Studio Arts – Bachelor of Fine Arts
Overview
Prepare for a contemporary, multi-dimensional career in the visual arts! This program provides experiential learning with a hands-on approach to project-based course work, creative research, off-site engagements with arts and culture venues, and insights from visiting artists and scholars. Dedicated faculty with professional art and research practices bring a range of experiences—equipping students with skills in performance and sound art, painting, drawing, video, sculpture, fibres and more—to expand their depth of knowledge in studio arts. Students' studies culminate in a professional public exhibition.
Contact Information
studioarts@macewan.ca
The Bachelor of Fine Arts
Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications
MacEwan.ca/BFA
MacEwan University's new Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) with four distinct majors—Arts and Cultural Management, Studio Arts, Music Theatre Performance, and Theatre Production—offers students the opportunity to complete a BFA in a distinct discipline while studying closely with students in other complementary fine arts and communications disciplines. The curriculum explores the interdependent and interdisciplinary nature of contemporary art and the diverse spaces within which artists work.
The BFA provides depth in one of four disciplines while also incorporating breadth though multi- and interdisciplinary studies. All students take several interdisciplinary courses, like The Arts in Culture and First Peoples and the Arts and can also choose from a range of electives in the social sciences and business. This degree responds to the changing needs of the creative and cultural industries and students graduate with practical management skills and a depth of knowledge, skill, and expertise in their chosen discipline.
Degree Requirements
| Program Element | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | Students complete between 69 and 102 credits of required courses, depending on their major. All students complete 6 credits of university English (ENGL) and up to 9 credits of Interdisciplinary Studies in the Arts (INTA) courses. | 69-102 |
| Interdisciplinary Options | Students complete between 0 and 6 credits of Interdisciplinary Studies in the Arts (INTA) options, depending on their major. | 0-6 |
| Program Options | Students complete between 0 and 24 credits of program options, depending on their major. | 0-24 |
| Electives | Students complete between 15 and 27 credits of electives, depending on their major. | 15-27 |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AGAD 226 | Museum and Gallery Management | 3 |
| ARTE 104 | Art History II - Renaissance to the 19th Century | 3 |
| ARTE 106 | Digital Foundation | 3 |
| ARTE 107 | 3D Foundation | 3 |
| ARTE 110 | Drawing Foundation | 3 |
| ARTE 111 | 2D Foundation | 3 |
| ARTE 119 | Introduction to Creative Research | 3 |
| ARTE 120 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ARTE 205 | Painting I | 3 |
| ARTE 206 | Intermedia I | 3 |
| ARTE 224 | The Visual Culture of Modernity: Fin-de-siècle to Mid-Twentieth Century | 3 |
| ARTE 234 | Late Modern and Postmodern Art | 3 |
| ARTE 304 | Theory in Contemporary Art | 3 |
| ARTE 308 | Professional Practice | 3 |
| ARTE 400 | Art in the Public Sphere | 3 |
| ARTE 409 | Concepts and Practice | 3 |
| ARTE 429 | BFA Project | 6 |
| ENGL 102 | Analysis and Argument | 3 |
| Choose 3 credits of ENGL from the following: | 3 | |
| Approaches to Literature: Trends and Traditions | ||
| Approaches to Literature: Narrative Across Media | ||
| Approaches to Literature: Contemporary Literature and Culture | ||
| INTA 210 | The Arts in Culture | 3 |
| INTA 362 | First Peoples and The Arts | 3 |
| INTA 440 | Community Engagement Project | 3 |
| Program Options | ||
| Choose 21 to 24 credits from the list of program options. | 21-24 | |
| Interdisciplinary Options | ||
| Choose 3 credits from available INTA courses. | 3 | |
| Electives | ||
| Choose 24 to 27 credits of electives with at least 6 credits at the senior level. Students must take a minimum of 12 credits up to a maximum of 18 credits from available AGAD, BCSC, DESN, INTA, MUSC, PREL, THAR and THPR courses. | 24-27 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Program Options
List of Program Options
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTE 207 | 3D Spatial Practice I | 3 |
| ARTE 214 | History of Photography | 3 |
| ARTE 215 | Painting II | 3 |
| ARTE 216 | Intermedia II | 3 |
| ARTE 217 | 3D Spatial Practice II | 3 |
| ARTE 230 | Introduction to Contemporary Drawing | 3 |
| ARTE 301 | 2D Concepts and Practice | 3 |
| ARTE 306 | Intermedia Extended I | 3 |
| ARTE 307 | 3D Concepts and Practice | 3 |
| ARTE 311 | 2D Concepts and Practice Extended | 3 |
| ARTE 314 | Thinking Photography | 3 |
| ARTE 316 | Intermedia Extended II | 3 |
| ARTE 317 | 3D Concepts and Practice Extended | 3 |
| ARTE 324 | History of Interdisciplinary Arts | 3 |
| ARTE 399 | Special Topics in Art | 3 |
INTERDISCIPLINARY OPTIONS
List of Interdisciplinary Options
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INTA 220 | Cultural Theory | 3 |
| INTA 300 | Confluence and Culture | 3 |
| INTA 310 | The Arts in Urban Regeneration | 3 |
| INTA 360 | The Arts and Pedagogy | 3 |
| INTA 412 | Interdisciplinary Arts Project | 3 |
Pathways
The pathways below are recommendations on courses students could choose for their program options if they have a particular area of interest. Students can also develop their own pathway by selecting various program options.
2D Art Studio Pathway
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTE 215 | Painting II | 3 |
| ARTE 230 | Introduction to Contemporary Drawing | 3 |
| ARTE 301 | 2D Concepts and Practice | 3 |
| ARTE 311 | 2D Concepts and Practice Extended | 3 |
3D Art Studio Pathway
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTE 207 | 3D Spatial Practice I | 3 |
| ARTE 217 | 3D Spatial Practice II | 3 |
| ARTE 307 | 3D Concepts and Practice | 3 |
| ARTE 317 | 3D Concepts and Practice Extended | 3 |
Intermedia Art Pathway
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTE 216 | Intermedia II | 3 |
| ARTE 306 | Intermedia Extended I | 3 |
| ARTE 316 | Intermedia Extended II | 3 |
| ARTE 324 | History of Interdisciplinary Arts | 3 |
List of Course Substitutions
List of Course Substitutions
| Credit Earned in: | May Be Substituted for Credit in Program Course: |
|---|---|
| ARTE 102 | ARTE 104 |
| ARTE 123 | ARTE 107 |
| ARTE 202 | ARTE 224 |
| ARTE 203 | ARTE 234 |
| ARTE 208 | ARTE 308 |
| ARTE 231 | ARTE 205 and ARTE 215 |
| ARTE 240 | ARTE 230 |
Diploma Exit
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTE 104 | Art History II - Renaissance to the 19th Century | 3 |
| ARTE 106 | Digital Foundation | 3 |
| ARTE 107 | 3D Foundation | 3 |
| ARTE 110 | Drawing Foundation | 3 |
| ARTE 111 | 2D Foundation | 3 |
| ARTE 119 | Introduction to Creative Research | 3 |
| ARTE 120 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ARTE 205 | Painting I | 3 |
| ARTE 206 | Intermedia I | 3 |
| ARTE 224 | The Visual Culture of Modernity: Fin-de-siècle to Mid-Twentieth Century | 3 |
| ARTE 234 | Late Modern and Postmodern Art | 3 |
| ARTE 308 | Professional Practice | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Analysis and Argument | 3 |
| Choose 3 credits of ENGL from the following: | 3 | |
| Approaches to Literature: Trends and Traditions | ||
| Approaches to Literature: Narrative Across Media | ||
| Approaches to Literature: Contemporary Literature and Culture | ||
| INTA 210 | The Arts in Culture | 3 |
| Program Options | ||
| Choose 9 credits from the list of program options. | 9 | |
| Electives | ||
| Choose 6 credits of electives. Students must take a maximum of 3 credits from available AGAD, BCSC, DESN, INTA, MUSC, PREL, THAR, and THPR courses. | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
List of Program Options
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTE 207 | 3D Spatial Practice I | 3 |
| ARTE 214 | History of Photography | 3 |
| ARTE 215 | Painting II | 3 |
| ARTE 216 | Intermedia II | 3 |
| ARTE 217 | 3D Spatial Practice II | 3 |
| ARTE 301 | 2D Concepts and Practice | 3 |
Degree Regulations
Progression of Studies
Students are responsible for ensuring they meet the prerequisite and co-requisite requirements for all courses.
Junior- and Senior-Level Courses
Courses numbered from 100 to 199 are considered junior level, and courses numbered from 200 to 499 are considered senior level.
Senior-Level Coursework Requirements
A minimum of 72 credits of the total 120 program credits must be at the senior level. Additional courses at the 100-level will be declared extra to the 120 credits required to complete the degree and will not be counted toward fulfillment of graduation requirements.
English, Option and Elective Requirements
Students must review their major area Program of Study to ensure that they are familiar with the major requirements as well as the English, Options and Electives (and required number of senior-level credits) required for successful completion of their degree. Periodic meetings with an Academic Advisor are strongly recommended.
Residency Requirements
Students must complete 50% of the total credit requirements for the BFA at MacEwan University, as governed by Academic Graduation Procedure.
Graduation Grade Point Average
Students must achieve and maintain a minimum Graduation Grade Point Average of 2.00 on the 4.00 scale.
Declaring Your Major
Applicants must declare their major when applying to the BFA. A second-choice option may also be declared at that time.
Changing from one Major to another BFA Major
Students who wish to change their major area of study must reapply to the BFA before the next published application deadline and indicate the new major to which they are applying. In order to be considered for a different major, applicants must be able to fulfill the other admission requirements for that major. See the Admission Criteria for more information on specific requirements for each major.
Work Integrated Learning
Work Integrated Learning opportunities are threaded throughout the Bachelor of Fine Arts program and provide students with important skills, creative industry knowledge and practical experience to succeed in their chosen field of study. To learn more about Work Integrated Learning opportunities for a particular major, please see the Program of Study.
Students completing their field placement courses in the Arts and Cultural Management major must comply with the Academic Policy Work Integrated Learning. The University will facilitate the assignment of students in work placements; however, students must take responsibility for securing an acceptable placement and must work collaboratively with a university supervisor before and during their placement. Students are required to comply with any employer policies, including, but not limited to: confidentiality, hours of work, intellectual property rights and privacy protection.
Diploma Requirements
Students are eligible for a diploma after the completion of 60 credits as specified by the Program of Study in each major. In the Arts and Cultural Management major, that declaration must occur by the add/drop date at the beginning of their second year of study in order for arrangements to be made for the student to complete their required field placement. Failure to declare this intention will result in a delay in obtaining the diploma.
In the three other majors, declaration must occur by the graduation deadline of the year in which they wish to exit with a diploma.
Learning Outcomes
Bachelor of Fine Arts Learning Outcomes
- Use creative methodologies and scholarly research in professional practice.
- Advocate for the arts in a variety of communities.
- Collaborate with artists and scholars toward the fulfillment of a vision, goal, initiative, or project.
- Analyze scholarly works in arts and culture.
- Engage communities through art with respect for cultural and social differences.
- Communicate effectively and respectfully through a variety of media and in a range of contexts.
- Employ ethical and sustainable strategies to support a career in the arts.
- Respond to the ongoing demands of a professional arts practice through continual learning.
Studio Arts Major Learning Outcomes
- Identify significant historical and contextual events in art and visual culture.
- Discuss contemporary art theory, methodology, and practice.
- Critically evaluate elements and principles of art.
- Engage in the production of diverse contemporary art forms.
- Utilize traditional and innovative spaces, media and materials in professional arts practice.
- Engage in creative research as a methodology.
- Embrace the role of critical analysis in art production and writing.
- Establish a personal art practice.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must be admitted to one of the following:
Regular Admission
To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar
Applicants have a minimum overall average of 65 percent, with no course grade lower than 50 percent, in the following high school courses:
- ELA 30-1 or 75% in ELA 30-2
- Four subjects from Group A, B, C, or D
Notes:
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to present a broad range of subjects in order to benefit from the breadth of learning and to increase flexibility of future program and course choices.
- A maximum of two Group B subjects may be presented; they must be from different disciplines.
- A maximum of one Group D subject may be presented. Group D subjects used for admission must be 5-credit or any credit combination of at least 5 credits (e.g. two 3-credit subjects).
Applicants with nine or more post-secondary-level credits must also present a minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with a diploma or 24 or more university-level credits will be considered under Previous Post-Secondary Work.
Mature Admission
To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar
Applicants must be 20 years of age or older and have been out of full-time high school at least one year by the beginning of the intake term. Applicants must have the following:
- ELA 30-1 with a minimum grade of 65 percent (or equivalent)
OR
- Six credits of university level English with no grade less than C-
Applicants with nine or more post-secondary level credits must also present a minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with a diploma or 24 or more university-level credits will be considered under Previous Post-Secondary Work.
Previous Post-Secondary Work
To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar
Admission in this category does not imply or guarantee the transfer of any coursework and/or credential unless a block transfer agreement (internal or external) is in effect and published in the calendar by the Office of the University Registrar. In addition, transfer of coursework does not imply or guarantee that an applicant will be admitted.
Applicants must have successfully completed one of the following with a minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. from a recognized institution:
- A diploma (minimum of 60 credits)
OR
- A minimum of 24 university-level credits
Additional Admission Criteria
To be evaluated through the Program
Studio Arts
Applicants are required to submit a portfolio and a statement of intent to be assessed by a committee of Studio Arts faculty.
Successful applicants will demonstrate in their portfolio:
- Formal skills: aesthetic sensibility, basic understanding of composition, colour, tone, perspective;
- Technical abilities: an interest in working with a variety of mediums and subjects, demonstrating skill, craftsmanship, diversity; and
- Demonstrates experimentation and conceptual engagement
Successful applicants will demonstrate in their statement of intent:
- The ability to express ideas well in writing;
- How this MacEwan University program is aligned with their interests and goals; and
- An interest in learning about the theories and practice of historical and contemporary art.
Music Theatre Performance
Applicants are required to audition and submit a cover letter and resume.
An audition panel will assess:
- Acting abilities (objectives, actions, creative risk-taking);
- Singing abilities (breath, phonation, resonance, range, articulation); and
- Dancing/movement abilities (physicality, gesture, alignment).
The cover letter will include:
- How this MacEwan University program is aligned with the applicant’s interests and goals.
The resume should include:
- Previous training;
- Previous performing experience; and
- Special skills (e.g. languages, gymnastics, juggling, etc.)
Theatre Production
Applicants are required to submit a brief statement of intent outlining:
- Why they are interested in the program;
- The career that they are seeking through the completion of the program; and
- A description of the last theatre production they attended.
Applicants offered admission to the Theatre Production major are required to submit current, valid standard first aid certification (including Level C CPR) by the published document deadline.