Simon Fraser University (SFU) is a leading Canadian institution located in Burnaby, British Columbia. With a mission to be Canada's most community-engaged research university, SFU offers a comprehensive range of programs across disciplines including arts, sciences, business, communication, engineering, health sciences, and more. SFU is known for its innovative curriculum, interdisciplinary approach, and commitment to social responsibility. Students at SFU benefit from a supportive and inclusive learning environment, cutting-edge research opportunities, and a vibrant campus life surrounded by the natural beauty of British Columbia.

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This program studies the fine and performing arts, with a focus on visual culture. You’ll start with a history of the arts and move on through critical theory, thematic topics or curating. This degree will prepare you for a variety of jobs in the arts, film, or a graduate degree.This program leads to a bachelor of arts (BA) degree. Within the contemporary arts, there are lively debates about the meaning and significance of individual artworks, as well as their relationships to audiences and to other forms of culture. The program investigates art and culture with attention to the historically changing forms of class, gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality and aesthetics. It provides students with the knowledge, research and communication skills needed to participate effectively in contemporary debates about art and culture. The core program includes two introductory studio courses from a multidisciplinary range of choices; these provide the experience of the creative process in dance, music, theatre, video or visual art. The program is interdisciplinary, but also provides a knowledge of and sensitivity to the distinctive qualities of specific art forms. Course selection beyond the program’s core is flexible and students are encouraged to shape their studies in the school, or in the University at large. Show less

Ower Division Requirements for Both Streams
Students in both streams complete a total of 27 units including all of:

CA 118 - Contemporary Art History (3)
CA 137 - The History and Aesthetics of Cinema II (3)
CA 186 - Art and the Moving Image (3)
CA 210W - Art and Visual Culture: Materials, Forms, Histories (3)
CA 285 - Interdisciplinary Studio - Composition/Collaboration (3)
Art and Performance Studies Stream
Lower Division Requirements
In addition to the lower division courses required for both streams, students in the Art and Performance Studies stream must complete:

CA 117 - Modern Art History (3)
Plus six units from below:

CA 127 - History of Dance: From the 20th Century to the Present (3)
CA 136 - The History and Aesthetics of Cinema I (3)
CA 140 - Contexts in Creative Music and Sound Practice (3)
CA 149 - Sound (3)
CA 217 - Introduction to Performance Studies (3)
CA 228W - Dance Aesthetics (3)
CA 235 - Experimental Film and Video (3)
CA 257W - Context of Theatre I (3)
HUM 211 - Art and Literature of the Italian Renaissance (3)
And six units from below:

CA 120 - Introduction to Dance Forms: Contemporary and Popular (3)
CA 129 - Movement Fundamentals (3)
CA 150 - Introduction to Acting (3)
CA 160 - Introductory Studio in Visual Art I (3)
CA 170 - Introduction to Production Technology (3)
CA 243 - Gamelan I (3)
Upper Division Requirements
Students are encouraged to plan in advance, as some upper division courses may not be offered each year. Students who wish to complete upper division courses must make sure they have the disciplinary prerequisites and should be aware that studio courses may have limited enrolments.

Students complete a minimum of 28 units from the list below, including a minimum 12 units from these courses:

CA 312 - Selected Topics in Art and Culture Studies: Landscape (3) *
CA 314 - Readings in the History of Art, Performance and Cinema (3) *
CA 315 - Sound Art: History and Concepts (4)
CA 412W - Advanced Seminar in Art and Performance Studies (4) *
CA 414 - Advanced Topic in the History of Art, Performance and Cinema (3) *
Remaining units can be drawn from the list below:

CA 308 - Contemporary Arts Field School I (Theory/History) (4)
CA 316 - Intermediate Selected Topics in Cinema Studies (4)
CA 318 - Theory and Cinema (4)
CA 319W - Critical Writing in the Arts (3)
CA 341 - Music and Culture (3)
CA 357W - Context of Theatre II (3)
CA 359 - Selected Topics in Theatre (3)
CA 389 - Selected Topics in the Contemporary Arts II (3)
CA 401 - Directed Studies (Theory/History) (3)
CA 406 - Practicum in Contemporary Arts II (4)
CA 408 - Contemporary Arts Field School III (Theory/History) (4)
CA 416 - Advanced Seminar in Cinema Studies (4)
CA 457 - Context of Theatre III (4)
CA 485 - Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Contemporary Arts (5)
CA 489 - Interdisciplinary Project in Contemporary Arts (5)
HUM 309 - Literatures and the Arts Across Cultures (4)
HUM 311 - Italian Renaissance Humanism (4)
Other CA courses can be substituted for courses on this list with permission from area.

* may be repeated for credit if the topic changes

Cinema Studies Stream
Lower Division Requirements
In addition to the lower division courses required for both streams, students in the Cinema Studies stream must complete:

CA 136 - The History and Aesthetics of Cinema I (3)
One of:

CA 216 - Selected Topics in Cinema Studies (3) ***
CA 235 - Experimental Film and Video (3) ***
CA 236 - Cinema in Canada (3)
And one of:

CA 117 - Modern Art History (3)
CA 127 - History of Dance: From the 20th Century to the Present (3)
CA 140 - Contexts in Creative Music and Sound Practice (3)
CA 149 - Sound (3)
CA 217 - Introduction to Performance Studies (3)
CA 228W - Dance Aesthetics (3)
CA 257W - Context of Theatre I (3)
HUM 211 - Art and Literature of the Italian Renaissance (3)
Plus three units from below:

CA 120 - Introduction to Dance Forms: Contemporary and Popular (3)
CA 129 - Movement Fundamentals (3)
CA 150 - Introduction to Acting (3)
CA 160 - Introductory Studio in Visual Art I (3)
CA 170 - Introduction to Production Technology (3)
CA 238W - Screenwriting I (3)
CA 243 - Gamelan I (3)
*** Cannot be repeated for credit within the degree requirements

Upper Division Requirements
Students are encouraged to plan in advance, as some upper division courses may not be offered each year. Students who wish to complete upper division courses must make sure they have the disciplinary prerequisites and should be aware that studio courses may have limited enrollments.

Students must complete a minimum of 28 units, including all of:

CA 316 - Intermediate Selected Topics in Cinema Studies (4) *
CA 318 - Theory and Cinema (4)
CA 416 - Advanced Seminar in Cinema Studies (4) *
Remaining units can be drawn from related courses including:

CA 308 - Contemporary Arts Field School I (Theory/History) (4) **
CA 312 - Selected Topics in Art and Culture Studies: Landscape (3) **
CA 314 - Readings in the History of Art, Performance and Cinema (3) +
CA 315 - Sound Art: History and Concepts (4)
CA 316 - Intermediate Selected Topics in Cinema Studies (4) *
CA 319W - Critical Writing in the Arts (3)
CA 338W - Screenwriting II (3)
CA 389 - Selected Topics in the Contemporary Arts II (3) **
CA 401 - Directed Studies (Theory/History) (3)
CA 406 - Practicum in Contemporary Arts II (4)
CA 408 - Contemporary Arts Field School III (Theory/History) (4) **
CA 412W - Advanced Seminar in Art and Performance Studies (4) +
CA 414 - Advanced Topic in the History of Art, Performance and Cinema (3) +
CA 416 - Advanced Seminar in Cinema Studies (4) *
CA 485 - Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Contemporary Arts (5)
CA 489 - Interdisciplinary Project in Contemporary Arts (5)
CMNS 322 - Documentary Media (4)
ENGL 383 - Studies in Popular Literature and Culture (4)
HIST 433W - Italian Films, Italian Histories (4)
HUM 309 - Literatures and the Arts Across Cultures (4)
HUM 311 - Italian Renaissance Humanism (4)
Other CA courses can be substituted for courses on this list with permission from area.

* Can be repeated as an elective if the topic of the course changes.

** Only when the topic is cinema/media/theory of relevance; prior approval required.

+ Can be repeated as an elective if the topic of the course changes. Only when the topic is cinema/media/theory of relevance; prior approval required.

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You will need to book the accommodation after you have been accepted.

You can choose to live on campus or off campus in private accommodation.

How to book:

• Make a booking online after you have been accepted (in this case please let us know your choice when you apply).
• Register when you arrive - its not possible to reserve a room before arriving. You can arrive a few days before and book it

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