Undergraduate
JCURA applications are due to AHVS May 15
Why study art history and visual studies at UVic?
Where can you learn about the history of video games, daring cases of art forgery, and horror cinema? Where can you discover Arabic calligraphy, Japanese animation or the history of artist materials and techniques? In the Department of Art History & Visual Studies (AHVS) at UVic, of course.
Whether you want to major in art history and visual studies or want to take an engaging elective, we offer a unique perspective on our increasingly visual world.
While completing your degree, you will have the chance to participate in co-ops, student conferences, interactive seminars and hands-on, site-specific learning at galleries and museums around the city.
Discover some of the benefits of studying at UVic and in Victoria’s vibrant artistic community:
An Indigenous, inter-cultural and international focus
Our teaching and research embraces an Indigenous, international and interdisciplinary focus to foster intercultural understanding, global citizenship and civic engagement. Our courses offer critical perspectives on social justice, gender and decolonization, based on a respect for cultural diversity and a commitment to community engagement and community-based research.
Resources, facilities and hands-on opportunities
In our programs, you can work directly with art from the UVic Legacy Art Galleries’ collection as part of coursework offered in our Collections classroom. On campus, you can view over 2,000 artworks installed in public spaces and have access to the Legacy Maltwood Gallery and UVic Special Collections in the McPherson Library. More exhibitions drawn from the university’s collection can be viewed year round at the Legacy Downtown.
As a student, you’ll have exclusive access to DIDO (Digital Image Database Online). DIDO contains works of art, architecture and other visual material you will need in your classes. Given our wide-ranging courses, we include a vast range of material representing a variety of religions, world cultures and historical periods.
Our students also have access to the Faculty of Fine Arts Studios for Integrated Media and our new Art Collections classrom and Fine Arts Interactive Media Lab (FAIM).
Active student associations
Our vibrant student associations, the Art History & Visual Studies Student Association (undergraduate course union) and the AHVS Graduate Student Association foster a sense of community among AHVS students, teachers and staff. They promote students’ interests within the department, organize activities and provide representation on appropriate committees.
Victoria’s artistic community
Victoria is a vibrant city with a rich heritage, a strong First Nations presence and an abundance of arts organizations. Our faculty and students are integrated into the artistic and cultural networks across the city and region. Many of our students have found jobs with local organizations including: