Visual Art Major Program

School for the Contemporary Arts | Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology
丁香园AV Calendar 2012 Spring

The bachelor of fine arts (BFA) with a major in visual art prepares students to become practising artists. A combination of broad-based practical studio courses and theoretical and historical seminars prepares students to understand their production in relation to current visual art and other discipline developments. A strong emphasis is on an understanding of the position and responsibilities of the artist in contemporary society.

Entry to the program is granted after completion of FPA 111, 160, 161 and 168 in the first year followed by an application to FPA 260. Following the completion of FPA 260, 261 and 210, entry to the visual art major is granted based on an application. Both applications are determined by grades and portfolio assessment, usually scheduled at the end of the spring term. Contact the general office for further information.

Methods and concepts courses are offered simultaneously as upper and lower division courses; with the exception of FPA 269/369, these courses may only be completed once for credit, either as a lower division course or an upper division course, but not both.

The attention of students whose interest in visual art is related primarily to its historical, critical, or theoretical aspects, is directed to the art and culture studies major program, leading to a bachelor of arts (BA) degree.

丁香园AV Requirements

Program and course admission is contingent upon University admission. Contact Student Services for admission procedures, requirements and deadlines. Entry to all programs and to many courses is by audition, interview or application. Contact the school鈥檚 office for information on procedures and deadlines.

Although the University operates on a trimester system, most FPA courses are planned in a two term (fall and spring) sequence. Consequently, students enter in the fall term (September) and are advised to contact the school in the preceding January for program entry and requirements information.

Transfer Credit and Advanced Standing

Unassigned or general elective (type 2 and 3, respectively) transfer credit awarded for courses completed at other recognized post-secondary institutions will not automatically entitle students to advanced standing in the school鈥檚 programs. Advanced standing is generally given on an individual basis as a result of an audition or interview.

About the School's Course Offerings

Students are encouraged to take advantage of interdisciplinary offerings within the school. As many programs depend on a continuing sequence of courses completed in order, students should plan carefully to gain the maximum benefit and efficiency from their study. Note that not all courses are offered every term and several are offered on a rotational basis, i.e. every third or fourth term. An advisor is available to help plan study programs.

Students are reminded that the school is an interdisciplinary fine and performing arts department, and are strongly advised to acquaint themselves with the many disciplinary courses that are available.

Special Topics Courses

The subject matter (and prerequisites) of special or selected topics courses vary by term.

Prior Approval Prerequisite

Where a prerequisite is, or includes, 'prior approval,' approval must be obtained before enrolling in the course. Contact the school for further information.

Program Requirements

Students complete 120 units, as specified below.

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 39 units including all of

FPA 111 Issues in Fine and Performing Arts (3)
FPA 160 Introductory Studio in Visual Art I (3)
FPA 161 Introductory Studio in Visual Art II (3)
FPA 167 Visual Art and Culture I (3)
FPA 168 Visual Art and Culture II (3)
FPA 210 Artworks, Theories, Contexts (3)
FPA 260 Studio in Visual Art I (3)
FPA 261 Studio in Visual Art II (3)

and three of

FPA 262 Methods and Concepts: Drawing-based Practices (3)
FPA 263 Methods and Concepts: Painting-based Practices (3)
FPA 264 Methods and Concepts: Sculptural Practices (3)
FPA 265 Methods and Concepts: Photo-based Practices (3)
FPA 268 Methods and Concepts: Spatial Presentation (3)
FPA 269 Methods and Concepts: Selected Topics (3)

and six additional units in lower division FPA courses outside of visual art. One must be a history or theory course, and one must be a studio course.

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 38 units including all of

FPA 360 Studio in Visual Art III (4)
FPA 361 Studio in Visual Art IV (4)
FPA 366 Seminar in Visual Art I (3)
FPA 367 Seminar in Visual Art II (3)
FPA 460 Studio in Visual Art V (4)
FPA 461 Studio in Visual Art VI (5)

and two of

FPA 362 Methods and Concepts: Drawing-based Practices (3)
FPA 363 Methods and Concepts: Painting Practices (3)
FPA 364 Methods and Concepts: Sculptural Practices (3)
FPA 365 Methods and Concepts: Photo-based Practices (3)
FPA 368 Methods and Concepts: Spatial Presentation (3)
FPA 369 Methods and Concepts: Selected Topics ^* (3)

and nine FPA upper division units including one of

FPA 310 Interdisciplinary Methods in Art and Culture Studies (4)
FPA 311 Interdisciplinary Studies in the Arts (4)
FPA 312 Selected Topics in Art and Culture Studies (3)
FPA 314 Readings in the History of Art and Culture (3)
FPA 317 Introduction to Performance Studies (4)
FPA 411 Interdisciplinary Studies in the Contemporary Arts (3)
FPA 412 Advanced Seminar in Art and Culture Studies (4)
FPA 414 Advanced Topic in the History of Art and Culture (3)
FPA 416 Practices in Art and Culture (3)

^*may be completed more than once for credit under a different topic. Topics may change every term and include, but are not limited to, installation practices, performance practices, digital 2D practices, and time-based media practices. Contact the general office for further information.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Program Requirements

For all bachelor of arts (BA) programs (except the honours program), students complete 120 units, which includes

at least 60 units that must be completed at 丁香园AV
at least 45 upper division units, of which at least 30 upper division units must be completed at 丁香园AV
at least 65 units (including 21 upper division units) in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses
satisfaction of the writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements
an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division CGPA of at least 2.0, and a program (major, joint major, extended minor, minor) CGPA and upper division CGPA of at least 2.0

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to 丁香园AV beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit.
Requirement	Units	Notes
W - Writing	6	Must include at least one upper division course, taken at 丁香园AV within the student鈥檚 major subject
Q - Quantitative	6	Q courses may be lower or upper division
B - Breadth	18	Designated Breadth	Must be outside the student鈥檚 major subject, and may be lower or upper division 6 units Social Sciences: B-Soc 6 units Humanities: B-Hum 6 units Sciences: B-Sci
B - Breadth	6	Additional Breadth	6 units outside the student鈥檚 major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements) Additional breadth units must be from outside the student's major and may be B-designated (B-Hum, B-Soc, B-Sci courses). Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honors, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

The University鈥檚 residency requirement stipulates that, in most cases, total transfer and course challenge credit may not exceed 60 units, and may not include more than 15 units as upper division work.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.

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