Academic Calendar 2024/25

Visual Arts

ufv.ca/creative-arts

Visual Arts major

This section specifies the Visual Arts major requirements only. Please refer to the Bachelor of Fine Arts section for information on admissions, declaration of a major, and BFA requirements. Students completing the Visual Art diploma or the Indigenous Arts certificate should consult with an Academic Advisor regarding laddering into this major in the BFA degree.

Program outline

Students must complete requirements in five areas:

  • Visual Arts core: 52-53 credits
  • Materials and methods: 12 credits
  • Advanced and thematic approaches: 9 credits
  • Art practice in the world: 3-4 credits
  • Creative practice and critical studies breadth: 9 credits

Visual Arts core: 52-53 credits

Course Title Credits
AH 100 History of Art and Culture in a Global Context 3
AH 200 Art History and Its Methods 3
SOCA 100 Ways of Seeing Art, Digital Media, and Visual Culture 3
SOCA 201 Introduction to Visual Studies 3
SOCA 401 Critical Theory for Creative Arts 3
SOCA 402 Seminar in Visual Studies 3
VA 100 Introduction to Visual Art 3
VA 110 Creating on a Theme 3
VA 113 Introduction to Drawing 3
VA 260 Professional Skills for Visual Artists 3
VA 300 Creative Research Methods 3
VA 301 Creative Praxis 3
VA 360 Professional Development and Practices 3
VA 405 Senior Studio Project 6
One of: 3-4
AH 204 Indigenous Art of the Northwest Coast  
AH 321 Canada: Contact Zone  
FILM 313 Indigenous Film  
SOCA 301 Race, Place, and Space: Creative Tools for Navigating Turbulent Times  
Plus: 3
AH Any 300-level AH course  

Materials and methods: 12 credits

Course Title Credits
VA 200-level VA courses 9
One of: 3
FILM 260 Video Production Techniques I  
FILM 261 Video Production Techniques II  
IPK 277 Indigenous Art: Stories and Protocols  
MEDA 210 Digital Concept Art  

MEDA 270

3D Modeling and Animation I  
MEDA 280 Game Engines I  
THEA 250 Introduction to Storytelling in Indigenous, Theatrical, and Global Communities  
VA Any 200-level VA course  

Advanced and thematic approaches: 9 credits

Course Title Credits
VA 300- or 400-level VA courses 6
One of: 3
FILM 360 Video Production III: Storytelling and the Director  
FILM 361 Video Production IV: Short Film Project  
VA Any 300- or 400-level VA course  

Art practice in the world: 3-4 credits

Course Title Credits
One of: 3-4
AH 230 Issues in Exhibition  
AH 330 Museum Principles and Practices  
AIS 380 Practicum/Internship I (formerly ARTS 380)  
THEA 304 Applied Theatre and Performance Methods  
THEA 399 Intermediate Practicum in Theatre  
VA 391 Socially Engaged Art Practices  
VA 392 Public Art  

Creative practice and critical studies breadth: 9 credits

9 credit selected from AH, ENGL (courses specified as Creative Writing only), FILM, GD, MEDA, MACS, THEA, or VA courses, 100-level or higher.

Additional requirements for BFA with a Visual Arts major

Additional program requirements will be met in part by fulfilling the requirements noted above. The following must also be included in the 120 credits required for the BFA:

  • At least 15 upper-level credits that count towards the major must be completed at UFV.
  • The following courses must be completed at UFV, and may not be acquired through transfer or PLAR: AH 401/VA 401, VA 402, AH 403/VA 403, and VA 404.
  • Within the 20 Art History credits required for the major, students must take one of AH 204 or AH 321.

Declaration requirements

Students declaring the Visual Arts major must complete the following six courses with a CGPA of 2.33:

  • VA 113 or VA 225 (formerly VA 101)
  • VA 115
  • VA 116
  • VA 119 or VA 180
  • Two Art History courses

See the BFA section for more information on the declaration process.

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.


Current Students