2 years at RDC - 2 years at most universities & art colleges

Two-Year University Transfer Program:

The Bachelor of Fine Art program provides a comprehensive program of studies for those considering a career or general education in visual art.

This program emphasizes the importance of a general foundation in art. Employment in specialized art fields can be very competitive, 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, 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.

All of our Visual Arts instructors are professional practising artists. We offer state-of-the-art studio spaces fully equipped for ceramics, sculpture, painting, drawing, 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.

Emphasis in the second year is on creative growth, visual maturity in studio work as well as allowing you to experience open options to broaden your education.

You may transfer up to 20 course equivalents taken at RDC to the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, University of Lethbridge or the Alberta College of Art and Design, NSCAD University, and the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. The B.F.A. 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.

Related Link: Admission requirements for specific programs will often refer to Alberta Grade 12 course groups. Visit the Admissions page for detailed group descriptions.

Minimum 60% average with no mark below 50% in:

1. ELA 30-1 or ELA 30-2
2. Subject from Group A, B, or C

Note: Students who enter the program with English 30-2 must take English 30-1 or the equivalent (English 095) and may not complete the program in four terms. English 095 is not credited towards diploma requirements as it is equivalent to high school English 30-1.

Note: Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency in addition to the program admission requirements.

You must pass 20 term university transfer courses or a minimum of 60 credit hours, and achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 to receive a Diploma in University Transfer Studies.

You may enter the third year of BFA (Art) at the University of Lethbridge or the Alberta College of Art and Design if you have successfully completed all of the program requirements, or transfer to most Canadian universities.

Suggested Pattern Year 1

• ART 101/101 Visiting Artists
• ART 201/203 Art History I and II
• ART 231/233 Visual Fundamentals I & II
• ART 241/243 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 at the 200 level

Suggested Pattern Year 2

• ART 101/101 Visiting Artists
• ART 310/311 Professional Practice I and II
• ART 341/343 Drawing III and IV
• One term academic option
• English One term course at the 200 level
• Two term University transfer academic option (preferably a 300 level Art History).

Two studio electives from the following:

• ART 351/353 Painting II and III
• ART 361/363 Ceramics II and III
• ART 381/383 Sculpture II and III