Please note:

To view the Spring 2025 Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2025/spring.

School for the Contemporary Arts | Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology Simon Fraser University Calendar | Summer 2025

Visual Art Extended Minor

This program may interest those who wish to obtain a bachelor of arts (BA) degree by completing an extended minor program. The program offers studio, history and theory courses in visual art, giving a good introduction to contemporary art issues and practices. A extended minor may be used for the purpose of teaching in public and private schools.

Methods and concepts courses are offered simultaneously as upper and lower division courses.

Admission Requirements

Program and course admission is contingent upon University admission. Contact Student Services for admission procedures, requirements and deadlines. Entry to all programs in the School for the Contemporary Arts is by audition, interview or application. Contact the school’s office for information on procedures and deadlines or visit our website.

Although the University operates on a trimester system, most CA courses are planned in a two term (fall and spring) sequence. Consequently, students enter in the fall term (September) and are advised to contact the school in the preceding January for program entry and requirements information.

Entry to the Visual Art Extended Minor is granted based on grades and portfolio assessment. Contact the general office for further information.

A minimum 2.4 SCA GPA and 2.0 CGPA is required to remain in good standing in the program.

Transfer Credit and Advanced Standing

Unassigned or general elective (type 2 and 3, respectively) transfer credit awarded for courses completed at other recognized post-secondary institutions will not automatically entitle students to advanced standing in the school’s programs. Advanced standing is generally given on an individual basis as a result of an audition or interview.

About the School’s Course Offerings

Students are encouraged to take advantage of interdisciplinary offerings within the school. As many programs depend on a continuing sequence of courses completed in order, students should plan carefully to gain the maximum benefit and efficiency from their study. Note that not all courses are offered every term and several are offered on a rotational basis, i.e. every third or fourth term. An advisor is available to help plan study programs.

Students are reminded that the school is an interdisciplinary contemporary arts department, and are strongly advised to acquaint themselves with the many disciplinary courses that are available.

Special Topics Courses

The subject matter (and prerequisites) of special or selected topics courses vary by term.

Prior Approval Prerequisite

Where a prerequisite is or includes ‘prior approval,’ approval must be obtained before enrolling in the course. Contact the school for further information.

Program Requirements

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 39 units including

Three core courses below

CA 149 - Sound (3)
CA 186 - Art and the Moving Image (3)
CA 285 - Interdisciplinary Studio - Composition/Collaboration (3)

plus one additional CA history/theory course outside their extended minor

and all of

CA 117 - Modern Art History (3)
CA 118 - Contemporary Art History (3)
CA 160 - Introductory Studio in Visual Art I (3)
CA 161 - Introductory Studio in Visual Art II (3)
CA 210W - Art and Visual Culture: Materials, Forms, Histories (3)
CA 260 - Studio in Visual Art I (3)
CA 261 - Studio in Visual Art II (3)

and two of

CA 262 - Methods and Concepts: Drawing-based Practices (3)
CA 263 - Methods and Concepts: Painting-based Practices (3)
CA 264 - Methods and Concepts: Sculptural Practices (3)
CA 265 - Methods and Concepts: Photo-based Practices (3)
CA 269 - Methods and Concepts: Selected Topics (3) *

* May be repeated for credit if the topic is different.

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 15 units including six units of

CA 362 - Methods and Concepts: Drawing-based Practices (3)
CA 363 - Methods and Concepts: Painting Practices (3)
CA 364 - Methods and Concepts: Sculptural Practices (3)
CA 365 - Methods and Concepts: Photo-based Practices (3)
CA 369 - Methods and Concepts: Selected Topics (3) *

and nine CA upper division units including one history/theory course.

* May be repeated for credit if the topic is different.

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit

Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each)

Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more)
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth

Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division:

Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc
Two courses (total six units or more) Humanities: B-Hum
Two courses (total six units or more) Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements).

Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.