COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO
SHAPE WHAT’S NEXT 2021-2022
Featured on the cover: Kwe’ Ke’ Wesh by Stefanie Garland ’20, combines the language of the Indigenous Patawotomi with flowers native to the southwest shore of Lake Michigan and a folkloric oxcart painting style, drawn from the artist’s Costa Rican heritage. It is one of several works by Columbia alumni-artists showcased in the Student Center.
CREATIVITY IS YOUR CALLING. You’re driven to create. Whether it’s music, art, fashion, your business idea, games, or anything in between—you know what it takes to conceive, collaborate, and execute your vision. And you know that the end result is worth the hard work. At Columbia College Chicago, we want to be a part of your journey. Here, you’ll find innovation and artistic practice merge with business expertise, giving you tons of transferable skills. You and your classmates will produce work you’re proud of. And you’ll graduate ready to take on any creative industry you choose. Columbia’s programs consistently receive top rankings and accolades. Now it’s time for you to explore them all. Find your admissions representative using the map at colum.edu/admissions.
OUR STUDENT SNAPSHOT
~6,800
total students (undergraduate and graduate)
12:1
student-to-fulltime-equivalentfaculty ratio
18
students is the average class size
1,826 freshman students enrolled in Fall 2020. These students: represented 49 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., and 26 foreign countries. Fall 2020 Freshman Profile
57%
24%
28%
identified as students of color
identified as firstgeneration college students
identified as members of the LGBTQIA+ community
49%
26%
48%
were from the Chicago metro area
were Chicago Public School graduates
lived in one of Columbia’s four residence halls
Figures reflect data available at the time of publication. For the most updated data, visit colum.edu/ie.
CHICAGO IS WAKING UP—AND YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS IT. Creativity is resilient, and creators find a way to thrive even under the most difficult circumstances—sometimes because of them. For more than a year, we did our best with what we had. Our theaters and concert venues went dark. Our restaurants and museums had limited capacity. Even our outdoor spaces like Millennium Park and the Lakefront Path didn’t seem quite the same six feet apart with our masks on. But now? Chicago is coming back to life—and as a Columbia student, you’ll have access to all of it. This world-class city is an extension of our campus, filled with opportunities for our students to engage with its history, culture, and commerce. As the city reopens, you’ll have a front-row seat to experience all the things we’ve been missing for so long. And, with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) U-Pass, any full-time student can go from our South Loop campus to check out other Chicago neighborhoods in minutes. Just hop on a bus or the L train.
THE COMMITMENT WE’VE MADE. Columbia has long been a place that values, honors, and celebrates difference. So, it’s not surprising that we’ve attracted students with diverse identities, who represent the many and varied ways people express themselves in the world. For us, respecting these differences isn’t just the right thing to do—it is crucial to any creative endeavor. We are better, and our work is better, when it includes and incorporates the voices, experiences, and backgrounds of everyone. This has been Columbia’s approach for many years, but the events of 2020 have brought more clearly into focus the need to turn our attention inward on our institutional practices, and to reflect on how we prepare students to carry the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion out into the world as part of their lives. It is not sufficient to merely say we are committed to these things. We must back it up with action. We recognize that we’re not yet where we need to be, and that we all share responsibility in getting there. The path forward will mean confronting our own role in upholding systems of oppression and privilege. It will mean challenging conversations and learning opportunities—and our students will come along with us.
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THE WORK WE’RE DOING. ANTIRACISM TRANSFORMATION TEAM The Antiracism Transformation Team (ArTT) is tasked with leading anti-racism efforts on campus. This charge includes but is not limited to: The equitable redistribution of institutional power, establishing clear accountability protocols, recommending financial priorities, and equitable support of various constituents across the college. Acting on the authority of our community and reporting to the President, the ArTT works to eradicate racism and oppression at Columbia College Chicago through radical collaboration. This team is inclusive of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and trustees, with intentional ties to the Chicago community, to which we hold ourselves accountable. Find out more at colum.edu/artt.
TEST-FREE ADMISSIONS As part of our mission-driven commitment to access and equity, Columbia has never required standardized test scores for admission. However, recent reflection on our mission in the context of our institution-wide work to become anti-racist has led us to conclude that being “test optional” is no longer enough. That’s why, starting in 2022, standardized test scores will no longer play any role in our determination of an applicant’s admissibility to the college, or in awarding merit-based scholarships. The standardized tests that many colleges have come to rely on have a deep history of bias. As a result, they have excluded underrepresented students from the professional opportunities and socioeconomic advancement afforded by higher education. Further, we know from years of reviewing applications and getting to know our students that these tests don’t tell us anything important about an applicant’s ability to succeed at Columbia. See more at colum.edu/testfree.
OUR SCHOLARSHIPS Making college more affordable also makes it more accessible and inclusive. That’s why Columbia has increased scholarship awards for high-achieving/high-need students. These include merit-based awards specifically for Chicago Public School graduates (a system enrolling more than 90% students of color). These scholarships (when combined with Federal and State grants) create a path for highachieving/high-need CPS graduates to complete a four-year Columbia education debt-free. Learn more at colum.edu/cps-scholarships.
MEDIA AND DIGITAL ARTS We experience so much of the world through screens—love ‘em or hate ‘em, they’re not going anywhere—and there is a multibilliondollar global industry devoted to creating what appears on them and shaping how we interact with them. Are you a screenwriter or visual storyteller? A user experience or game designer? Are you interested in post-production editing or visual effects? Whatever your career path, we’ve got a program that will amp up your game and prepare you to shape the media industries of tomorrow—because technology changes, but the skill to adapt will always be in demand.
NOTABLE ALUM
Lena Waithe Actress. Writer. Luminary. “I tell my truth. As a writer, that’s my job.” The buzz just keeps on getting bigger for Lena Waithe ’06. At Columbia, Lena studied alongside Emmynominated professors who pushed her to relocate to Los Angeles and work in television. There, she wrote for the Fox television series Bones and coproduced the critically acclaimed film Dear White People. Since then, Lena has been on a roll. In 2017, she won an Emmy for her writing on Master of None. In 2018, she was listed as one of TIME’s 100 most influential people. And her Showtime series, The Chi, was just renewed for its fifth season.
MAJORS
MINORS
Documentary (BA) Film and Television (BA) Film and Television (BFA) Cinema Visual Effects Cinematography Directing Editing and Post-Production Production Design Producing Screenwriting Sound for Cinema Game Art (BA) Game Design (BA) Game Development Sound Design Immersive Media (BA) Interaction Design (BA) Graphic Design User Experience Web and Mobile Development Programming (BA | BS) Application Programming Game Programming Television Writing and Business (BFA)
Cinema and Television Studies Game Art Game Design Immersive Media Interactive Media Development and Entrepreneurship Motion Graphics Programming Television Studio Production and Directing User Experience Video Production Web Development Writing for Television
#1
Film School in the Midwest for nine consecutive years, according to Hollywood Reporter rankings.
VISUAL ARTS There is power in the ability to create an image or object. At Columbia, our students learn to harness that power to tell stories, design garments, lay out visual information, and convey meaning. Whether you aspire to have your work on gallery walls, magazine covers, fashion week runways, or at animation festivals worldwide, we’ve got a program that can get you closer to your goals. And the city of Chicago has tons to offer, with galleries, boutiques, design agencies, and more—places that could provide inspiration for your work as a student and professional opportunities for after you graduate.
NOTABLE ALUM
Terrell Johnson Designer. Trendsetter. Entrepreneur. “Don’t allow anyone to deter you or shame you out of being passionate about what you love. You’ll only prevent yourself from experiencing the career and life that you want.” As a visual designer for Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation record label, as well as his own independent media platform, SWGRUS, Terrell Johnson ’14 brings imagery to sound and shapes listening experiences for audiences around the globe.
MAJORS
MINORS
Animation (BA) Computer Animation Traditional Animation Art History (BA) Computer Animation (BFA) Fashion Design (BFA) Fashion Studies (BA) Merchandising Product Development Fine Arts (BA | BFA) Graphic Design (BA) Graphic Design: General Publication Design Web Design Graphic Design (BFA) Illustration (BA | BFA) Interior Architecture (BFA) Photography (BA) Commercial Fashion Photography Fine Art Integrated Photography Photography (BFA) Traditional Animation (BFA)
Animation Art History Fashion Studies Fashion Styling Fine Arts Graphic Design Illustration Photography Sustainable Fashion
#6 College for Video Game Design 2018 –College Magazine
#4
Animation Schools and Colleges in the U.S. 2021 –Animation Career Review
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PERFORMING ARTS Perhaps no creative industry was hit harder in 2020 than live performance. But now, our stages are lighting up again. Theaters are rehearsing and performing, dance studios are no longer confined to Zoom rooms, and the people who make these things happen on and off stage are getting back to it. Columbia is also fortunate to be situated in a city where the performing arts are celebrated and valued. Artists and audiences alike flock to Chicago for its gritty storefront scene where risk-taking and experimentation are the order of the day. From Second City to Steppenwolf; The Joffrey Ballet to Hubbard Street; our faculty and alums are sought-after performers who are practicing their craft in a world-class setting unlike any other.
NOTABLE ALUM
Aidy Bryant Comedian. Actress. Writer. Aidy Bryant ’09 participated in the Comedy Studies program at Columbia, where she learned from comedy legends at The Second City. “This is where I cut my teeth,” Aidy says. “There and all over Chicago. It helped me discover who I was as a performer.” She’s now been a Saturday Night Live mainstay for nine years, and is the creator, producer, and lead actress of her Hulu show, Shrill—not to mention receiving multiple Emmy nominations for her roles on both award-winning shows.
MAJORS
MINORS
Acting (BA | BFA) Comedy Writing and Performance (BA) Dance (BA | BFA) Musical Theatre (BA) Musical Theatre Performance (BFA) Theatre (BA) Directing Playwriting Stage Management Theatre Studies Theatre Design and Technology (BA)
Acting Arts in Healthcare Dance Devising Collaborative Performance Hip-Hop Studies Playwriting Stage Combat Theatre Directing
#8 #1
College for Playwriting 2017 –College Magazine College for Aspiring Comedians 2019 –College Magazine
MUSIC AND SOUND On stage or in the studio, whether you’re a composer, instrumentalist, vocalist, or live-sound engineer, the world of music and sound offers a career path that aligns with your passions. Music and sound exist at the intersections of art, science, and technology, and now more than ever, this industry is hungry for professionals who understand the processes behind writing, performing, and recording music. Columbia’s music and audio programs complement one another, as students collaborate on projects that transcend musical styles and genres. Audio students create, record, and manipulate sound and learn the general audio theories and practices, while music students focus on learning theory, composition, improvisation, arranging, technology, history, analysis, and aural skills. And the results can be harmonious.
NOTABLE ALUM
Charlie Curtis-Beard Composer. Rapper. Influencer. “Columbia has so many great resources. You could edit sound and do voice-overs and use industrystandard software and studios. I could check out equipment as a music student. It saved me so much.” Charlie Curtis-Beard ’19 has amassed more than one million TikTok followers while making a name with his beats, rhymes, and remixes.
MAJORS Acoustics (BS) Audio Arts (BA) Audio and Sound Design Audiovisual Systems Integration General Audio Arts Live Sound Reinforcement Music Recording Contemporary, Urban, and Popular Music (BMus) Music (BA) Music Composition (BMus) Music Technology (BS) Interactive Music Design Sonic Arts Sound and Music Computing
Our Artists-inResidence program has featured Grammy-nominated musicians like Cory Henry, Paula Cole, Joan Osborne, and Shawn Mullins.
#3 Music School for Composing for Film and TV 2019 –The Hollywood Reporter
COMMUNICATION AND WRITING Whether signed, spoken, or written, language is currency. Professionals harness words to inform the public, share information with colleagues, engage audiences with stories, and connect people with each other across cultural divides. In a landscape of information overload, it’s never been more important to separate truth from fiction—and communication professionals take on this responsibility in many ways. Journalists treat it as a timehonored, sacred duty. Interpreters bridge gaps to help Deaf persons fully access the world around them. Creative writers distill truths into stories, poetry, and essays that ignite readers’ curiosities. Whatever your field, communicating ethically and authentically is a valuable interpersonal and professional skill. And Columbia is ready to help you find your voice.
NOTABLE ALUM
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Darryl Holliday Innovator. Story-shaper. Educator. The world of journalism is ever-changing—and Columbia grads are up to the task to adapt. Darryl Holliday ’12 is breaking the mold of traditional journalism with his work at City Bureau, a nonprofit media organization he co-founded here in Chicago that received a $1 million grant from the MacArthur Foundation. From creating a Twitter bot to increase community engagement with hyperlocal politics to educating citizens through the program Documenters, Holliday is changing the game and reshaping our perception of what it means to be a journalist.
MAJORS
MINORS
American Sign Language-English Interpretation (BA) Communication (BA) Creative Writing (BA) Fiction Nonfiction Poetry Deaf Studies (BA) English (BA) Journalism (BA) Broadcast Journalism: Radio Broadcast Journalism: Television Magazine News and Features Photojournalism (BA) Radio (BA) Narrative Production Voiceover
ASL Studies Creative Writing Fashion Communication Journalism Nonprofit and Public Affairs Communication Professional Writing Radio Sports Communication Voiceover
One of only 13 accredited four-year colleges to offer a degree in ASL.
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BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT The work of the creative industries doesn’t just happen on stages and screens. Who has the savvy to bring creative works to market? Who gives theaters, concert venues, and galleries the foundational management skills that allow them to find their audience, pursue their missions, and thrive as cultural institutions? Independent artists, musicians, and content creators can also benefit from learning how to self-manage and cultivate a personal brand. In today’s market, the brands themselves are no longer on the sidelines. Teams of creative professionals are working to advertise, make positive impressions, build communities on social platforms, manage public reputations and relationships, and share core values with customers. Columbia’s business and management programs understand the balance between creativity and commerce. We specialize in helping students hone the specific skills that make creative work commercially viable. After all, it’s called show business.
NOTABLE ALUM
Alexis Garcia Creator. Leader. Strategist. ”Columbia is very niche. It’s for people who like art, people who like film, people who like passion projects— they don’t mind getting dirty, they actually have stories to tell. Columbia has a very accepting atmosphere. They fuel your natural creativity. The students who come to Columbia, they’re already creative, they’re already talented, and Columbia just gives them the tools.” Alexis Garcia ’19 used the Semester in LA program as a springboard to her current work in creative strategy for the popular app, Snapchat.
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MAJORS
MINORS
Advertising (BA) Art Direction Copywriting Strategy Arts Management (BA) Creative Industries Film Business Performing Arts Visual Arts Design Management (BA) Marketing (BA) Digital Media Entertainment Industry Sports Management Music Business (BA) Artist Management Live and Touring Recorded Music and Publishing Public Relations (BA) Social Media and Digital Strategy (BA)
ASL Studies Advertising Arts Management Design Management Entrepreneurship Intellectual Property Management Marketing Music Business Performing Arts Management Public Relations Social Media and Digital Strategy Sports Management Talent Management Visual Arts Management
Home to awardwinning, student-run record label AEMMP, founded in 1992.
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LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES Creativity doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Creativity requires context. Creators have to be mindful of the audience receiving their work and the purpose their creation is serving. That’s why a Columbia education is grounded in the Essential Liberal Arts and Sciences. These courses—in History, Science, Literature, Math, and other core subjects—help artists, performers, and other creative practitioners understand where they and their work fit into the greater context of the world. And Columbia’s Core includes courses specific to the artistic experience in Chicago—courses that connect you to the city and enhance your understanding of community, business, and technology in the creative industries. And for the student who wants a deeper understanding, Columbia offers majors that take a creative approach to cultural studies and environmental sustainability. Because shaping the future means understanding ourselves and our planet.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Jewel Baker Film and Television, ’24 For photographer-videographer Jewel Baker, coming to Columbia was the next step in expanding her knowledge and furthering her film career. “Having core curriculum classes in my schedule educates me far beyond my major, while also teaching me useful business and industry skills.”
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MAJORS Cultural Studies (BA) Environmental and Sustainability Studies (BA)
MINORS Biology Black World Studies Cultural Studies Education Environmental Studies Health and Wellness Latino and Latin American Studies Literature Mathematics Philosophy and Religion Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
COLUMBIA CORE Columbia Experience History and Social Sciences Humanities and Literature Mathematics Science Writing
#8 Most Innovative Schools in the Midwest 2021 –U.S. News & World Report
THE DEGREE BREAKDOWN. At the undergraduate level, Columbia College Chicago offers four degree types. Which one is right for you? Let’s take a look: BACHELOR OF ARTS (BA)
BACHELOR OF MUSIC (BMUS):
The BA is the most common degree at Columbia, with about 90% of our undergraduate students working toward one, and it’s no surprise why. Bachelor of Arts students pursue a major field of study, while maintaining the flexibility to explore other areas of the college. With a BA degree, it’s easier to fit in a minor, or just take some fun elective courses in other departments.
Like the BFA, our BMus degrees immerse students in the study of music. BMus applicants should also be prepared to meet earlier deadlines, submit additional materials, and participate in an audition process. BMus students will have limited room for electives and the same challenges if trying to complete a minor. BMus programs only accept applications to start in the fall semester.
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS (BFA) Columbia’s BFA degrees offer selected students the opportunity for in-depth, focused study in their chosen area of the fine arts. BFA students will spend the majority of their available credits on major requirements, so it’s more challenging to fit in a minor, or to have as much flexibility with the elective courses you choose. Also, keep in mind that students applying for BFA programs will be required to provide additional materials and meet earlier deadlines than other applicants. Further, the BFA application is only available to students applying for the fall semester.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BS): Columbia’s Bachelor of Science degrees are heavy on technologybased coursework and all of them require at least some advanced Mathematics courses. Like the BFA and BMus degrees, BS degrees are credit-intensive, so there’s not as much flexibility for a minor or electives as there is with the BA degrees. Unlike the BFA and BMus degrees, BS applicants are not required to submit additional materials—although it is to your advantage to do so for scholarship consideration.
DEGREE COMPONENTS All of Columbia’s undergraduate degrees consist of three components: The Columbia Core, major requirements, and electives. The precise breakdown of credits in each category can vary based on the degree you’re pursuing, but it’s important to note that BA degrees require 120 total credits across these three categories, while the BFA, BMus, and BS degrees require 128 total credits. You can find complete degree planning tools at catalog.colum.edu.
BA
BFA/BMus/BS 11 credits of electives*
33 credits of electives*
120 TOTAL CREDITS
42 credits Columbia Core 45 credits in your major
128 TOTAL CREDITS
42 credits Columbia Core 75 credits in your major
*Figures for major and elective credits are approximate and can vary based on your specific major.
A NOTE ON CORE REQUIREMENTS If you have or expect to earn credits through Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams, you may have already completed some of the Columbia Core requirements. Check out the tables at colum.edu/ap or colum.edu/ib to see what credits your exam scores have earned. COMBINED DEGREE PROGRAM Are you thinking ahead about grad school? Well, you’re in luck. Columbia’s combined degree program allows students to earn graduate credits toward one of our Master of Arts programs while still enrolled in an undergraduate major. Choose from: Entrepreneurship for Creatives, Civic Media, Strategic Communication, or Interaction Design. After graduating with your bachelor’s degree, you’ll be able to finish the master’s degree in one year. You’ll be able to indicate your interest in the combined degree program when you fill out your application to the college. Find out more about combined degree requirements at colum.edu/combined.
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FACILITIES—WHERE YOU’LL MAKE AND LEARN. Columbia students enjoy access to industry-standard equipment and facilities where they can practice their craft. Our spaces are designed for collaboration and innovation, connecting students and faculty in ways that encourage experimentation and growth. And it shows in the finished product.
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STUDENT CENTER Columbia’s Student Center is the five-story centerpiece of our campus—this is a hub for gathering, collaborating, learning and celebrating. It’s a stage, a canvas, a place where innovation and creativity bloom.
2 MEDIA PRODUCTION CENTER The MPC is a 35,500-square foot, professional-quality media making facility that includes two film production soundstages, a motion capture studio, prep and production spaces, and classrooms.
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THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE NEWSROOM The student-run Columbia Chronicle newsroom is a fully operational facility where staffers produce the award-winning college newspaper and its website. The newsroom houses the most advanced equipment used to gather and report news in print, online, and social media.
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DANCE SPACES The Dance Center boasts a 268seat mainstage, as well as eight studio spaces that are available for classes and for students to reserve independently. FASHION LAB Take your garments from concept to reality in the Fashion Lab, with all the industry-standard equipment and software you’ll need to make runwayready garments under one roof.
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GETZ THEATER CENTER Our Getz Theater Center has four performance-ready stages, along with modern facilities for set and prop construction, lighting, costumes, and makeup.
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FABRICATION FACILITY Experience a plethora of state-of the-art equipment in this central making space. With the latest machines, power tools, and equipment, you can create everything from jewelry to 3D models to furniture in a collaborative environment.
9 PHOTOGRAPHY FACILITIES Photography students have access to a state-of-the-art ink jet print lab and lighting studio, as well as darkrooms.
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MUSIC CENTER From rehearsal spaces, to a full concert hall, to a dedicated Digital Music Lab, Columbia’s Music Center has everything you’ll need to make your music and prepare for professional venues and recording studios.
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GALLERIES The galleries sprinkled across campus provide diverse perspectives on art, design, media, and culture from Chicago and beyond. This network of exhibition spaces serves students, the college community, and local, national and international audiences.
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HAUS HAUS is a multipurpose venue that functions as a hangout and study area for students, a nightclub-like music venue, and an events space.
ACADEMIC AND STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES. STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
CAREER CENTER
Columbia students can choose from more than 60 recognized student clubs and athletic teams. No matter your niche, we’ve probably got a club that’ll pique your interest: Illustration Student Group, Cult Cinema Club, Soul Sisters, Quidditch, Fashion Sustainability Club, and the Asian Student Organization, to name a few. Getting involved in a student org on campus offers opportunities to grow personally, professionally, and artistically.
By fostering and maintaining partnerships with faculty, staff, alumni, and employers, the Career Center creates a community of advocates who support students’ interests, passions and values to help navigate the path from college to career.
ACADEMIC ADVISING At Columbia, you and your academic advisor will be teammates in helping you navigate the curriculum and stay on track. Our advisors create a safe and positive environment to support you in exploring areas of study and creating an educational plan. They assist you in understanding institutional policies and procedures as well as your degree requirements for graduation.
The Career Center’s programs and services provide Columbia College Chicago students with self-knowledge, experience, and industry connections. They help students develop career confidence, enhance their employability, and pursue meaningful career-related experiences.
STUDENT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
TRIO CONAWAY ACHIEVEMENT PROJECT
The Student Diversity & Inclusion (SDI) office supports students through programming, educational outreach, and intentional community building. SDI’s programs and events aim to engage Columbia students in the exploration of their identities; and in understanding the ways in which identity is uniquely actualized, expressed, and lived. SDI provides opportunities for students to engage in dialogue around issues of power, privilege, and oppression in order to develop a greater knowledge and understanding of themselves, each other, their communities, and the world.
Designated specially for first-generation students, income-eligible students, and students with disabilities, TRIO is a federally funded program that promotes an atmosphere where students can access the support they need as they focus on their academic, personal, and professional goals. A few of the benefits TRIO offers: holistic advising services; personalized student success plans; financial assistance and planning; computer lab and laptop loan services; career, learning skills, and leadership development; mentorship and coaching; graduate school application support.
TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
COUNSELING SERVICES
Technology resources for Columbia students include access to cloud-based software licensed by the college for student, staff, and faculty use. Some of the programs available include Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, along with file sharing through OneDrive, and Outlook email; the full Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Premiere, Illustrator, and AfterEffects, plus LinkedIn Learning tutorials to get you up to speed on how to use them.
Counseling Services help increase selfawareness and address mental health concerns with the goal of empowering students to manage challenging areas in their lives. Services are available to currently enrolled students, and the cost is covered by student fees. Counseling Services provide brief, short-term therapy and can make off-campus referrals for further mental health services as necessary. HEALTH CENTER
SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES The Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office coordinates support services for students with temporary or permanent disabilities. Staff members assist in providing equal access to educational experiences at Columbia College Chicago.
The Student Health Center is staffed by a physician or nurse practitioner, and is available to provide outpatient clinical evaluation, treatment of minor illnesses, injuries, as well as evaluation and triage/ referral for more serious illnesses or injuries. Services are available to all enrolled students as costs are included in your student fees.
ENHANCE YOUR ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE. HONORS PROGRAM Columbia’s Honors Program offers an enhanced Core Curriculum experience tailored to our high-achieving undergraduate students who seek a greater academic challenge.
expectations of student work and engagement. Your Honors participation will also show up in official college transcripts, giving you a leg up when you market yourself after graduation.
You’ll be in a classroom with other students who, like you, are eager for an intense intellectual experience with deeper levels of inquiry, and you’ll study with faculty who have heightened
The Admissions Office reviews every application for Honors consideration. If you meet the criteria, you will receive an invitation to join the Honors Program with your admissions letter.
SEMESTER IN LA Work, study, and live in the heart of Hollywood. Columbia College Chicago’s Semester in LA (SiLA) program can provide you with critical experience in the media and entertainment industry to carry into your career after graduation. You’ll explore your career interests through internships and class experiences that are only available in the Los Angeles area. Our classes are held at Raleigh Studios, home to some of today’s hottest showrunners and most popular films. While in the program, you’ll learn from industry experts in the classroom and work 15 to 20 hours per week at an LA-based internship. Your internship not only provides an entry into the world of entertainment and media; it quickly demystifies the business of Hollywood. SiLA also provides networking opportunities, exclusive events, tapings, and tours, all of which round out your immersive experience. Over the 20 years of SiLA’s existence, Columbia has built an industry-wide reputation with an extensive network of entertainment professionals (many of them Columbia alums) who willingly offer their knowledge and resources to help you get ahead.
STUDY ABROAD Chicago is opening back up and so is the rest of the world. Columbia is making plans to (safely) resume some foreign study programs as soon as the Spring 2022 semester. Columbia offers: • Faculty-led programs (many of them during the summer or our three- week January “J” Session) •
Exchange programs with other universities abroad (locations include Singapore, Peru, Australia, Ireland, China, Germany, and more)
• Connections to independent providers of study abroad experiences We’ll make sure we find the right one for you! Keep an eye on colum.edu/ studyabroad to see info about programs as they become available.
LET’S TALK MONEY. Find your admissions representative at colum.edu/admissions. You can’t talk about college without acknowledging the cost. Tuition, fees, housing, and other expenses can add up. At Columbia, we’re proud to offer generous aid packages to help make your education more affordable—and we only need three things from you to maximize your aid: 1. Submit your Columbia application. 2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)*. 3.
Submit your materials for our talent-based scholarship, the Faculty Recognition Award (FRA). The FRA is only available to fall applicants. Portfolio/audition requirements and submission deadlines can vary based on intended major. See colum.edu/fra and colum.edu/bfa for more. *Spring 2022 applicants should complete the 2021-2022 FAFSA, which is available now. Fall 2022 applicants should complete the 2022-2023 FAFSA, which will open on October 1, 2021. Illinois residents who are not eligible to submit a FAFSA can complete the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid. See colum.edu/illaltapp for details. For students outside of Illinois who cannot complete the FAFSA, talk with your admissions representative about your situation. They’re here to help!
2021-2022 ANNUAL COSTS Estimated annual tuition and fees:
$28,756
Estimated annual room and board:
$16,456
*2020-2021 FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO FRESHMAN STUDENTS Average financial aid package: $26,199 (99% of freshmen received financial aid)
Average institutional scholarship: $14,852 (98% of freshmen received merit- and/or need-based scholarships)
*Aid and scholarship figures are for the 2020-2021 academic year and for full-time, domestic freshmen who were eligible for aid. Complete packages can include institutional scholarships, grants, remission/exchange, resident assistant aid, Federal Work-Study, Stafford Loans, and other Illinois, state, and federal sources. Emergency funds disbursed under the CARES Act are not included in these numbers.
MERIT-BASED AID
NEED-BASED AID
Dean’s Scholarship: All applicants graduating from Chicago Public Schools are automatically considered for this scholarship upon admission. See colum.edu/deans for more information.
Columbia Scholar Award: Students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), using Columbia’s school code (001665), will be considered for all need-based aid.
Columbia CPS Award: All applicants graduating from a Chicago Public School are automatically considered for this scholarship upon admission. See colum.edu/cps-scholarships for more information.
TALENT-BASED AID
Columbia Creatives Award: All applicants graduating from a member high school in the Art Schools Network are automatically considered for this scholarship upon admission. See colum.edu/asn-scholarships for more information.
The Faculty Recognition Award: This is Columbia’s talent-based scholarship. Portfolio/audition requirements and submission deadlines can vary based on intended major. See colum.edu/ fra and colum.edu/bfa for more. Talent-based aid is only available to fall applicants. FORMING YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN To see all of our scholarship offerings, go to colum.edu/scholarships. You can get started on your personalized financial plan at colum.edu/netprice.
UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS Acoustics (BS) Acting (BA | BFA) Advertising (BA) Art Direction Copywriting Strategy ASL-English Interpretation (BA) Animation (BA) Computer Animation Traditional Animation Art History (BA) Arts Management (BA) Creative Industries Film Business Performing Arts Visual Arts Audio Arts (BA) Audio and Sound Design Audiovisual Systems Integration General Audio Arts Live Sound Reinforcement Music Recording Combined Degree Program (BA | MA)* Comedy Writing and Performance (BA) Communication (BA) Computer Animation (BFA) Contemporary, Urban, and Popular Music (BMus) Creative Writing (BA) Fiction Nonfiction Poetry Cultural Studies (BA) Dance (BA | BFA) Deaf Studies (BA) Design Management (BA) Documentary (BA) English (BA) Environmental and Sustainability Studies (BA) Fashion Design (BFA)
Fashion Studies (BA) Merchandising Product Development Film and Television (BA) Film and Television (BFA) Cinema Visual Effects Cinematography Directing Editing and Post-Production Production Design Producing Screenwriting Sound for Cinema Fine Arts (BA | BFA) Game Art (BA) Game Design (BA) Game Development Sound Design Graphic Design (BA) Graphic Design: General Publication Design Web Design Graphic Design (BFA) Illustration (BA | BFA) Immersive Media (BA) Interaction Design (BA) Graphic Design User Experience Web and Mobile Development Interior Architecture (BFA) Journalism (BA) Broadcast Journalism: Radio Broadcast Journalism: Television Magazine News and Features Marketing (BA) Digital Media Entertainment Industry Sports Management Music (BA) Music Business (BA) Artist Management Live and Touring Recorded Music and Publishing
Application materials, requirements, and deadlines can vary based on your intended program—specifically, BFA and BMus applicants should be prepared to submit additional materials and meet earlier deadlines than BA or BS applicants. Columbia offers a Combined Undergraduate/Graduate Degree Program that allows students who meet certain requirements to earn graduate credits toward specific master’s degrees.
Music Composition (BMus) Music Technology (BS) Interactive Music Design Sonic Arts Sound and Music Computing Musical Theatre (BA) Musical Theatre Performance (BFA) Photography (BA) Commercial Fashion Photography Fine Art Integrated Photography Photography (BFA) Photojournalism (BA) Programming (BA | BS) Application Programming Game Programming Public Relations (BA) Radio (BA) Narrative Production Voiceover Social Media and Digital Strategy (BA) Television Writing and Business (BFA) Theatre (BA) Directing Playwriting Stage Management Theatre Studies Theatre Design and Technology (BA) Traditional Animation (BFA)
MINORS Acting Advertising Animation Art History Arts in Healthcare Arts Management ASL Studies Biology Black World Studies Cinema and Television Studies Creative Writing Cultural Studies Dance Design Management Devising Collaborative Performance
Education Entrepreneurship Environmental Studies Fashion Communication Fashion Studies Fashion Styling Fine Arts Game Art Game Design Graphic Design Health and Wellness Hip-Hop Studies Illustration Immersive Media Intellectual Property Management Interactive Media Development and Entrepreneurship Journalism Latino and Latin American Studies Literature Marketing Mathematics Motion Graphics Music Business Nonprofit and Public Affairs Communication Performing Arts Management Philosophy and Religion Photography Playwriting Professional Writing Programming Public Relations Radio Social Media and Digital Strategy Sports Communication Sports Management Stage Combat Sustainable Fashion Talent Management Television Studio Production and Directing Theatre Directing User Experience Video Production Visual Arts Management Voiceover Web Development Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Writing for Television
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APPLY. Ready to apply? Get started by reviewing the requirements and deadlines at colum.edu/apply.
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