¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

Art and Culture Studies Major Program

School for the Contemporary Arts | Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Calendar 2013 Spring

This program leads to a bachelor of arts (BA) degree. Within the fine and performing arts, there are lively debates about the meaning and significance of individual artworks, as well as their relationships to audiences and to other forms of culture. The program investigates art and culture with attention to the historically changing forms of class, gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality and aesthetics. It provides students with the knowledge, research and communication skills needed to participate effectively in contemporary debates about art and culture. The core program includes two introductory studio courses from a multidisciplinary range of choices; these provide the experience of the creative process in dance, music, theatre, video or visual art. The program is interdisciplinary, but also provides a knowledge of and sensitivity to the distinctive qualities of specific art forms. Course selection beyond the program’s core is flexible and students are encouraged to shape their studies in the school, or in the University at large.

¶¡ÏãÔ°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’s 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’s 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 total of 18 units, including four of

  • FPA 111-3 Issues in Fine and Performing Arts
  • FPA 136-3 The History and Aesthetics of Cinema I
  • FPA 137-3 The History and Aesthetics of Cinema II
  • FPA 167-3 Visual Art and Culture I
  • FPA 168-3 Visual Art and Culture II

and

  • FPA 210-3 Artworks, Theories, Contexts

and three units of studio FPA courses

Upper Division Requirements

Students are encouraged to plan in advance as some upper division courses may not be offered each year. Students who wish to complete upper division courses must make sure they have the disciplinary prerequisites and should be aware that studio courses may have limited enrollments.

Students complete a total of at least 30 units, including

  • FPA 310- Interdisciplinary Methods in Art and Culture Studies

and at least 18 units from the following

  • FPA 308-4 Contemporary Arts Field School I (Theory/History)
  • FPA 311-4 Interdisciplinary Studies in the Arts *
  • FPA 312-3 Selected Topics in Art and Culture Studies *
  • FPA 314-3 Readings in the History of Art and Culture *
  • FPA 317-4 Introduction to Performance Studies
  • FPA 319W-3 Critical Writing in the Arts
  • FPA 335-4 Introduction to Film Theory
  • FPA 408-4 Contemporary Arts Field School III (Theory/History)
  • FPA 411-3 Interdisciplinary Studies in the Contemporary Arts *
  • FPA 412-4 Advanced Seminar in Art and Culture Studies *
  • FPA 414-3 Advanced Topic in the History of Art and Culture *
  • FPA 416-3 Practices in Art and Culture *

*may be completed more than once for credit if the topic changes

and a minimum of six units of additional upper division courses in the fine or performing arts must be completed. Courses in the above list of Art and Culture courses can be used to fulfil this requirement, as can other history, theory or studio courses offered by the School for the Contemporary Arts. Relevant courses in other departments may also be used to fulfil this requirement. Student advisors in the School for the Contemporary Arts can provide students with a list of courses in other departments that are pertinent to the Art and Culture program. Students can also obtain individual approvals for courses other than FPA courses by providing course descriptions to the student advisors in the school.

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See 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 ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV within the student’s major subject
Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth Must be outside the student’s 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

6

Additional Breadth

6 units outside the student’s 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 honours, 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’s 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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