¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

Film Honours Program

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

The bachelor of fine arts (BFA) with a major in film provides creative, technical and analytical studies within the school’s interdisciplinary setting. Film and video production courses emphasize the creation of original work and technical skills aquisition. Film courses familiarize students with the aesthetic and social issues surrounding contemporary film and video practice which are an integral part of the curriculum. Students augment the components of film and video through interdisciplinary studies and projects. Directed study courses are available for upper division students to work independently.

Students whose interest in film is related primarily to historical, critical, or theoretical aspects should see the art and culture studies major program, leading to a bachelor of arts, and to the film and video studies minor.

¶¡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.

Students may apply for program admission after completing FPA 231, normally at the end of the second year of study. Approval will be based on the student’s creative work and academic record in required lower division courses.

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 132 units, as specified below.

Entry to all first year film production courses required for the major is by questionnaire and interview. Contact the school in early January prior to attendance at the University to request an information letter and questionnaire.

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 44 units including all of

  • FPA 111-3 Issues in Fine and Performing Arts
  • FPA 130-4 Fundamentals of Film
  • FPA 131-4 Filmmaking I
  • FPA 136-3 The History and Aesthetics of Cinema I
  • FPA 137-3 The History and Aesthetics of Cinema II
  • FPA 230-5 Filmmaking II
  • FPA 231-5 Filmmaking III
  • FPA 233-2 The Techniques of Film

and one of*

  • FPA 235-3 Experimental Film and Video
  • FPA 236-3 Cinema in Canada
  • FPA 237-3 Selected Topics in Film and Video Studies **

and one of

  • FPA 232-3 Film Sound
  • FPA 238-3 Screenwriting I
  • FPA 290-3 Video Production I

*with prior approval, students may substitute lower division courses from other departments devoted to a film or video topic to fulfil this requirement
**may be repeated under another topic

and six units of lower division FPA studio courses outside film. Students may apply CMNS 258 toward this requirement

and another FPA history or critical course outside film

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 45 units including all of*

  • FPA 335-4 Introduction to Film Theory**
  • FPA 337-4 Intermediate Selected Topics in Film and Video Studies ***
  • FPA 436-4 Advanced Seminar in Film and Video Studies ***

*with prior approval, students may substitute upper division courses devoted to a film or video studies topic in other departments, or in directed study in film studies, to fulfil this requirement

and a minimum of 19 units chosen from

  • FPA 332-3 Film Production Seminar
  • FPA 333-3 Cinematography and Lighting
  • FPA 334-3 Selected Topics in Film and Video Production
  • FPA 338W-3 Screenwriting II
  • FPA 339-3 Directing and Acting for Film and Video
  • FPA 390-3 Video Production II
  • FPA 393-3 Techniques of Video
  • FPA 430-6 Filmmaking IV
  • FPA 432-6 Filmmaking V

With prior permission, a directed study course (FPA 400, 402 or 404), a film studies course, or another upper division FPA course may be substituted for one of the above.

and one of

  • FPA 310-4 Interdisciplinary Methods in Art and Culture Studies †
  • 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 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 †
  • another upper division FPA history or critical course outside film

and six upper division units in FPA film courses

and the remaining four required units chosen from the following courses (placement in courses is based on prerequisites and/or permission of the instructor)

  • FPA 305-3 Explorations in Contemporary Arts I
  • FPA 308-4 Contemporary Arts Field School I (Theory/History)
  • FPA 309-4 Contemporary Arts Field School II (Studio)
  • FPA 310-4 Interdisciplinary Methods in Art and Culture Studies †
  • 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-4 Critical Writing in the Arts
  • FPA 323-3 Ballet II
  • FPA 325-3 Special Project in Dance Composition
  • FPA 341-3 World Music
  • FPA 347-4 Electroacoustic Music II
  • FPA 348-3 Conducting II
  • FPA 352-3 Playmaking III
  • FPA 353-4 Playmaking IV
  • FPA 362-3 Methods and Concepts: Drawing-based Practices
  • FPA 363-3 Methods and Concepts: Painting Practices
  • FPA 364-3 Methods and Concepts: Sculptural Practices
  • FPA 365-3 Methods and Concepts: Photo-based Practices
  • FPA 368-3 Methods and Concepts: Spatial Presentation
  • FPA 369-3 Methods and Concepts: Selected Topics
  • FPA 389-3 Selected Topics in the Fine and Performing Arts II
  • FPA 400-3 Directed Studies (Studio)
  • FPA 401-3 Directed Studies (Theory/History)
  • FPA 402-4 Directed Studies (Studio)
  • FPA 403-4 Directed Studies (Theory/History)
  • FPA 404-5 Directed Studies (Studio)
  • FPA 405-5 Explorations in Contemporary Arts II
  • FPA 408-4 Contemporary Arts Field School III (Theory/History)
  • FPA 409-4 Contemporary Arts Field School IV (Studio)
  • FPA 411-3 Interdisciplinary Studies in the Contemporary Arts †
  • FPA 412-4 Advanced Seminar in Art and Culture Studies †
  • FPA 414-4 Advanced Topic in the History of Art and Culture †
  • FPA 416-3 Practices in Art and Culture †
  • FPA 420-4 Contemporary Dance VII
  • FPA 421-4 Contemporary Dance VIII
  • FPA 425-4 Intensive Studies in Performance
  • FPA 426-3 Dance/Movement Analysis
  • FPA 445-4 Music Composition V
  • FPA 447-4 Computer Music Composition
  • FPA 450-4 Advanced Studio Skills
  • FPA 457-4 Context of Theatre III
  • FPA 472-3 Production Practicum V
  • FPA 473-6 Production Practicum VI
  • FPA 485-5 Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Contemporary Arts
  • FPA 489-5 Interdisciplinary Project in FPA *
  • film studies-related courses outside the School for the Contemporary Arts, taken with area approval

    *with prior approval, students may substitute upper division courses devoted to a film or video studies topic in other departments, or in directed study in film studies, to fulfil this requirement
    **recommended
    ***may be repeated under another topic
    ****may be completed more than once for credit
    †may not be completed than once for credit

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 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 ¶¡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.

Return to contemporary arts index page.
Return to film index page.

For calendar technical problems or errors, contact calendar-sfu@sfu.ca | Calendar changes and corrections