CalArts Extended Studies

What CalArts Extended Studies does

CalArts Extended Studies is the continuing education and professional development division of the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), a private arts institution founded in 1961 and headquartered at 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia, California. The division operates with approximately 15 employees and offers non-degree courses for pre-college students, adult learners, working creative professionals, and creative entrepreneurs who cannot or do not wish to enroll in a full-time degree program. Its portfolio spans nine creative disciplines — Animation, Creative Business, Critical Studies, Dance/Music/Theater, Film & Video, Game Design, Graphic Design, Software Training, and Visual Art — delivered through multiple formats including on-campus evening and weekend sessions, fully online self-paced courses, Pre-College programs, and Summer Intensives.

The business model is tuition-based: revenue is generated through course registration fees and program tuition, with no disclosed pricing on public-facing pages and pricing managed through the registration portal. Distribution occurs across three primary channels: direct enrollment on the Extended Studies portal (extendedstudies.calarts.edu), on-campus delivery at the Valencia campus, and a strategic partnership with Coursera that provides global on-demand access to CalArts courses. Marketing relies on the CalArts institutional website, an email mailing list, the academic catalog, and the Coursera marketplace listing. The unit does not operate as an independent commercial entity but as a programmatic arm of the broader CalArts institute, with no external venture or equity ownership.

As a division rather than a standalone company, CalArts Extended Studies does not have disclosed financials, independent funding rounds, M&A activity, or a separately tracked management team. The unit's strategic positioning rests entirely on the CalArts parent brand, faculty access, and the Coursera global distribution partnership. There is no disclosed proprietary technology, AI/ML capability, or software product; the offering is fundamentally instructional content delivered through traditional and online education channels.

Name

CalArts Extended Studies

Legal name

California Institute of the Arts

Website

https://ext.calarts.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CalArts Extended Studies is the continuing education division of the California Institute of the Arts, offering non-degree courses in nine creative disciplines (Animation, Film, Game Design, etc.) to pre-college students, working professionals, and creative entrepreneurs via on-campus, online, and Coursera channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Continuing Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Personal Enrichment & Creative Arts Programs (EDAAAEAG), Extended Learning Time Programs (After-School/Summer Intervention) (EDAJAGAK)

Keywords

• Continuing arts education
• Non-degree arts programs
• Creative professional development
• Pre-college arts training
• Online arts courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Valencia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Course Fees: CalArts Extended Studies generates revenue through course registration fees and tuition for its various programs including Animation, Creative Business, Critical Studies, Dance/Music/Theater, Film & Video, Game Design, Graphic Design, Software Training, Visual Art, Pre-College, Summer Intensives, and Coursera offerings. Programs are offered evenings, weekends, and online.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CalArts Extended Studies is the continuing education division of the California Institute of the Arts, offering non-degree evening, weekend, online, and summer intensive courses across nine creative disciplines (Animation, Creative Business, Critical Studies, Dance/Music/Theater, Film & Video, Game Design, Graphic Design, Software Training, and Visual Art). Courses are taught by CalArts faculty and offered through a self-registration portal, on-campus sessions, and a Coursera channel partnership.

Product overview

CalArts Extended Studies is a continuing education and professional development division of the California Institute of the Arts. It operates as a portfolio of programs organized by discipline (Animation, Creative Business, Critical Studies, Dance/Music/Theater, Film & Video, Game Design, Graphic Design, Software Training, Visual Art) offered through multiple delivery formats (Pre-College, Online, On-Campus, Summer Intensives, and Coursera). The programs serve artists at every stage of their creative journey through evening, weekend, and on-demand online courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Animation (Program) Continuing education program offering courses in animation techniques, storytelling, and animation production for artists at various skill levels, delivered through evening, weekend, online, and summer intensive formats.
• Creative Business (Program) Business-focused program covering creative entrepreneurship, arts management, and creative industry practices for artists and aspiring creative professionals.
• Critical Studies (Program) Academic program exploring theoretical and critical approaches to art, culture, and visual studies for continuing learners.
• Dance / Music / Theater (Program) Performing arts programs covering dance, music, and theater disciplines for aspiring performers and practitioners seeking non-degree training.
• Film & Video (Program) Filmmaking and video production program covering cinematic arts, directing, cinematography, and post-production for aspiring and working filmmakers.
• Game Design (Program) Program focused on game design, interactive media, and digital entertainment creation for aspiring game designers and creative technologists.
• Graphic Design (Program) Design program covering visual communication, typography, branding, and digital design for aspiring and working graphic designers.
• Software Training (Program) Technical training program teaching software tools and digital skills relevant to creative professionals across multiple creative disciplines.
• Visual Art (Program) Fine arts program covering visual arts practices, studio work, and contemporary art methodologies for emerging and working artists.
• Summer Intensives Intensive summer courses offering immersive, concentrated learning experiences in various creative disciplines for pre-college and adult learners at the CalArts campus.
• Coursera for CalArts CalArts courses available on the Coursera platform, offering on-demand access to online learners globally through Coursera's marketplace.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CourseracoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCalArts has a strategic partnership with Coursera, offering CalArts courses through the Coursera platform. Courses are available on-demand and accessible to Coursera's global user base. The partnership is listed as one of CalArts' key distribution channels under 'Coursera for CalArts'.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• UCLA Extension: UCLA Extension is the continuing education arm of UCLA, offering professional development and certificate programs across multiple disciplines including arts, design, and entertainment - directly comparable to CalArts Extended Studies' model.
• NYU School of Professional Studies: NYU SPS offers continuing education and professional studies programs with strong creative arts offerings, mirroring CalArts Extended Studies' university-affiliated extension model targeting adults and pre-college students.
• School of Visual Arts (SVA) Continuing Education: SVA Continuing Education offers non-degree courses for aspiring and working artists in design, film, and visual arts, directly overlapping with CalArts Extended Studies' Animation, Graphic Design, and Film & Video offerings.
• Columbia University Continuing Education: Columbia's School of General Studies and continuing education programs offer non-degree courses for adults and pre-college learners, sharing the university-extension delivery model with CalArts Extended Studies.
• RISD Continuing Education: RISD's continuing education division provides non-degree arts courses for community members and pre-college students, positioning it as a direct peer in arts-focused extension education.

Emerging players

• MasterClass: MasterClass offers premium video-based courses taught by industry professionals in creative disciplines including film, music, and design, serving as an alternative to CalArts' online and Coursera offerings.
• Domestika: Domestika is an online creative education marketplace offering courses in illustration, design, animation, and other creative disciplines, partially overlapping with CalArts Extended Studies' online course offerings.
• CGMA (CG Master Academy): CGMA offers specialized online training in computer graphics, game art, and animation, directly competing with CalArts Extended Studies' Animation, Game Design, and Software Training programs.
• Skillshare: Skillshare provides subscription-based online creative courses across design, illustration, and film, competing with CalArts Extended Studies' online and Coursera-based offerings for the same learner segment.

Others

• LinkedIn Learning: LinkedIn Learning provides professional development courses in creative software, design, and business skills, adjacent to CalArts Extended Studies' Creative Business and Software Training programs as a complementary workplace learning platform.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calarts-extended-studies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CalArts Extended Studies