Department Handbooks: Fine Arts

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Department Specific Info: Dance | Design | Film | Digital Media | Music | Theatre | Visual Arts

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Degree Requirements

Residence Requirement
Upper Level Courses
Second Degree Candidates
General Education Courses
Fine Arts Electives
Non-Fine Arts Electives
Course Loads

Residency Requirement
While allowing students to take a certain number of courses at other Universities and in other Faculties of York University, the Faculty of Fine Arts requires that students complete a portion of their courses as follows:

  • A minimum of 30 credits must be taken at York University
  • No fewer than half of the credits required for the Fine Arts major must be taken in the Faculty of Fine Arts (i.e. courses with the prefix FA), including at least 12 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level, subject to any further prescriptions of the major department
  • No fewer than half of the credits required for the minor must be in-Faculty courses, i.e. courses with the prefix FA.

Upper Level Courses
All Fine Arts Honours Degree programs require a minimum of 24 major credits at the 3000 or 4000 level. Some programs have additional upper level requirements.

Second Degree Candidates

Students who hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited post-secondary institution, and have been admitted to a second degree program are required to:

The in-Faculty requirement should be regarded as the minimum number of additional courses; depending on the program selected, and the amount of credit awarded for previous studies, the actual number of courses required for a second degree may well exceed that number.

No student will be permitted to pursue a second Honours degree in the same discipline.

General Education Courses
The Faculty of Fine Arts curriculum is designed to acquaint students with contemporary knowledge in the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences, as well as in the fine arts.

You must select at least six credits (one full year course) from each of the three areas listed below. All three general education requirements must be completed within your first 90 credits, and it is strongly recommended that you complete them within your first 60 credits.

Natural Science
Biology
Chemistry
Earth and Atmospheric Science
Environmental Studies 1500 6.0
Natural Science
Physics & Astronomy
Science & Technology Studies

Social Science
Anthropology
Economics
Geography
Political Science
Psychology
Social Science
Sociology

 Humanities
Classical Studies
English
French Studies
History
Humanities
Languages & Linguistics
Modes of Reasoning
Philosophy

Six credits from the fine arts 1900 3.00 series of courses, outside the major, are required for all Faculty of Fine Arts degrees. These courses may be used to satisfy either the humanities general education requirement or a fine arts requirement (i.e. an in/out requirement or a fine arts elective), but not both. 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.

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.

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 & Professional Studies or Science and Engineering will satisfy this requirement.

Course Loads
All Faculty of Fine Arts Honours degree programs require a minimum of 120 credits. Most students schedule 30 credits per year. Some students prefer to divide their studies between the Fall/Winter and Summer sessions. In the Faculty of Fine Arts, a course load of 24 credits or more during the Fall/Winter session is considered full-time study. Students with commitments outside the University that make significant demands on their time are encouraged to consider a reduced course load.

Please note that:

  • 18 credits are required to maintain a student visa or to qualify for OSAP.
  • 24 credits are needed to stay in residence or to try out and participate in a varsity sports team.
  • Some private scholarship programs may require that you complete 30 credits over the academic year.
  • A maximum of 36 credits are allowed during the F/W Session, with the permission of your major department (with the exception of Design). First year students are advised not to exceed 33 credits.