Bachelor of Fine Arts degree

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree can currently only be completed by meeting the requirements of both the BFA and a major in Visual Arts. The information below combines the requirements for the BFA and the major.

Entrance requirements

Option 1: High school (for students with high school graduation only)

1. B.C. Secondary school graduation or equivalent and,
2. B in English 12, and interview and portfolio required.

Option 2: University entrance (for students who have attended some post-secondary school)

Completion of a minimum of 15 university-level credits in BFA-related disciplines (see Note) with a minimum of 2.33 GPA, and an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all courses attempted.
  or
Completion of a minimum of nine university-level credits in BFA-related disciplines (see Note) with a GPA of 3.0 or better, and an overall cumulative GPA of 2.33 on all courses attempted.
  or
A UFV diploma in Visual Arts, Fashion Design, Graphic and Digital Design, or Theatre Arts.
  or
A UFV Associate of Arts degree with an option in Theatre or MACS.

Note: For the purpose of Admissions, credits earned in the following BFA-related disciplines will be considered: Art History, Fashion Design, Film Studies, Graphic Design, Media and Communication Studies, Theatre, and Visual Arts. Credits earned in Creative Writing courses offered by the English department will also be considered: ENGL 104, 111, 165, 211, 212, 213, 215, 302, 303, 311, 313, 315, 317, 373, 377, 381, 386.

Applicants must also satisfy English language policy. For details on how this requirement may be met, see English language policy 340.29.

When to apply

Applications are accepted for entrance to the Fall semester only. For application deadlines, see Specific intake application process.

How to apply

1. Submit the application fee along with your UFV application for admission form to the Admissions and Records (A&R) office. Application forms are available from any A&R or Student Services office. You can also print an application form from our website at www.ufv.ca/ar, or you can apply directly through the internet at www.pas.bc.ca.

Additional documents required for a complete application:
• official transcripts (or interim transcripts) from all post-secondary institutions you have attended showing grade/course achievement as per entrance requirements. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly to UFV from the originating institution; see the Transfer Credit section for details. To retain your original application date, order early so transcripts arrive within two weeks of the date your application is mailed or submitted.

2. When your application has been processed by the Admissions and Records office, you will receive information on program orientation and portfolio submission dates, and a copy of the portfolio guidelines. Applicants under Option 1 must submit a portfolio of recently created art works and accompanying documentation, as directed in the portfolio guidelines. The portfolio is not due at the time of application, but will be submitted and reviewed in April for the fall intake. All applicants must attend a program orientation, also held in April. Applicants who reside outside the Lower Mainland area should contact the Program Advisor for alternate arrangements. 

3. You will be advised of an admission decision and, if accepted, will be provided with registration information. A deposit is required when you register (see the Fees and Other Costs section). This money will be applied toward your tuition fees. Final payment of all course fees is due the second week of classes.

4. In cases where course work is in progress, an admission decision may be made conditional upon completion of academic requirements. Proof of completion of entrance requirements is due the end of the first week in August for the September intake.

Basis for admission decision

Applicants who meet the entrance requirements will be admitted in order of their application date. This date is set when an application, all required documentation, and the application fee have been submitted.

Fees and other costs

See the Fees and Other Costs section. Books and additional supplies cost approximately $100 per course. There are other related costs which must be considered over the four-year program:

Standing Required for Continuance

All students accepted into the BFA program at UFV are expected to maintain acceptable standards of scholarship. Specifically, they are expected to maintain a minimum 2.0 CGPA on all courses. Six credits in Art History with a minimum cumulative grade of 2.0 must be attained by the end of 60 credits in the BFA (Visual Arts major).

Probation/Academic Warning

A student who has a CGPA lower than 2.0 or who has not completed six credits in Art History with a minimum cumulative grade of 2.0 by the end of 60 credit will be placed on Academic Warning for the next semester. A student on Academic Warning may not register in a course overload. A student on Academic Warning who achieves a single semester GPA for of at least 2.0 will continue on Academic Warning until the CGPA equals or exceeds 2.0. Warning will take place in accordance with UFV policy 340.03 on Academic Warning.

Requirement to Withdraw

Students who do not achieve a semester GPA of at least 2.0 while they are on Academic Warning will be required to withdraw from the program. Students who have been required to withdraw from the BFA program may continue to take courses as Arts Studies students; however, they may not register for any upper-level courses.

Course Repetition

Students may not register for a course more than twice. No more than five course duplications will be permitted. Where a course has been repeated, only the higher grade will be counted in the GPA calculation.

Re-admission

A student who is required to withdraw from the BFA program must submit an appeal for readmission to the BFA program head if he/she wishes to resume studies in the degree program. Students who have been required to withdraw will be advised to complete a further nine credits of academic work or to repeat a similar amount of academic work taken previously in order to demonstrate their academic abilities. Appeals must be received at least three months before the start of the semester for which a student has applied. Readmission is not automatic. If readmitted, students will be placed on Academic Warning again, subject to the conditions for Academic Warning as described above.

Residency

A student must complete at least 60 credits of the credits required for the BFA at UFV. At least 15 of these credits must be at the upper-level. Transfer credits and credits earned through prior learning assessment, which includes course challenge, do not meet this requirement.

Graduation

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all program requirements are met. This should be done by regular consultation with the BFA Program Advisor.

• GPA of at least 2.0 GPA on all program courses.
• Student participation in a graduation exhibition. Intention to participate should be registered with the BFA advisor during the semester prior to program completion.
• Students who wish to attend the graduation ceremony in June must apply by April 1, and complete program requirements by April 30.

Program requirements

The 120 credits required consist of:

• 60 studio credits with 30 at the upper-level
• 33 arts and lab science credits with 12 of these being upper-level credits (This includes a writing requirement (6 credits), a lab science requirement (3 credits), a reasoning requirement (3 credits), and 21 credits in Art History.)
• 27 elective credits of university-level coursework at a 100-level or higher, with a minimum of three of these credits being upper-level. A maximum of six credits may be from visual arts/art history. At least six credits must come from BFA programs or BFA related courses. Students with a UFV diploma in Fashion Design, Graphic Design or Theatre will typically have 30 credits that apply to the degree. They must meet all program requirements.

Core program requirements

Foundation studio

Studio core

Note: Theatre minor students may substitute THEA 370 for one studio IV course.

Art History core

Senior series

Note: Theatre minor students may substitute THEA 370 for either VA 402/AH 402 or VA 404/AH 404.

General requirements

Writing requirement

Six credits from:

• ENGL 105
• Three additional credits from ENGL 100- to 400-level courses, or CMNS 155

Reasoning requirement

• PHIL 100 or at least three credits from each of the following lists:

* This requirement may be met by PSYC 210 if previously completed.

Lab Science requirement

Four credits from:

• ASTR 103 or 104
• BIO, 100-level or higher
• CHEM, 100-level or higher
• CIS 145, CIS 146, CIS 180, CIS 185, CIS 245
• GEOG 101 or 102
• KPE 163 or 170
• PHYS 100-level or higher
• PSYC 202*

* This requirement may be met by PSYC 210 or PSYC 220 if previously completed.

Electives

27 credits of university-level coursework at a 100-level or higher. A maximum of six credits may be from visual arts/art history. A maximum of 24 credits may be from applied arts. Three of the 27 credits must be upper-level. At least six credits must come from BFA programs or BFA related courses:

• Film Studies
• Theatre
• Graphic Design
• Fashion Design
• MACS
• LAS 100, LAS 201
• ENGL 211, 212, 213, 215
• CIS 145, CIS 146, CIS 180, CIS 185, CIS 245

Note: Students with a UFV Fashion Design diploma will typically be able to apply 30 credits to the BFA, those with a Graphic Design diploma about 33 credits, and those with a Theatre diploma about 33 credits. All core courses and breadth courses have to be completed for the BFA.

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.