet been notated.

How Much to Submit:  In general, err on the side of quantity.  A good rule of thumb is that if you’ve written fewer than 6 works, send them all.  If you’ve written more than 6 works, submit 3-6 works that you believe best show your talent and versatility as a composer. 

Special note to transfer students:  When we evaluate applications from students who would enter as juniors, we use the music submitted to determine if the student is admitted at the sophomore level or at the junior level, based on the requirements for the Sophomore and Junior Juries outlined in the Curriculum guidelines.  It is to your advantage to submit, as a minimum, works roughly equal in quantity to the requirements for the Sophomore Jury:  5 shorter works, for a variety of instruments and instrumental combinations, a single line work (if you have it), and at least two works with a minimum duration of 3-5 minutes each.  One of the longer works should be scored for three or more instruments. 

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are required for applications to CCS Music Composition. Please list at least two persons well-acquainted with your academic background and your ability in Music Composition. The CCS Online Application form will ask for your recommenders’ email addresses and will send them a prompt with a link. This link will direct recommenders to instructions for uploading letters.  We suggest notifying recommenders ahead of time that they should be expecting an email with instructions to upload their letter.  Please request that letters are saved and uploaded as a PDF in order to avoid formatting distortions. 

Transcripts

In addition to the copies you send to the UCSB Office of Admissions, there is a section on the CCS Online Application where you must upload copies of your transcripts from every high school and college you have attended. Transcripts do not need to be official, so a scan or picture of your transcripts may be uploaded (jpeg or PDF). If you are currently enrolled at UCSB, please upload a copy of your course history, which you can obtain using a screenshot from GOLD. It is your responsibility to ensure that attachments uploaded to your application are clear and legible.

 

Physics

Letter of Intent

The letter of intent gives us additional information about your motivation and preparation to study physics in an advanced program. The letter should be written in essay format in your own words and should ideally not exceed two pages. Please address the letter to the CCS Physics Admissions Committee that consists of Physics faculty.

Your letter may include anything you feel is relevant to your application, however, please make sure to address the following prompts:

- What is your background in physics? (This is a great opportunity to discuss any extracurricular activities in Physics that you participated in).

- What is your background in mathematics, specifically calculus?

- Why are you interested in studying at the College of Creative Studies?

- What are your career goals at this point in your life?  What would you like to be doing ten years from now?

- Why are you interested in physics?  When did you first get interested in Physics? Who (if any) are your major influences?

 

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are required for applications to CCS Physics. Please list at least two persons well-acquainted with your academic background and your ability in Physics. The CCS Online Application form will ask for your recommenders’ email addresses and will send them a prompt with a link. This link will direct recommenders to instructions for uploading letters.  We suggest notifying recommenders ahead of time that they should be expecting an email with instructions to upload their letter.  Please request that letters are saved and uploaded as a PDF in order to avoid formatting distortions. 

Transcripts

In addition to the copies you send to the UCSB Office of Admissions, there is a section on the CCS Online Application where you must upload copies of your transcripts from every high school and college you have attended. Transcripts do not need to be official, so a scan or picture of your transcripts may be uploaded (jpeg or PDF). If you are currently enrolled at UCSB, please upload a copy of your course history, which you can obtain using a screenshot from GOLD.  It is your responsibility to ensure that attachments uploaded to your application are clear and legible.

In addition to your transcripts, please upload a PDF listing all AP tests you have taken and all scores you have received for those tests.  Please also state the highest level of math you have completed (ex. AP Calculus AB or BC, IB Calculus, Calculus at City College, etc.). Please upload this document in the Supplemental Application Materials section of the application.

Supplemental Application Materials

Although submitting supplemental materials is not required for Physics, it helps to give us a more complete idea of your skills and interests. If possible, submit examples of independent research, scientific reports or projects, or any other work that shows your ability and interests in Physics.

Writing & Literature

Letter of Intent

Submit a 2-3 page letter, professionally formatted and addressed to the W&L faculty. Your letter should:

  • Briefly introduce yourself. Who you are, where you are from, your interests, and your goals.
  • Describe your most recent reading experience (and here we acknowledge that one can read a variety of texts -- from more traditional books and stories to films, music, and multimedia compositions) that changed your understanding of literature, life, and/or language? Are there any works that you wish to emulate or that inspire you as a writer?
  • Describe your work as a writer so far. What motivates you to write? In what ways have you pursued writing both in school and outside of school?
  • What kind of work would you like to do as a writer or as a student of literature in the CCS Writing & Literature community?

This letter is separate from the essay required in the UC application. 

Supplemental Application Materials

Writing Samples: Please submit up to 10 pages total; submissions must include both creative writing and expository writing: for Example: 5 pages of poetry, short fiction, screenplay, etc., and a 5- page essay or analysis

  • Creative Sample: These pages do not need to be one continuous piece, but rather might comprise several pieces of short fiction, nonfiction, etc. The creative sample could include poetry of any form, fiction, creative nonfiction, drama, screenplay, or digital compositions, such as a blog, equivalent to the page requirement.
  • Expository Sample: These pages demonstrate abilities in writing literary criticism or analysis, rhetorical analysis, or other research on writing and literature. These pages do not need to be one continuous piece, but rather might be comprised of several shorter essays. Works Cited will count towards total page amount and can be in any format (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.)

Transcripts

In addition to the copies you send to the UCSB Office of Admissions, there is a section on the CCS Online Application where you must upload copies of your transcripts from every high school and college you have attended. Transcripts do not need to be official, so a scan or a picture of your transcripts may be uploaded (jpeg or PDF). If you are currently enrolled at UCSB, please submit a copy of your course history, which you can obtain using a screenshot from GOLD. It is your responsibility to ensure that attachments uploaded to your application are clear and legible.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are not accepted for applications to the CCS Writing & Literature major. You do not need to solicit letters of recommendation in preparing for your CCS Writing & Literature application nor should you upload them as supplemental documents.

 

For Transfer Students (additional Supplemental Materials required)

Junior-level transfers to CCS W&L immediately begin work on their capstone projects, which include both creative work and research. Provide a brief abstract (maximum 250 words) that describes what you might want to write for your capstone. 

Step 3: Apply to CCS

➡ Applicants to UCSB for Fall 2025

It's best to wait until after your UCSB application has been submitted to apply to CCS.
The priority deadline for CCS applications for applicants applying to UCSB for Fall 2025 is January 6, 2025, 11:59pm.
Review major specific application information, some programs may extend this deadline.

All applicants not already at UCSB must create an application using the portal. Click on the bottom right of the portal homepage login box using this link:

➡ Current UCSB Students

You may apply to CCS at any time. However, please note that the College of Creative Studies has a 6-quarter minimum residency requirement (FWS quarters only).

For all students currently attending UCSB, even those new as of Fall 2024, please use the link below, and your UCSB Single Sign On to create an application. If you are an accepted student and have already started an application with a different email address, you may continue with that application.

It's advised to apply within the first two weeks of the quarter in order to be reviewed before the next regular quarter start. However, this timeline is not guaranteed. Some committee reviews may take longer, or pause application reviews if there is no space in the major. Each student at CCS has an assigned Faculty Advisor, and because of this there is a limit to the number of majors a program may support.

Registered UCSB students, you may take Creative Studies classes even if you are not in a CCS major, on a space-available, instructor-approved basis. See the courses tab above for offerings and instructor contacts. Not all classes are open to non-majors.

Finally: Wait for Decisions

For UCSB applicants, the College of Creative Studies cannot inform applicants of decisions on their CCS applications until the University of California Santa Barbara has released admission decisions in March. You will be able to see your decision for CCS once UCSB decisions are released. A denial from CCS does not negatively affect your chances of admission to another college or major at UCSB.

For current students wishing to add or change their major, we try to get committee decisions before the next regular quarter if you submitted a complete application within the first two weeks of the quarter. However some committees may take longer than others, and some programs may not have space at this time. Feel free to stop by the Advising Office, or check in at info@ccs.ucsb.edu for a more accurate estimation of timeline.