Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Dance Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance Combined Bachelor of Kinesiology (Kinesiology)/BA in Dance Concurrent BA in Dance (with a Concentration in Dance Pedagogy)/Bachelor of Education
Note:
A Minor is offered in Dance
Drama
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Drama Concurrent BFA in Drama Education/Bachelor of Education
Note:
A Minor is offered in Drama.
Music
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music BA Honours in Music Bachelor of Music (BMus) in Performance, Composition, or Integrated Studies Concurrent BMus in Music Education/Bachelor of Education
Note:
Minors in Music and Sonic Arts are also offered.
Introduction
The School of Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) provides both rigorous and distinct disciplinary programs and uncommon opportunities for interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration. Hosting programs in Dance, Drama and Music, the SCPA provides students a range of options for specialization and innovation, both within and across its participating divisions.
Dance provides a four-year BA (Dance) degree and a four-year BFA (Dance) degree that explores dance from multiple perspectives, as well as a five-year combined BKIN/BA degree that highlights the relationships between the sciences, arts and humanities and a five-year Concurrent Program with the Werklund School of Education that combines a Bachelor of Education with a BA Dance with a concentration in Dance Pedagogy. Students delve into choreography, performance, technique, improvisation, dance for the camera, dance science, global dance, history, and theory in order to understand the place of dance in the twenty-first century. From ballet to contact improvisation, hip hop to contemporary, dance at the University of Calgary helps students gain in-depth experience as well as a broad understanding of a range of cultural forms. With emphasis on both practice and analysis, our program is designed to prepare graduates for careers in professional performance, choreography, scholarship, and education, as well as further dance study in graduate programs.
Drama offers a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree comprised of a broad curriculum including: acting, directing, scenography, playwriting, performance creation, drama education, theatre history and dramatic literature and criticism. The program allows the student to tailor their degree to their interests and their desired career path. Drama also offers a five-year concurrent BFA/BED degree with the Werklund School of Education. Many of our courses are available to non-Drama students and can contribute to an elective requirement.
Music offers a four-year Bachelor of Music (BMus) Degree that is designed for students wishing to enter a professional career in music, as performers, teachers, composers, sound designers, theorists, historians or musicologists. The BMus degree provides the opportunity for students to Major in Performance, Composition or Integrated Studies. In addition there is a major in Music Education that is available in the context of a five-year concurrent BMus/Bachelor of Education degree for students wishing to pursue the Secondary Route. Students wishing to pursue the Elementary Route should complete a BA Music/Bachelor of Education degree. All BMus programs have a common first year.
Music also offers four-year programs leading to Bachelor of Arts (Music) and Honours Bachelor of Arts (Music) degrees for the student who wishes to pursue a general liberal arts education with an emphasis on Music. It is an ideal degree for students who are interested in music but may wish to pursue careers in law, medicine, arts administration, media studies, elementary education, digital arts, and so on. In addition to music courses, BA (Music) students have the flexibility to take a large number of courses outside of the field of Music, allowing them to create degree plans that cater to their individual interests and needs.
In addition to the three discipline-specific divisions, the School of Creative and Performing Arts provides unique opportunities for interdisciplinary instruction and collaboration. Specifically, there are two interdisciplinary courses required of all students enrolled in a major program in SCPA. These courses provide historical and contextual understanding of interdisciplinary practices as well as both theoretical and practical instruction in interdisciplinary exchange and creative process. Beyond these required courses SCPA students enjoy a wide range of special topics electives and extra-curricular opportunities that explore a variety of interdisciplinary practices and subject material.
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
For more specific advice regarding course selection and requirements in the major field, students should consult the SCPA Undergraduate Program Administrator.
Admission
Prospective students wishing to enter any of the programs in the School of Creative and Performing Arts must meet the criteria listed in section A.5 Undergraduate Admission Requirements of this Calendar. The application deadline is March 1.
Several of our programs require additional materials such as an audition and/or a statement of intent. These requirements are noted below.
Admission to the BA, BFA and BA/BKin in Dance
Applicants to the BA Dance, BFA Dance and BKin/BA combined degree programs will be assessed on the basis of a dance audition, an Entrance Audition Form and a Statement of Interest. For information about the Entrance Audition Form and application deadlines, refer to the BA/BFA Dance Entrance Auditions website: arts.ucalgary.ca/schools/creative-performing-arts/dance/admission-auditions-and-faqs.
Applicants to the BKin/BA combined degree program must meet the admissions requirements for both the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Kinesiology (see A.5 Undergraduate Admission Requirements).
Dance Audition
After submitting an Admission Application to the University of Calgary Admissions Office and an Entrance Audition Form to the Division of Dance by the deadlines, all applicants will be expected to audition.
Auditions are conducted by the Dance Committee and are held on the University of Calgary campus in March. During the audition, applicants will be required to participate in dance classes, written assignments and improvisation.
It is strongly suggested that applicants audition in person. Applicants who are unable to audition in person must submit a DVD audition by the deadline. Refer to the SCPA Audition website for further information and requirements for video auditions.
Limitation of Enrolment
Enrolment in the Dance program is limited. Therefore, all qualified applicants may not be admitted. Applicants will be admitted on the basis of the following criteria:
Academic standing in high school and/or previous post-secondary education (university admission requirements);
Written Statement of Interest;
Dance audition.
Admission to the BFA in Drama
An audition is not required for admission to the program.
Admission to the BA in Music
Admission requires evidence of successful completion of Royal Conservatory Level 8 Theory (formerly Advanced Rudiments) or the Division music theory diagnostic exam.
Admission to the BA Honours Music
Students wishing to be considered for admission into the BA Honours (Music) Program must have completed at least 30 units in the BA (Music) Program and must meet the criteria established by the Faculty of Arts in section 3.4.2 Honours Degrees with a Major Field. Students wishing to apply to an Honours program must apply through their Student Centre for a change of program to Honours by February 1.
Admission to BMus Degrees
Admission requires evidence of successful completion of Royal Conservatory Level 8 Theory (formerly Advanced Rudiments) or the Division music theory diagnostic exam.
Admission to BMus Programs is also contingent on an audition and interview where applicants are assessed not only on actual performance, but also on talent, potential, and musicality.
Audition Dates
Auditions typically occur in late February and/or early March.
Applicants should be prepared to perform two pieces (except for piano and voice, who should be prepared to perform three pieces), each from a different style period; singers and instrumentalists must provide their own accompanist. Applicants should be prepared to perform for approximately 10 minutes; in addition, they will be asked to sight-read a short piece of music appropriate to their instrument or voice.
Applicants audition on the instrument of their choice or in voice. Those who would like to audition on two instruments may do so. The jury will determine which instrument (or voice) will become the major when the applicant is admitted to a Music program.
Previously accepted students who have not been enrolled in a performance practicum course for a year or more may be required to re-audition in order to determine if the previous level of attainment has been maintained.
Guidelines
As an indication of the level for admission to Music, the following guidelines should be noted:
Pianists and vocalists should be prepared to perform repertoire at the Grade X level.
All others should be prepared to perform repertoire at the Grade VIII level. Students who have not reached the Grade VIII level, but who have a serious interest in a career in music, are encouraged to apply and to audition at the level of performance they have reached. Suggested audition repertoire guidelines are available on the Admission Requirements and Auditions section of the Music Undergraduate page: arts.ucalgary.ca/schools/creative-performing-arts/music/undergraduate.
Applicants Who Live Outside a 150 Km Radius of Calgary
BMus applicants who live further than 150 km from Calgary may submit a video or audio recording. If a recording is submitted, the student may be required to perform a live audition upon arrival. The recording should consist of approximately 10 minutes of music and conform to the requirements for auditions given above. The recording should have been made not more than two months prior to submission, should be of good quality and should be solo or solo with accompaniment. Deadlines for the receipt of video or audio recordings are on the Admission Requirements and Auditions section of the Music Undergraduate page: arts.ucalgary.ca/schools/creative-performing-arts/music/undergraduate.
Bachelor of Music (BMus) - Major Fields of Specialization
Bachelor of Music students take a common first-year program of study and then select one of the following Major Fields of specialization:
Grades of "B" (3.00) or better in courses in their area: Composition or Performance.
Approval of the Division Chair.
In order to continue in Performance, students must earn an average grade of “B-“ or better in courses in that area of specialization in each academic year. Student who do not achieve this average will be required to choose a different field of specialization.
Music Students: Keyboard Proficiency Tests
Music has a required minimum level of keyboard proficiency, which all Bachelor of Music students must achieve in order to graduate. Applicants who have never played a keyboard instrument, or whose proficiency does not meet the required level, will be advised to take remedial work in keyboard, either through the Music Division or privately.
Courses and Registration
In planning their programs, students should bear in mind that some senior courses are not offered every year.
Fields of Study
Courses Constituting the Field of Dance
All courses labelled Dance (DNCE).
Courses Constituting the Field of Drama
All courses labelled Drama (DRAM), except Drama 203 and 205.
The following listing is provided to assist students in their selection of related groups of Drama courses:
Theatre for Young Audiences and Developmental/Performance Drama 365, 367, 460, 560
Senior Option Courses 371, 471, 571, 572, 573
Production Courses 391, 393, 491, 493
Courses Constituting the Field of Music
All courses labelled Music (MUSI), Music Performance (MUPF) and Music Education (MUED), which are categorized as follows:
Courses Designed for Non-Music Majors*:Music 203, 209, 306, 307, 308, 309**, and all ensembles under Music Performance (MUPF).
*BMUS students may count a maximum of 6 units from Music 306, 307, 308 toward their degree requirements. Music majors and Music minors may not count Music 209 and 309 toward their degree requirements.
**Students in the Sonic Arts minor may count Music 309 towards their degree requirements.
Faculty of Arts