Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, Emily Carr University

Why Choose North Island College?

• Same degree, less cost. The cost of living in the Comox Valley is considerably lower than in Vancouver, with more affordable housing and transportation fees.
• Small classes, great instructors. The excellent student-to-faculty ratio at NIC gives you more direct contact with your instructors than at other institutions.
• Let us inspire you. The program develops critical thinking, creativity, problem solving skills, experimentation and encourages individuality. NIC’s unique setting and well-equipped studios provide you with the resources to ignite your imagination.
• Get out there! Instructors and students consistently exhibit their work and play a major role in the local arts community. You’ll create a portfolio of work and accumulate experiences to help you secure employment in your field.
• Unique places, inspiring spaces. As an NIC/ECU fine arts student, you will enjoy access to the Shadbolt atudio, a modern, 7,520 square foot building with separate ceramics, painting, and sculpture studios. You will also have access to one of only four Tozan Anagama kilns in the world, and NIC is one of the only colleges in Canada to provide a large-format parallel screen printing press for student learning.

Program Highlights

This two year, full-time program involves 15 credits per semester. Studio courses include painting, drawing, ceramics, printmaking, photography and digital visual arts plus there are academic courses in the humanities, social sciences and art history at the senior level.

During the third year, students choose from 21 credits of 300-level courses, lectures in art history, and a visual arts seminar. During the seminar, students develop critical awareness of the content and context of cultural production in relation to a wide range of practices and theories. They attend lectures and discussion groups, and are required to undertake research, give presentations, complete visual projects, and write papers.

Fourth year students are given their own studio, apart from the general use studios used for classes. They continue to explore topics in art history, social sciences and humanities to compliment their technical skills and development.

Each year, a series of guest artist lectures is offered. These lectures expose the students to artists who are actively engaged in their own artistic practice.

Registration

Once accepted, students will be invited to register for courses using the ECU online web registration system. A username and password will be issued with the formal acceptance letter along with registration instructions.

Admission Requirements

1. Apply to the Emily Carr University of Art + Design, NIC/ECU Bachelor of Fine Arts External Degree.
2. The minimum academic requirement for admission to the Bachelor of Fine Arts program is a two-year diploma (60 semester credits) with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale). The two-year diploma must be equivalent to coursework that is recognized for credit in all Emily Carr degree programs.
3. A portfolio of 15-20 pieces representing work in fine art may be required. The Emily Carr University Admission Office will notify those applicants requiring a portfolio, and will provide complete portfolio guidelines.
4. Preference for admission will be given to applicants holding a North Island College diploma in Fine Arts. Portfolio requirements may also be waived.

Program Requirements

Year 3

• 21 credits Open Studio (visual arts/media/design) 300-level courses
• 3 credits AHIS (300/400 level) art history
• 3 credits HUMN  311 Visual Arts Seminar
• 3 credits Open Elective (studio or critical studies)

Year 4

• 12 credits GEVA  410 Senior Studio
• 9 credits Open Elective (studio or critical studies)
• 3 credits AHIS (300/400 level) art history
• 3 credits SOCS (300/400 level) social science
• 3 credits HUMN humanities