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2008-2009 UNDERGRADUATE CALENDAR

<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:

Humanities

Natural Science

Social Science

classical studies

biology

anthropology

English

chemistry

economics

French studies

earth and atmospheric science

geography

history

environmental studies ES/ENVS 1500 6.00

political science

humanities

natural science

psychology

languages and linguistics

Physics and Astronomy

social science

modes of reasoning

science and technology studies (SC/STS)

sociology

philosophy

 

 

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. Note: FA/FACS 1900 6.00 is required for all Faculty of Fine Arts degrees.

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.

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 fine arts BA programs, a minimum of 18 credits (including the 12 major credits) must be at the 3000 or 4000 level. Specific programs and streams may have additional upper-level requirements.

Degree Requirements

The following requirements are in effect for 2008-2009. Students admitted to a fine arts program prior to 2008-2009 should consult previous calendars for a synopsis of requirements.

 

BA - 90 credits

18 credits in general education; 12 credits in fine arts outside the major department; 36-45 credits in the major department including at least 12 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level; 15-24 additional credits, which may be taken inside or outside the major department; a minimum of 18 credits (including the 12 major credits) must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.

BA Honours - 120 credits

At least 24 fine arts major credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level, including at least 12 credits in studies/history/theory/criticism, subject to any further prescriptions of the major department.

BFA Honours - 120 credits

At least 24 fine arts major credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level, including at least 12 credits in practicum/studio/performance/production, subject to any further prescriptions of the major department.

BDes Specialized Honours - 120 credits

This is a Specialized Honours program only. There is no Double Major or Major/Minor program with a design major.

Fine Arts Cultural Studies

18 credits in general education;
24 credits in FACS;
24 credits in fine arts;
24 additional credits

18 credits in general education;
36 credits in FACS;
24 credits in fine arts/FACS;
18 credits outside fine arts;
24 additional credits

N/A

N/A

Dance

18 credits in general education;
45 credits in dance;
12 credits in fine arts outside of dance*;
15 additional credits

18 credits in general education;
48 credits in dance;
12 credits in fine arts outside dance*;
12 credits outside fine arts;
30 additional credits

18 credits in general education;
81 credits in dance;
12 credits in fine arts outside dance*;
nine additional credits

N/A

Design

N/A

N/A

N/A

18 credits in general education;
78 credits in design;
12 credits in fine arts outside design;
12 additional credits

Film

18 credits in general education;
42 credits in film;
12 credits in fine arts outside of film*;
18 additional credits

18 credits in general education;
48 credits in film;
12 credits in fine arts outside film*;
18 credits outside fine arts;
24 additional credits

18 credits in general education;
60 credits in film;
12 credits in fine arts outside film*;
six credits outside fine arts;
21 additional credits

N/A

Music

18 credits in general education;
45 credits in music;
12 credits in fine arts outside of music*;
15 additional credits

18 credits in general education;
57 credits in music;
12 credits in fine arts outside music*;
33 additional credits

18 credits in general education;
57 credits in music;
12 credits in fine arts outside music*;
33 additional credits

N/A

Theatre

18 credits in general education;
45 credits in theatre;
12 credits in fine arts outside of theatre*;
15 additional credits

18 credits in general education;
48 credits in theatre;
12 credits in fine arts outside theatre*;
18 credits outside fine arts;
24 additional credits

18 credits in general education;
60 credits in theatre;
12 credits in fine arts outside theatre*;
six credits outside fine arts;
24 additional credits

N/A

Visual Arts

18 credits in general education;
42 credits in visual arts;
12 credits in fine arts outside of visual arts*;
18 additional credits

18 credits in general education;
54 credits in visual arts;
12 credits in fine arts outside visual arts*;
12 credits outside fine arts;
24 additional credits

18 credits in general education;
66 credits in visual arts;
12 credits in fine arts outside visual arts*;
12 credits outside fine arts;
12 additional credits

N/A

Students enrolled in the concurrent BEd program are required to take 66 dance credits. Please contact the Dance Department for further information.

* Note 1: FA/FACS 1900 6.00 is required for all Faculty of Fine Arts degrees. This course may be used to satisfy either the humanities general education requirement or a fine arts requirement (i.e. a fine arts elective, or a major or minor requirement in fine arts cultural studies), but not both. For students admitted to the Faculty of Fine Arts with a minimum of 54 transfer credits, FA/FACS 1900 6.00 is optional.

* Note 2: Fine arts credits outside the major are not required in the Honours Double Major program. They are required in the Honours Major/Minor program; students with a fine arts minor will automatically satisfy the requirement.


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.

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 the Faculties of 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 5.00 (C+) overall grade point average 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, 232 Joan and Martin Goldfarb Centre for Fine Arts, 416-736-5135.

Please note: Students who are concurrently taking a certificate and undergraduate degree must successfully complete the certificate and degree requirements prior to convocation. Certificates will not be retroactively granted.

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 or 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 5.00 (C+) overall grade point average 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, 232 Joan and Martin Goldfarb Centre for Fine Arts, 416-736-5135.

Please note: Students who are concurrently taking a certificate and undergraduate degree must successfully complete the certificate and degree requirements prior to convocation. Certificates will not be retroactively granted.

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:

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

Dance Science Certificate

The Department of Dance offers a disciplinary certificate in dance science in conjunction with the BA or BFA Honours degrees.

This proposal is unique within the Faculty of Fine Arts, as no other department is approaching their field from a science perspective. Regarding the university and educational goals, this certificate provides an approach to dance education that is multidisciplinary, and the courses are open to majors from other departments and Faculties, such as the School of Kinesiology and Health Science.

For students to be accepted into the dance science certificate, they must first complete the core courses (Human Anatomy and Dance Kinesiology) and have attained a minimum of B+ in Dance Kinesiology, with an overall grade point average in the dance major of 6.00.

Students must successfully complete a minimum of 27 credits as follows:

Summary of Coursework for the Dance Science Certificate

1000/2000 level: nine credits; both courses required

    Anatomy: six credits
    2320 Dance Kinesiology: three credits

3000/4000 level: a minimum of 18 credits (12 of these credits cannot also be used as credits towards the major degree requirements of the BA or BFA degrees)

    3320 Somatic Education: three credits
    3321 Prevention and Care of Dance Injuries: three credits
    3322 Embodied Thought: Moving, Sensing and Learning: three credits
    4320 Motor Learning Issues in Dance: three credits
    4400 Senior Projects: six, nine or 12 credits

Please note: Not all of the courses at the 3000 or 4000 level will be offered every year.

In order to receive this certificate, students may be required to take more than the credits required for their degree.