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 Honours

Bachelor of Fine Arts

The bachelor of fine arts (BFA) with a major in visual art prepares students to become practising artists. A combination of broad-based practical studio courses and theoretical and historical seminars prepares students to understand their production in relation to current visual art and other discipline developments. A strong emphasis is on an understanding of the position and responsibilities of the artist in contemporary society.

Entry into the Honours program requires completion of CA 461, a cumulative GPA of 3.0, and a 3.5 GPA in CA courses. Students must also have Visual Arts Area approval to enroll in the Honours degree. Contact the general office for further information.

Methods and concepts courses are offered simultaneously as upper and lower division courses; with the exception of CA 269/369, these courses may only be completed once for credit, either as a lower division course or an upper division course, but not both.

The attention of students whose interest in visual art is related primarily to its historical, critical, or theoretical aspects, is directed to the Visual Culture and Performance Studies major, leading to a bachelor of arts (BA) degree.

Admission Requirements

Program and course admission is contingent upon University admission. Contact Student Services for admission procedures, requirements and deadlines. Entry to all programs and to many courses 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.

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

Students complete SFU Honours Degree Requirements. See https://www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/fees-and-regulations/credentials-offered/definitions.html#honours.

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 major+

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 six units 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 completed more than once for credit under a different topic. Topics may change every term and include, but are not limited to, installation practices, performance practices, digital 2D practices, and time-based media practices. Contact the general office for further information.

+ See advisor for course options.

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 48 units including all of

CA 360 - Studio in Visual Art III (4)
CA 361 - Studio in Visual Art IV (4)
CA 366 - Seminar in Visual Art I (3)
CA 367 - Seminar in Visual Art II (3)
CA 460 - Studio in Visual Art V (4)
CA 461 - Studio in Visual Art VI (5)
CA 462 - Honours Studio in Visual Art (5)

and 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 one of

CA 312 - Selected Topics in Contemporary Arts (3)
CA 314 - Readings in the History of Art, Performance and Cinema (3)
CA 319W - Critical Writing in the Arts (3)
CA 414 - Advanced Topic in the History of Art, Performance and Cinema (3)

and the remaining required units chosen from CA upper division courses (placement in courses is based on prerequisites and/or permission of the instructor)

* may be completed more than once for credit under a different topic. Topics may change every term and include, but are not limited to, installation practices, performance practices, digital 2D practices, and time-based media practices. Contact the general office for further information.

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.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

  • At least half of the program's total units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
  • At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.