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Fine Arts – Degree Requirements

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Candidates for a BA or Specialized 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 six credits from the fine arts 1900 3.00 series of courses outside the major program. However, these courses if used to satisfy a humanities course general education requirement, 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 Environmental Studies, Liberal Arts and Professional 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 Specialized 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 2013-2014. Students admitted to a fine arts program prior to 2013-2014 should consult previous calendars for a synopsis of requirements. Please refer to the Programs of Study section of the Undergraduate Calendar for specific degree requirements for all programs.

  BA - 90 credits
At least 18 fine arts major credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level, including at least 12 credits in the major; subject to any further prescriptions of the major department.		 Specialized Honours BA - 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. 		Specialized Honours BFA - 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.		 Specialized Honours BDes - 120 credits
This is a Specialized Honours program only. There is no double major or major/minor program with a design major.
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;
69 credits in dance;
12 credits in fine arts outside dance*;
12 credits outside fine arts

Choreography / Performance
18 credits in general education;
75 credits in dance;
12 credits in fine arts outside dance*;
nine additional credits

Dance Education
18 credits in general education;
75 credits in dance;
12 credits in fine arts outside dance*;
nine additional credits

BFA/Concurrent Education program: students are required to take 66 dance credits. Please contact the Dance Department for further information.

 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
Digital Media N/A See Programs of Study section of this publication N/A N/A
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 		Production:
18 credits in general education;
60 credits in film;
12 credits in fine arts outside film*;
six credits outside fine arts;
24 additional credits

Screenwriting:
18 credits in general education;
51 credits in film;
12 credits in fine arts outside film*;
six credits outside fine arts;
33 additional credits		 N/A
Music 18 credits in general education;
45 credits in music;
18 credits in fine arts outside of music*;
9 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;
18 credits in fine arts outside of theatre*;
9 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		 Production:
18 credits in general education;
60 credits in theatre;
12 credits in fine arts outside theatre*;
six credits outside fine arts;
24 additional credits

Acting:
18 credits in general education;
81 credits in theatre;
12 credits in fine arts outside theatre*;
six credits outside fine arts;
3 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*;
12 credits outside fine arts; 6 additional credits which may include three credits in visual arts		 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

*Note: six credits from the fine arts 1900 3.00 series of courses, outside the major, are required of all Faculty of Fine Arts degrees. These courses may be used toward satisfying the humanities general education requirement, the in/out requirements or a fine arts elective. For students admitted to the Faculty of Fine Arts with a minimum of 54 transfer credits, the six credits from the fine arts 1900 3.00 series of courses outside the major are optional.

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

Specialized Honours BA or Specialized Honours BFA students in the Faculty of Fine Arts may pursue a second Honours Major in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, in any program or department offering a 42 or 48 credit Honours Major. Students may not pursue two BFA 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 Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies Programs of Study section for details. Some Honours Double Major combinations may require more than 120 credits.

Specialized Honours BA and Specialized Honours BFA students in the Faculty of Fine Arts may pursue an Honours Minor in the Faculties of Environmental Studies, Fine Arts, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies or Science and Engineering. Program requirements for specific Honours Minors in the Faculties of Fine Arts, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies and Science and Engineering are listed in the Programs of Study sections of the appropriate Faculty portions of this publication. 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.

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

The Specialized 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 Specialized Honours 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 Specialized Honours BFA program in the Faculty of Fine Arts, the Honours Double Major combination of two Honours BFA programs is not an option.

Note: Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies Honours degree students may pursue a second major or a minor in the Faculty of Fine Arts. Students in the Faculties of Environmental Studies or 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

Professional Certificate in Digital Design

Students may elect to complete the Professional Certificate in Digital Design concurrently with the 120-credit Specialized 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.

Disciplinary Certificate in Dance Science

The Department of Dance offers a Disciplinary Certificate in Dance Science in conjunction with the Specialized Honours BA or Specialized Honours BFA 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 Disciplinary Certificate in Dance Science, 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 course work for the Disciplinary Certificate in Dance Science

Notes:

  1. It is particularly important to see a faculty adviser during the winter term of your second year to discuss your career plans and shape your Year 3 and 4 studies so they provide support for one or more careers you are considering.
  2. Not all of the courses at the 3000 or 4000 level will be offered every year.
  3. 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. In order to receive this certificate, students may be required to take more than the credits required for their degree.