UofC

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art History

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Visual Studies

Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours in Visual Studies

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Visual Studies with Co-operative Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours in Visual Studies with Co-operative Education

Concurrent BFA in Visual Studies/Bachelor of Education

Notes:

• Applications to the BA in Art History have been suspended while the program is under review. Students currently in Art History should consult with the Arts Students' Centre for program advice.
• For the BFA or BFA Honours in Visual Studies students may choose a Concentration in Art Education.
• A Minor is offered in Art.
• The Department of Art offers a Minor Field of specialization 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.

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) To the understanding of art in its diverse historical and cultural settings (Art History).

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

Students who elect the four-year BFA and BFA Honours (Visual Studies) programs do so in order to better realize themselves through study and active involvement in art as related to contemporary society and culture. 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) is a four-year degree program requiring a minimum of 42 units (seven full-course equivalents) in Art History. It offers the student a general survey and understanding of the History of Art, and exposure to critical analysis.

Department Location: Art Building 612

Department Phone: 403.220.5251/403.220.6260

Department Fax: 403.289.7333

Department Email: jaffer@ucalgary.ca

Students should consult a program advisor in the Arts Students’ Centre for information and advice on their overall program requirements.

For more specific advice regarding course selection and requirements in the major field, students should consult the subject advisor located in their home Department (consult Department website for contact information).

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 http://art.ucalgary.ca/undergraduate/prospective-students#portfolio.

Prospective students must also meet the criteria in the section of this Calendar on A.2 Admission Requirements at the University of Calgary.

Students wishing to be considered for admission into BFA Honours in Visual Studies must be entering the fourth year of their program and must meet the criteria established by the Faculty of Arts in section 3.4.3 Honours Degrees with a Major Field. In addition to completing the online application in the Student Centre, 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 application deadline is February 1.

The Faculty of Arts procedures for Admission to Honours established in section 3.4.3 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 completing an application in the online Student Centre by the February 1 deadline, students must submit a portfolio of work and a statement of intent to the Department of Art. The application form must be signed by a thesis supervisor and include 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 January 15. Students are strongly advised to secure a thesis supervisor by January 15.

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.

Applications to the BA in Art History have been suspended while the program is under review.

Prospective students wishing to enter the BA (Art History) Program must meet the criteria in the section of this Calendar on A.2 Admission Requirements at the University of Calgary.

Limitation of Enrolment

Enrolment in Art History is limited. Therefore, not all qualified applicants may be admitted. Applicants will be accepted on the basis of academic standing in high school and/or previous post-secondary education completed.

Field of Art History

The Field of Art History consists of all courses labelled Art History (ARHI) as well as the following:

Courses in Visual Culture

• Canadian Studies 341, 433
• Drama 342, 344
• Film 301, 305, 307
• Greek and Roman Studies 325, 327, 445, 447
• Philosophy 317, 333

Context Courses

• Archaeology 325
• Communication and Culture 301, 303
• East Asian Studies 331, 333
• Greek and Roman Studies 339, 341, 345, 347
• History 301, 315, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329, 333, 407
• Philosophy 301, 303, 305, 309, 311, 335
• Religious Studies 399

Field of Art

The broader Field of Art consists of all courses labelled Art (ART) and Art History (ARHI).

Field of the Fine Arts

The still broader Field of the Fine Arts consists of all course labelled Art (ART), Art History (ARHI), Dance (DNCE), Drama (DRAM), Fine Arts (FINA), Music (MUSI), Music Education (MUED), and Music Performance (MUPF).

Field of Museum and Heritage Studies

The Field of Museum and Heritage Studies consists of the following courses:

• All courses labelled Museum and Heritage Studies (MHST)
• Anthropology 203
• Archaeology 201, 303, 306, 307, 415, 417, 419
• Art 205 and all ART courses at the 300 level or above
• Art History 201, 203 and all Art History (ARHI) courses at the 300 level or above
• Astronomy 207, 209
• Biology 307
• All Canadian Studies 300-level and above
• Communication and Culture 301, 303, 507
• Communications Studies 313
• Development Studies 485
• Drama 223, 225, 313, 315, 319 
• Geography 251, 361
• Geology 201 or 209, 202
• Greek and Roman Studies 321, 325, 327, 445
• History 333, 337, 340, 341, 347, 357, 437, 451, 477
• Marketing 341
• Philosophy 333
• Political Science 357
• Religious Studies 205
• Science, Technology and Society 325, 327
• Tourism Management 409

Notes:

• Students taking degrees with majors that require Communication and Culture 301, 303, or Communications Studies 313 may not count these courses as part of the Museum and Heritage Studies Minor.
• Credit will not be given for both Geology 201 and 209.
• Most of the courses listed above have prerequisites that lie outside the Field of Museum and Heritage Studies. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that prerequisites are completed.  We encourage students to speak with a program advisor on a regular basis to assist with a degree planning.