Program Overview

Program Overview

The Department of Art and Art History at the University of Calgary offers various programs, including the BFA Visual Studies program, the BA Art History Program, and a Minor in Museum and Heritage Studies.

Program Details

• The BFA Visual Studies program is interdisciplinary, allowing students to explore different artistic media throughout their degree.
• Students in the BFA program can take courses in Art History, and students in Art History have the opportunity to take courses in Visual Studies.
• The minor in Museum and Heritage Studies provides students with the opportunity to work in local organizations, gaining real-world experience.
• Students can apply to take a BFA Honours degree, where they work on a thesis project in their last year of studies, culminating in an exhibition at the Nickle Galleries.

Admission Requirements

• To apply for the BFA Visual Studies, students need to submit the online undergraduate application for admission, all supporting documents, and a portfolio.
• The portfolio should include five of the student's best original works in one Word or PDF document, demonstrating their interests and influences, and showing the range of mediums they work in.
• For each piece, students should indicate the title, date, size, and materials used, and if using AI, the role it played in the creation of the piece.
• Students should also submit a written section, in no more than 250 words, explaining why they want to major in Art.

Work-Integrated Learning

• Students in the BFA and BA Art History can apply to the cooperative education program, where they can gain career-related work experience by alternating between full-time, paid work terms and study semesters.

Career Opportunities

• Graduates of the programs in the Department of Art and Art History can pursue various careers, taking advantage of the interdisciplinary nature of the programs and the opportunity to take courses across a range of subjects inside and outside of the Faculty of Arts.

Research Areas

• The Department of Art and Art History offers research opportunities in various areas, including art history, visual studies, and museum and heritage studies.

University Information

• The University of Calgary is located in the heart of Southern Alberta, on the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, including the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda.
• The university acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories and strives to learn, walk, and grow together "in a good way."