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University of Calgary Calendar 2019-2020 Faculty of Arts 4. Program Details 4.7 Art
4.7 Art
Overview of Programs and Procedures
Baccalaureate Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art History

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Visual Studies

BFA Honours in Visual Studies

BFA in Visual Studies with Co-operative Education

BFA Honours in Visual Studies with Co-operative Education

Concurrent BFA in Visual Studies/Bachelor of Education

Notes:

  • For the BFA or BFA Honours in Visual Studies students may choose a Concentration in Art Education or a Concentration in Media Arts*.
  • A Minor is offered in Visual Studies and Art History.
  • The Department of Art offers a Minor in Museum and Heritage Studies. This Minor program is intended to develop a critical and analytical perspective on the issues and future of museum and heritage resources. These encompass national parks and heritage sites, museums and art galleries, archives and historic buildings.

*Applications to this program are currently suspended. No new admissions will be permitted.

Introduction

The Department of Art is committed to the study and practice of the visual arts as these relate to:

(a) Creative research in art practices (studio);

(b) Educational practice and theory (Art Education); and

(c) Critical study of art in its diverse historical and cultural settings (Art History).

The Department offers the four-year BFA and BFA Honours (Visual Studies) degree, the four year BA in Art History, and a five-year concurrent degree program with the Werklund School of Education, leading to the BFA (Visual Studies) and Bachelor of Education degrees.

Students in the four year BFA and BFA Honours (Visual Studies) are involved in creative research and visual art practices that engage with contemporary society. The courses of study enable the student to develop conceptual understanding in the visual arts, to develop a foundation of knowledge and practice of artistic self-sufficiency, to develop creative processes of planning in order to carry out his or her various studio interests, and to teach art in the elementary or secondary school systems or to work as art specialists in other settings. The program enables the individual student to determine through studio practice the understandings and insights that support his or her own artistic and intellectual development. Students interested in teacher certification may pursue the concurrent degree program with the Werklund School of Education, which offers three years of study in the Visual Studies program and two years in the Bachelor of Education program. The Visual Studies program provides a core of work in the theory and methodology of art education, as well as a foundation in studio art and Art History.

The BA (Art History) engages students in critical and creative analysis of art objects and cultural forms in a variety of historical, geopolitical, and cultural contexts.

Contact Information

Department Location: Art Building 612

Department Phone: 403.220.5251/403.220.6260

Department Fax: 403.289.7333

Department Email: artdept@ucalgary.ca

For Program Advice

Students should consult a program advisor in the Arts Students’ Centre for information and advice on their overall program requirements. Advising contact information can be found online: arts.ucalgary.ca/advising.

Students wishing to pursue the concurrent BFA (Visual Studies)/BEd degree program should also consult with an advisor at the Werklund School of Education. Advising contact information can be found online: werklund.ucalgary.ca/educ_info/contact-us.

For more specific advice regarding course selection and requirements in the major field, students should consult the Undergraduate Program Director of the Department of Art (consult Department website for contact information).

Admission to the BFA in Visual Studies

Admission to the BFA (Visual Studies) program is contingent on the evaluation of a portfolio, which must be received by the department by February 1. For information about the portfolio submission process, see the Department of Art website under art.ucalgary.ca/undergraduate/prospective-students#portfolio.

Prospective students must also meet the criteria listed in section A.5 Undergraduate Admission Requirements of this Calendar.

Admission to Honours

Students wishing to be considered for admission into BFA Honours in Visual Studies must have completed 75 units and must meet the criteria established by the Faculty of Arts in section 3.4.2 Honours Degrees with a Major Field.

The Faculty of Arts procedures for Admission to Honours established in section 3.4.2 Honours Degrees with a Major Field are applicable and provide the overall framework.

Students majoring in Visual Studies are eligible to apply for Honours by the February 1 deadline only if they will complete the program during the following academic year. In addition to applying through the Student Centre for a change of program to Honours, students must submit a Letter of Intent and a portfolio of work to the Department of Art. Information on the supplemental components can be found on the Department of Art website. The department's application form must be signed by a thesis supervisor and include a preliminary thesis proposal. To meet the February 1 deadline, it is recommended that students wishing to enrol in the Honours program obtain guidelines and an application form from the Program Co-ordinator no later than December 1. Students are strongly advised to secure a thesis supervisor by December 15.

Limitation of Enrolment

Enrolment in the Visual Studies program is limited, and thus not all qualified applicants may be admitted.

Applicants will be accepted on the basis of their portfolios and their academic standing in high school and/or previous post-secondary education completed.

Students who are accepted must register by the deadline indicated in their letters of acceptance. Admission is not guaranteed to those who do not register by the specified date.

Admission to the BA in Art History

Prospective students wishing to enter the BA (Art History) Program must meet the criteria listed in section A.5 Undergraduate Admission Requirements of this Calendar.

Overlapping Programs

Programs in Art History and Visual Studies cannot be taken in conjunction with other programs in Art History or Visual Studies. This restriction applies to Major-plus-Minor combinations, Double Majors, Combined Degrees, and Second Baccalaureate Degrees.

Courses Constituting the Field of Art
  • All courses labelled Art (ART) and Art History (ARHI).
Courses Constituting the Field of Museum and Heritage Studies

Note: Students taking degrees with majors that require Communication and Culture 201, 203, or Communication and Media Studies 313 may not count these courses as part of the Museum and Heritage Studies Minor.