The Faculty of Fine Arts believes in an interdisciplinary education integrated with pre-professional and professional work in the arts. The curriculum is designed to acquaint students with contemporary knowledge in the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences, as well as in the fine arts. In all programs, students pursue both theory and practice in the arts, in one or more fields, according to their artistic and scholarly needs and abilities.

The Faculty of Fine Arts offers five undergraduate degrees: the BA, the Specialized Honours BA, the Specialized Honours BFA, the Joint BA Digital Media program (fine arts cultural studies and Department of Computer Science and Engineering) and, in partnership with Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, the Specialized Honours BDes. In general, students who concentrate in fine arts history, theory and/or criticism graduate with either a BA or Specialized Honours BA degree and students concentrating in studio, performance and/or production work graduate with a Specialized Honours BFA or Specialized Honours BDes degree. Upon admission to the Faculty, students select a degree program which may be changed during subsequent registration periods with the approval of the related department.

Specialized Honours Program

The Specialized Honours program is designed for students who wish to concentrate in a particular discipline within a university context and obtain an intensive experience in that discipline. Specialized Honours programs are available in dance, design, film, music, theatre and visual arts.

BA Program

The BA in fine arts with majors in dance, film, music, theatre and visual arts is designed to provide students with a further range of options, in a 90-credit degree program.

Honours Double Major Program

The Honours Double Major program allows students to combine a major in dance, film, fine arts cultural studies, music, theatre or visual arts with a second major offered through the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies. Fine arts students in the Honours Double Major program must satisfy the basic degree requirements of the Faculty of Fine Arts and graduate with either an Honours BA or Honours BFA degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts. Some Honours Double Major combinations may require more than 120 credits.

Honours Double Major BA Degree Program within the Faculty of Fine Arts

The Honours Double Major BA degree within the Faculty of Fine Arts allows students to combine a major in dance, film, music, theatre or visual arts with a second major offered through dance, film, music, theatre or visual arts. The Specialized Honours BA program may be pursued jointly with other Specialized Honours BA or BFA programs in the Faculty of Fine Arts. While the Honours Double Major BA degree within the Faculty of Fine Arts may be pursued jointly with another Specialized Honours BA or BFA program in the Faculty of Fine Arts, the Honours Double Major combination of two Honours BFA programs is not an option. Some Honours Double Major combinations may require more than 120 credits.

Honours Major/Minor Program

The Honours Major/Minor program is designed for students who wish to combine a primary concentration in dance, film, music, theatre or visual arts with a secondary concentration in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, the Faculty of Environmental Studies, the Faculty of Fine Arts or the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Fine arts students in the Honours Major/Minor program must satisfy the basic degree requirements of the Faculty of Fine Arts and graduate with either a Specialized Honours BA or a Specialized Honours BFA degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts. Some Honours Major/Minor combinations may require more than 120 credits.

Coregistration in the Faculty of Education

Students registered in the Faculty of Fine Arts may apply for admission to the Concurrent program of the Faculty of Education. Coregistered students work towards the separate degree requirements of both Faculties concurrently and if successful are awarded two degrees: the BA or the Specialized Honours BA or the Specialized Honours BFA from the Faculty of Fine Arts and the BEd from the Faculty of Education.

A Faculty of Fine Arts Honours degree which normally takes four years to complete, will take five years when pursued concurrently with the bachelor of education degree. For those students interested in teaching at the primary, junior and intermediate levels, a BA degree and a BEd could be completed in four years. For further information, please consult the Faculty of Education section.

Graduate Studies in Fine Arts

York University’s Faculty of Graduate Studies offers several programs in fine arts including the master of design, and the MA degree in art history, dance, historical, critical, historical and theoretical studies in film, theatre studies, ethnomusicology and musicology. Programs leading to the MFA degree include film, theatre and visual arts. It is also possible to obtain the MA or MFA in combination with an MBA degree. PhD programs are also available.

Applicants should be aware that application deadlines and admission requirements vary from program to program. For further information, please consult the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar.