Academic Advising: Faculty of Fine Arts
- Summer 2023: Class schedules are available. Registration will be open from March 13 until the course add deadline for each course. Summer studies are optional and not all departments offer courses.
- September 2023: 2023/24 program planning and course registration info will be updated by May 15. Registration dates are assigned in June. Check the Registration 101 page for webinars for incoming students starting May 15.
Selected Summer 2023 courses
(Updated February 16)
List of selected courses open to all students
Review course descriptions for prerequisites. Second year standing (at least 12 units completed) and/or permission of the department may be needed. Look up class sections and detailed notes on the course timetable. View summer course add and drop dates.
AHVS, ART, and MUS are Faculty of Fine Arts courses.
- AE307 Printmaking
- AE310 Intro Applied Design
- AE322 Digital Arts
- AE330 Visual Design for Marketing, Advocacy and Persuasion
- AHVS310D Environmental Art* (online)
- AHVS370F Apocalyptic Themes in Cinema*
- AHVS392 Victoria Medievalism*
- ART141 Intro Contemporary Art Photography (online)
- CSC110 Fundamentals of programming I
- COM202 Financial Accounting I
- COM220 Organizational Behaviour
- COM250 Fundamentals of Marketing
- EPHE142 Personal Health, Wellness and Potential
- ENT100 Intro to Entrepreneurship
- GMST180 Myths, Fairytales and Fantasy Fiction
- GNDR100 Gender Power and Difference (online)
- GNDR326 History of Sexuality
- HSTR310C American History in Film (online)
- HSTR371 Flavours of the Past: Scottish Food History
- IS201 Intro to Indigenous Studies (online)
- ITAL149 Intensive Beginners Italian
- MUS111 Rudiments of Music (online)
- MUS116 Music Appreciation (online)
- PHIL232 Moral Problems of Contemporary Society
- SOCI220 Media and Contemporary Society
- SOCI390 Cinema and Society
- SPAN185 Latin America through Contemporary Film (online; in English)
*These AHVS courses are applicable as Art of the Americas, Modern and Contemporary Art and Architecture topics for Art History and Visual Studies Majors and Honours.
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Fine Arts academic planning advice (UVic students)
Prospective (new) students to UVic: Applying from high school or another post-secondary? Make an appointment with a UVic recruiter to discuss any application or program questions. Use the online booking system or email recruitment@uvic.ca.
Faculty of Fine Arts students: Email advising is available on most topics!
- Use the tips and planning resources provided in the sections below on this page.
- Email Sarah Riecken at fineartsadvising@uvic.ca to ask questions or request an appointment.
- Include your V number (V0XXXXXXX) Your preferred name and pronouns are helpful!
- List your questions in point form with enough detail to help receive a supportive response as quickly as possible.
- Include screen shots from your UVic registration, CAPP report, or the UVic website (Calendar) if it helps to explain your question.
- Asking about a course? Include the course code (ex. WRIT 100) and section number (ex. A01, T01).
- Check your spam/junk email folder for important UVic messages and academic advising replies.
- Read over the Fine Arts Academic Advising email auto-reply.
Advising appointments are available online over Zoom or MS Teams or by telephone. Sarah will coordinate a time to connect with you - normally between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. Expect a helpful reply with info for you to review or consider before booking a meeting (or refer you to another service office depending on the assistance you request).
Before your appointment:
- Check out the UVic program planning and course registration tutorials
- Review your administrative transcript in your online account
- Run your degree evaluation/CAPP report in your online account (declared students only)
Are you undeclared in Fine Arts with 12 or more units completed? You can ask to declare your major by email to fineartsadvising@uvic.ca to get a degree evaluation/CAPP report. You can also ask by email to add an additional program from any faculty (major, minor, certificate).
Looking for academic advising for a program or degree in another faculty? Find your advising service on the directory of academic advisers.
Are you a new or prospective graduate student? Advising and admissions contacts for MA, MFA, MMus, and PhD programs are listed on the graduate programs page.
Need help with a course?
- Find learning supports on the Student Wellness page.
- Check with your course instructor by email or during their drop in hours.
- Contact the course department's assistant or chair/director.
- Use the UVic directory to find department or person contact info.
- If you've received a disabilty or chronic health diagnosis, register with the Centre for Accessible Learning to access academic accommodations.
- Request an extension, withdrawal, deferral, or fee reduction: Go to Undergraduate Requests for Academic Concession page.
- Make a grade review request: Scroll down on this page to info and instructions.
Planning your Faculty of Fine Arts degree
Interested in applying to a Faculty of Fine Arts program? This section is about major programs. Skip to the next section for how to plan a minor to go with your major or double major (this is optional).
Prospective (new) students to UVic: Applying from high school or another post-secondary? Make an appointment with a UVic recruiter to discuss any application or program questions. Use the online booking system or email recruitment@uvic.ca. A list of programs, admissions links, and info for transfer students is provided below.
Current and returning UVic students | Visit the Program Changes page for instructions
Music, Theatre, Visual Arts applicants use the departmental sites linked below to access important supplementary application instructions (audition, portfolio, essay, resume, etc.).
Double Majors:
Fine Arts degrees: To set up your degree with two Faculty of Fine Arts major programs, you'll apply first to the one you consider to be your primary progra. Then, once you've completed at least 12 units, you can email fineartsadvising@uvic.ca to request to declare your second major. If you'll be adding a selective program (music, theatre or visual arts) follow step 2 below.
Students in other faculties:
To request declare writing or art history and visual studies as a second program in a double major from another faculty, follow step 1 below.
- or -
To apply to music, theatre or visual arts as a second program in a double major in another faculty, follow step 1 and step 2:
- Ask your faculty/program's academic advising service how you can declare an interfaculty program (do not use My UVic Application).
- Email the music, theatre or visual arts department by the application deadline (usually January 31) to explain that you're intending to take their program as a double major while registered in another faculty. Include your full name and V number. Follow the supplementary application steps.
Art History and Visual Studies (BA)
Admissions | Program requirements | Worksheet | Departmental website | Department contact
September entry recommended. My UVic Application deadline: January 31. No supplementary application. Course registration takes place in June. Students applying to start in January may be waitlisted for courses. There are very limited AHVS course offerings summers. The department also offers a BA Honours Art History and Visual Studies with entry after 12 units, including at least 9 units of AHVS courses with B+ or higher grade average, are completed.
Music (BMus)
Admissions | Program requirements | Worksheets | Departmental website | Department contact
September entry. My UVic Application deadline: January 31. Supplementary auditions are due by February 15 (see department website). Core courses are offered September to April.
Music (BA)
Admissions | Program requirements | Worksheet | Departmental website | Department contact
September, January, or May entry. September entry recommended (My UVic Application deadline: January 31). No supplementary application. Core courses are offered September to April. Course registration takes place in June. Students applying to start in January may be waitlisted for courses. An audition is not required and this degree does not include individual instrument or voice lessons.
Music and Computer Science (BFA or BSc)
Admissions | Program requirements | Worksheet | Departmental website | Department contact
September entry. My UVic Application deadline: January 31. The supplementary application is due by February 15 (see department website). Admission is competitive. Successful completion of CSC, MATH, or MUS courses in advance is not a guarantee of admission. Core music courses are offered during September to April. There are limited computer science and math courses offered summers. Students may request a change in degree (BSc vs BFA) prior to graduation with no change in requirements.
Theatre (BFA)
Admissions | Program requirements | Worksheets | Departmental website | Department contact
September entry. My UVic Application deadline: January 31. Supplementary application required (see department website). Also offered is the BA Honours in Theatre History with entry in Year 3 (after two years in the BFA).
Visual Arts (BFA)
Admissions | Program requirements | Worksheet | Departmental website | Department contact
September entry. My UVic Application deadline: January 31. Supplementary art porfolio is due by January 31 (see department website). Also offered is the BFA Honours Visual Arts program with entry in Year 4.
Visual Arts and Computer Science (BFA/BSc)
Admissions | Program requirements | Worksheet | Departmental website | Department contact
September entry. My UVic Application deadline: January 31. Supplementary art porfolio and questionnaire is due by January 31 (see department website). Admission is competitive. Successful completion of ART, CSC, or MATH courses is not a guarantee of admission. Core visual arts courses offered September to April. There are limited computer science and math course offerings summers. Students may request a change in degree (BSc vs BFA) prior to graduation with no change in requirements.
Writing (BA/BFA)
Admissions | Program requirements | Worksheet | Departmental website | Department contact
September entry. My UVic Application deadline: January 31. No supplementary application. The admission requirements are the same for each degree. Students may request a change in degree prior to graduation with no change in writing requirements. The BFA includes 7.5 units of Faculty of Fine Arts electives other than writing courses (choose from AHVS, ART, FA, MUS, THEA, TS courses). Core writing courses offered September to April.
Transfer students to Writing: There is an advanced standing application process for WRIT 100, Introduction to Writing waivers. The advanced standing application deadline is April 15. Students who don't request or receive advanced standing must complete WRIT 100 (year long course) with a B grade or higher to progress to second-year creative writing workshop courses. This info also applies to students with WRIT '100-level' or '10L' transfer credits, which are not a subsitute for WRIT100.
Transfer students to all Faculty of Fine Arts programs: Read over the 'transfer credit summary' and 'program and prerequisite waiver requests' sections further below on this page for important information and additional instructions.
Minor and General programs
The Faculty of Fine Arts offers ten exciting minor programs that are open to most students who are taking part in a degree with a major or honours or general program. Almost all of these are also eligible to be taken as a general program (read on for details).
Minor program:
- A minor offers the opportunity to focus on a second area of study in a degree. Requirements for the minor can be used to fulfill elective credits indicated on the program planning worksheet for your major or honours program.
- Faculty of Fine Arts students can add one minor (from any faculty) by request to fineartsadvising@uvic.ca. Refer to the program declaration section below on this page for more information.
- Engineering & Computer Science, Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences students can declare one minor (from any faculty) with approval of their advising office.
- Education, Engineering, and Human and Social Development students should check with their faculty/program's advising office to ask about adding an interfaculty program (some degrees include this option, some do not).
General program:
- Two faculties at UVic offer the option to obtain a Bachelor of Arts with a General Program (as opposed to a Major or Honours) that can include one or two Fine Arts programs.
- A General Program includes at least two approved generals.
- How does Fine Arts fit in? Humanities and Social Sciences students can select one of their generals from Fine Arts (and add an optional third program - minor or general - from Fine Arts as well!).
- Why take a general program? If you're a generalist at heart and enjoy interdisciplinary connections this may be a good degree for you. If you could see yourself pursuing a specialized graduate program or career, a degree with a major or honours program is recommended.
- Examples of General Programs with Fine Arts components:
- A student in the Faculty of Social Sciences could take a BA with anthropology and creative writing generals with an optional third program, such as a minor in museum studies or art history and visual studies.
- A student in the Faculty of Humanities could take a BA with film studies and visual arts generals with an optional third program, such as a minor in music or theatre.
- Note: Film Studies is offered jointly by Humanities and Fine Arts so it can be included as the requisite Humanities general.
- Academic advising about BA General Programs is provided by the Academic Advising Centre.
- You can ask Fine Arts Academic Advising any questions about the requirements for Faculty of Fine Arts minors and minor/generals listed on this page.
Art History and Visual Studies Minor/General
Academic calendar | AHVS course descriptions | Explore this program
Most AHVS courses are open to all students and do not include prerequisites. Refer to course descriptions for more details. AHVS 120 is normally offered first term; AHVS 121 second term. Both courses include mandatory lecture and tutorial sections. 3.0 units of 200-level AHVS courses are mandatory so may not be substituted with higher-level courses. For registration support contact ahvsasst@uvic.ca.
Creative Writing Minor/General
Academic calendar | WRIT course descriptions | Explore this program
Students in the creative writing minor do not have access to register in creative writing workshop courses. These are reserved for Writing Majors. For registration support contact writing@uvic.ca.
Digital and Interactive Media in the Arts (DIMA) Minor/General
Academic calendar | Explore this program
Many of the DIMA course options are open to all students. Priority registration for ART courses is given to Visual Arts Majors. Priority for music technology courses is given to Combined Majors in Music and Computer Science. Writing workshop courses are reserved for Writing Majors. Refer to course descriptions from the academic calendar listing and class schedule notes for details.
Film Studies Minor/General (jointly offered with Humanities)
Academic calendar | Explore this program
Film studies provides a focus on film culture, history, and theory with limited technical and production opportunities. Most film studies course options are open to all students, however the writing workshop courses are reserved for writing majors. Those intending a career in film direction, production, and screenwriting are recommended to pursue the BA or BFA writing major (taking courses in film production and screenwriting) with a film studies minor. Visual arts programs include course options in video art so may also be relevant to those with a broad interest in studio arts as well as film production. Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences students should consult the Academic Advising Centre for advising services for film studies.
Museum Studies Minor/General
Academic calendar | Explore this program
Refer to course descriptions from the academic calendar listing and class schedule notes for details. For registration support with AHVS courses contact ahvsasst@uvic.ca. 300/400-level AHVS courses taken for the minor cannot also be applied to the major or honours program in art history and visual studies.
Music Minor (not available as a general)
Academic calendar | MUS course descriptions | Explore this program
Students in the music minor do not have access to individual lessons instruction provided for BMus students only. Minors intending to take ensemble courses should start at the 200-level (MUS 280A-G, MUS 281). Music composition lessons other than MUS 105, performance, and technology topics are reserved for students in related BMus major programs. For registration support contact musicadmin@uvic.ca.
Professional Writing in Journalism and Publishing Minor/General
Academic calendar | Explore this program
Refer to course descriptions from the academic calendar listing and class schedule notes for details. For registration support with WRIT courses contact writing@uvic.ca. For registration support with English (ENGL) professional communication topics contact pcadvisor@uvic.ca.
Theatre Minor/General
Academic calendar | Program website
Refer to the program website for tips about selecting approved courses and how to obtain departmental permission when necessary for registration. Theatre performance courses are reserved for Theatre Majors with a performance focus only. For registration support contact theatre@uvic.ca.
Technology and Society Minor/General
Academic calendar | Explore this program
Most TS courses and program options are open to all students and do not include prerequisites. For registration support with TS courses contact fineasst@uvic.ca.
Visual Arts Minor/General
Academic calendar | ART course descriptions | Explore this program
Priority registration in ART courses is given to Visual Arts Majors. 300-level ART courses are reserved for declared visual arts minors and majors only. Most 300-level ART courses are scheduled full year (September to April). Refer to course descriptions and class schedule notes for details. ART 150 is included as prerequisite to most 300-level ART courses. For registration support contact visualarts@uvic.ca.
Interested in taking a minor or electives related to school or community art education? Check out the art education minor and AE courses offered by the Faculty of Education! AE courses are open to all students.
Meet with a career educator, discover career services
Learn what you can do with your degree!
Career services are available for new, continuing, and graduated students (UVic alumni).
Meet with a career educator for help to explore career options, decide on a university program, and learn how to prepare and apply for for employment and graduate programs.
- résumés, cover letters and interviews
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- career workshops and programs
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Family members and friends
See info for parents and guardians.
If you're supporting a student as they make the transition to UVic, thank you! Becoming a university student can be a substantial life change and having a support network can make all the difference.
It's important that students themselves contact academic advising services and course instructors directly from their preferred email address with any questions and request appointments.
Ways to offer support: Listen and offer emotional support as students develop their sense of decision making, action, and responsibility.
The University has policies to protect student confidentiality and privacy. Know that the University also has many student supports and resources. If your student seems confused about these and requests your help, encourage them to seek advice from their instructors, department chair or a UVic professional support service.
Academic Advisers are here to support students with their progression through their program. We also refer students to other support offices at UVic if it is useful to the student.
After an appointment, students can ask their adviser for an email summary of advice given to help ensure everything was well understood (and to use for sharing with their off-campus support team, including you, when they choose to).