<Faculty of Fine Arts

Degree Requirements

Candidates for a BA or Honours degree in the Faculty of Fine Arts degree must pass at least the respective 90 or 120 credits, chosen in conformity with curriculum requirements and in consultation with an adviser. The chart on the following page is a synopsis of degree requirements.

Course Types

Degree requirements in the Faculty of Fine Arts refer to the following categories of courses:

General Education Courses

Six credits in each of the general areas of the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences must be completed within the first 90 credits. Courses may be selected from the following departments:

Faculty of Fine Arts students may also satisfy the humanities general education requirement by taking either FA/FACS 1900 6.00 or FA/FACS 2900 6.00. However, if either course is counted as a humanities course, it cannot also be counted in another category.

Non-Fine Arts Electives

In addition to the general education courses, most fine arts students are required to complete additional courses outside the fine arts disciplines. The number of non-fine arts electives required varies according to the major and degree program. Courses taken towards a major or a minor program in the Faculties of Arts, Environmental Studies or Science and Engineering will satisfy this requirement.

Fine Arts Electives

All students in a fine arts degree program or an Honours Major/Minor program must complete at least 12 credits in fine arts outside their major discipline. Courses completed as part of a minor program in the Faculty of Fine Arts will satisfy this requirement. Fine arts electives are not required in any Honours Double Major program.

The following creative writing workshop courses may be counted as either fine arts electives, or as non-fine arts electives, but not as both:

AS/HUMA 2900 9.00
AS/EN 3240 6.00
AS/HUMA 3640 6.00
AS/HUMA 3645 6.00
AS/HUMA 4630 6.00
AS/HUMA 4640 6.00

Degree Requirements

The following requirements are in effect for 2005-2006. Students admitted to a fine arts program prior to 2005-2006 should consult previous calendars for a synopsis of requirements.

Major and Minor Courses

The specific course requirements for fine arts major and minor programs are outlined in the section following. A department may set further prescriptions, such as the requirement of a major thesis or production to be completed in conjunction with final courses.

Upper-level Courses

In all fine arts Honours programs, at least 24 credits in the major discipline must be at the 3000 or 4000 level. In the fine arts BA programs, at least 12 credits in the major discipline must be at the 3000 or 4000 level. Specific programs and streams may have additional upper-level requirements.

Double Major and Major/Minor Programs

BA Honours or BFA Honours students in the Faculty of Fine Arts may pursue a second Honours Major in the Faculty of Arts, in any program or department offering a 42 or 48 credit Honours Major. Students may not pursue two major programs within the Faculty of Fine Arts. Students complete the program requirements for the second major within the context of their fine arts degree requirements. Please see the Programs of Study section in the Faculty of Arts portion of this calendar for details. Some Honours Double Major combinations may require more than 120 credits.

BA Honours and BFA Honours students in the Faculty of Fine Arts may pursue an Honours Minor in the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Environmental Studies, the Faculty of Fine Arts or the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Program requirements for specific Honours Minors in Arts, Fine Arts and Science and Engineering are listed in the Programs of Study sections of the appropriate Faculty portions of this calendar. For the minor in environmental studies, fine arts students must complete 30 credits in environmental studies, including six credits at the 1000 level and six credits at the 4000 level, and normally including three credits in the foundations series at the 2000 level.

Note: Faculty of Arts Honours degree students may pursue a second major or a minor in the Faculty of Fine Arts. Students in the Faculty of Environmental Studies or the Faculty of Science and Engineering may also pursue an Honours Minor in the Faculty of Fine Arts. The requirements of specific minor programs are outlined in the Programs of Study sections.

Certificate Programs

Cross-Disciplinary Certificate in Digital Media

York University students may work towards a Cross-Disciplinary Certificate in Digital Media in addition to fulfilling the requirements for a bachelor's degree.

Students must successfully complete 24 credits as follows:

• FA/FACS 2930 6.00;
• Plus an additional 18 credits selected from the approved list of courses vetted by the Faculty of Fine Arts, Arts and Technology Committee, meeting the following requirements:
• six credits in a department(s)/unit(s) outside the student's major;
• six credits at the 4000 level;
• six credits of electives.

Students must declare their intention to pursue the Cross-Disciplinary Certificate in Digital Media prior to the completion of 10 credits that are applicable to the certificate. They must submit an application with evidence of satisfactory academic standing. Applications will be reviewed and accepted by a sub-committee of the Arts and Technology Committee. No more than three credits from outside York University will be accepted as transfer credits for this certificate.

In order to be awarded the Cross-Disciplinary Certificate in Digital Media, students must obtain a 5.0 (C+) overall GPA in the 24 required credits.

Application forms and the list of approved courses for this certificate are available through the Faculty of Fine Arts Office of Student and Academic Services, 201 Joan and Martin Goldfarb Centre for Fine Arts, 416-736-5135.

Professional Certificate in Digital Design

Students may elect to complete the Professional Certificate in Digital Design concurrently with the 120-credit Honours BDes. The BDes is offered through the York/Sheridan Joint Program in Design. The Professional Certificate in Digital Design recognizes a unique grouping of courses within this Joint Program: Interactive Design.

Students must successfully complete 36 credits from the approved list of courses, vetted by the Faculty of Fine Arts, Arts and Technology Committee, as follows:

• six credits outside the Department of Design (YSDN), e.g. FA/FACS 2930 6.00;
• nine credits in YSDN at any level;
• 18 credits in YSDN at the 3000-4000 level;
• three credits of electives chosen from the list vetted by the Arts and Technology Committee.

Students must declare their intention to pursue the Professional Certificate in Digital Design prior to the completion of 10 credits that are applicable to the certificate. They must submit an application with evidence of satisfactory academic standing. Applications will be reviewed and accepted by a sub-committee of the Arts and Technology Committee.

No more than six credits from outside York University will be accepted as transfer credits for this certificate.

Students must obtain a 5.0 (C+) overall GPA in the 36 required credits.

Application forms and the list of approved courses for this certificate are available through the Faculty of Fine Arts Office of Student and Academic Services, 201 Joan and Martin Goldfarb Centre for Fine Arts, 416-736-5135.

Certificate in Community Arts Practice (CAP)

York University students may earn a Certificate In Community Arts Practice (CAP). The certificate focuses on working with communities by using art as a tool to express diverse identities and to explore and take action on social and environmental issues. Students will develop creative artistic skills, expand their social analysis and learn to work collaboratively with groups for social change.

Required courses:

Students must successfully complete 24 credits as follows:

• FA/FACS 2122 3.00;
• FA/FACS 3122 3.00;
• FA/FACS 4122 6.00;
• ES/ENVS 2100 6.00 or FA/VISA 2053 3.00 and FA/VISA 3001B 3.00;
• six credits from the electives list.

Information on elective courses is available by contacting the Faculty of Fine Arts and the Faculty of Environmental Studies.