The Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts)

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts) degree program is a professional program designed to educate and train students in the history, theory and practice of the Visual Arts. Courses are offered in Computers and Art, Drawing, New Media, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Photography, Textile and Fibre Art, Time-Based Art, and Art History/Visual Culture. The curriculum is devised with the aim of producing well-rounded generalists with a solid grounding in all aspects of the Visual Arts. It illustrates the philosophy that artistic freedom and creative expression require both technical skill and intellectual vision, acquired through a disciplined application of effort and a critical awareness of artistic issues, past and present.

In addition to Studio and Art History/Visual Culture courses, students will take a number of appropriate academic courses from disciplines other than Visual Arts. It is intended that academic courses be chosen which will enhance the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts) program. The first year of the program consists of an in-depth exploration of a wide range of media and an introductory health and safety studio component. This is in preparation for continued study in a given discipline or, alternatively, exploring new disciplines in the second year. Intermediate studio courses in the third year emphasize the production of self-directed bodies of work in extended practices. In the fourth year, the senior studio seminar course includes professional practices. The 4950/4951 studio courses are conducted as tutorials, in which, students will work independently on the research and creation of independent bodies of work and confer regularly with instructors. Each year of the program will include Art History/Visual Culture courses as well as academic electives.

• The 120 credit hour, 40 course program and a non-credit health and safety course, may be completed on a full-time basis as set out under Table 3 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts) and Table 4 Suggested Program of Study for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts).

• The Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts) degree program is a professional program designed to educate and train students in the history, theory and practice of the Visual Arts. Courses are offered in Computers and Art, Drawing, New Media, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Photography, Textile and Fibre Art, Time-Based Art, and Art History/Visual Culture. The curriculum is devised with the aim of producing well-rounded generalists with a solid grounding in all aspects of the Visual Arts. It illustrates the philosophy that artistic freedom and creative expression require both technical skill and intellectual vision, acquired through a disciplined application of effort and a critical awareness of artistic issues, past and present.

• In addition to Studio and Art History/Visual Culture courses, students will take a number of appropriate academic courses from disciplines other than Visual Arts. It is intended that academic courses be chosen which will enhance the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts) program. The first year of the program consists of an in-depth exploration of a wide range of media and an introductory health and safety studio component. This is in preparation for continued study in a given discipline or, alternatively, exploring new disciplines in the second year. Intermediate studio courses in the third year emphasize the production of self-directed bodies of work in extended practices. In the fourth year, the senior studio seminar course includes professional practices. The 4950/4951 studio courses are conducted as tutorials, in which, students will work independently on the research and creation of independent bodies of work and confer regularly with instructors. Each year of the program will include Art History/Visual Culture courses as well as academic electives.

• It is recognized that students in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts) program must have occasional opportunities to view important works of art first-hand. Arrangements will therefore be made where possible for students to visit major art centres.

• The Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts) program is rigorous and demanding and it is assumed that students will normally be enrolled for full-time study. Students who withdraw from a course may put their program in jeopardy or be unable to complete the degree in the normally allotted time. Where circumstances warrant, any prerequisite(s) or co-requisite(s) for Visual Arts courses may be waived by the Program Chair. For further information on waiver or regulations refer to UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS, General Academic Regulations (Undergraduate) - Appeal of Decisions.

• Studio courses are offered in the following subjects: Computers and Art, Drawing, New Media, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Photography, Textile and Fibre Art, and Time-Based Art. Courses in a studio subject consist of four hours of practical work in a studio class each week. Course components will require that considerable additional studio work be done outside scheduled class time. Students will supply their own art materials. Some courses may not be offered every year. Courses with a planned rotation are indicated in the University Calendar under Course Descriptions. Please consult with the Fine Arts Division prior to registration to confirm course offerings.

• One work of art done during the fourth year may be selected by the Visual Arts Program, in consultation with the student, and retained for the permanent collection of the Campus. 

Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts)

​Required Courses	​Elective Courses
​6 credit hours in English courses	​18 credit hours in academic elective courses chosen from Disiplines other than Visual Arts
​Visual Arts 2700 and 2701 and an additional 18 credit hours in Art History/Visual Culture	​
​18 Credit hours in Studio Courses at the 1000 level	​
​Visual Arts 1911	​
​24 credit hours in Studio Courses at the 2000 level	​
15 credit hours in Studio Courses at the 3000 level	​
​3 additional credit hours in Studio Courses at 2000 or 3000 or 4000 level	​
​Visual Arts 4800 and 4801	​
​Visual Arts 4950 and 4951	​

Suggested Program of Study for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts)

​Year 1	​Year 2
​18 credit hours in 1000 level Studio Courses	​18 credit hours in 2000 level Studio Courses
​Visual Arts 1911	​6 credit hours in Art History/Visual Culture Courses
​6 credit hours in Art History Survey I, II (Visual Arts 2700 and 2701)	​6 credit hours in Academic Electives
​6 credit hours in English	​
​Year 3	​Year 4
​12 credit hours in 3000 level Studio Courses	6 credit hours in Senior Seminar for Studio and Professional Practices I, II (4800, 4801)
​6 credit hours in 2000 or 3000 level Studio Courses	​6 credit hours in Independent Senior Studio I, II (4950/4951)
​6 credit hours in Art History/Visual Culture Courses	​6 credit hours in 2000 or 3000 or 4000 level Studio Courses
​6 credit hours in Academic Electives	​6 credit hours in Art History/Visual Culture Courses
6 credit hours in Academic Electives

Minor Program Offered by the School of Fine Arts 

The Art History/Visual Culture Courses Minor Program is applicable to all programs offered at Grenfell Campus except for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree programs.

​Art History/Visual Culture Minor

​Visual Arts 2700 and 2701

​18 credit hours in Art History/Visual Culture at the 3000- or 4000-level