This program emphasizes the importance of a general foundation in art. Most related careers in art require further studies beyond two years, either at university or art college. Competition for employment in specialized art fields is very keen, making the strength of your basic education very important.

The following employment-related fields require a general art foundation, followed by more specialized training, ending in a four-year undergraduate degree or Master's degree.

• Fine Art - sculpture, painting, ceramics, printmaking, photography, and drawing
• Crafts Design - ceramics, textiles, glass, and jewellery
• Commercial Design - lay-out, illustration, display, model-making, and photography
• Environmental Design - architectural, urban, environmental, and industrial design
• Photography - creative, commercial, industrial, and freelance
• Art Education - secondary and post-secondary
• Other - art galleries, framing shops, etc.

The instructors in the Visual Art program are themselves practicing artists. Studios are fully equipped for ceramics, sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, and design.

The program offers you a concentrated visual arts foundation in a two year time span.

The first year emphasizes experience in drawing, painting, design, ceramics, sculpture, art history, and English. A broad range of visual experiences will help you form a visual arts vocabulary and master skills in composition and technical areas.

The second year of the program emphasizes creative growth and visual maturity in studio work. You will also be introduced to studies in the humanities.

You may transfer up to 20 course equivalents taken at Red Deer College to the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, University of Lethbridge, the Alberta College of Art and Design, NSCAD University, and the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. The Visual Art diploma program is also transferable to most other Canadian universities and art colleges.

Transfer requirements vary from one university to another. See the Alberta Transfer Guide for detailed transfer policies.

High School Diploma with no grade below 50% in ELA 30-1 or ELA 30-2

OR

2. Mature Student: You must be 19 years of age or older, out of high school at least one full year before the program starts, and have a minimum of 50% in ELA 30-1 or ELA 30-2

OR

a minimum score of 80 on the Reading component, 86 on the Sentence component and 5 on the written essay component of the College Board Placement Test.

Note: In addition to the program admission requirements applicants, whose first language is not English, must demonstrate English language proficiency.

You must pass all courses (26 courses, 64 total credits) and achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.

Year 1

• ART 101/ART 101 Visiting Artists
• ART 201/ART 203 Art History I and II
• ART 231/ART 233 Visual Fundamentals I & II
• ART 241/ART 243 Drawing I and II
• ART 251 Two Dimensional Studies- Painting I
• ART 261 Three Dimensional Studies-Ceramics I
• ART 281 Three Dimensional Studies-Sculpture I
• English One term course (level determined by entry qualifications)

Year 2

• ART 101/ART 101 Visiting Artists
• ART 310/ART 311 Professional Practice I and II
• ART 341/ART 343 Drawing III and IV
• One-term academic option
• English One-term course (university level)
• Two-term University transfer academic option (preferably a 300 level Art History).

Two electives from the following full-year studio courses:

• ART 351/ART 353 Painting II and III
• ART 361/ART 363 Ceramics II and III
• ART 375/ART 377/ART 379 Printmaking (two will be offered each year)
• ART 381/ART 383 Sculpture II and III