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Got a bent for critique? Choose a major in Visual Culture, where you’ll focus on analysis and theory as you delve into the history, culture, and impact of visual arts. It’s excellent preparation for a career as an art historian, educator, librarian, or gallery/museum administrator. You can even gain practical experience with a 36-hour internship at a local arts institution, or by choosing co-op with your degree.
Alternatively, immerse yourself in hands-on creation with our Studio Practice major. We offer classes in drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, media arts, and digital imaging. You can also choose one of three specializations, including one that will prepare you for a career in education.
In Fine Arts, you’ll hone your mastery of technique, develop a cohesive body of work, and learn the skills you’ll need as a professional artist.
Whichever path you choose, you’ll enjoy an intimate community and supportive professors.
With more than 80 courses available, you can explore the visual arts and tailor your degree to your interests and passions.
Broaden your horizons with talks from visiting artists, on-campus art shows, and multi-day trips to New York City and Montréal.
Alyana, a Fine Arts major, wanted to foster community at Waterloo. Through a studio project, she was able to develop her "You Are My_" initiative, which she says was successful because it tapped into people's inherent want to express how we feel. "Having a gesture as simple as giving and receiving a button was a simple way to express these emotions," she says.
International exchanges in 25 countries
Available as a major and minor
Apply to Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business and choose Fine Arts as your major at the end of first year.
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*The Arts First requirement consists of two first-year courses that are capped at 25 students: ARTS 130 - Inquiry and Communication and ARTS 140 - Information and Analysis. Instead of listening to a lecture and trying to capture notes, Arts First courses will have you and your classmates working together to respond to a challenge posed by the instructor.
40% of the classes you’ll take will be Fine Arts courses. With your remaining classes, you can choose electives from many of the 100 subject areas at Waterloo.
FINE 221 – Acrylic and Mixed Media
FINE 272 – Clay Studies
FINE 319 – Contemporary Art
FINE 368 – International Comics and Animation Film
Apply via Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business
Offered by the Faculty of Arts
Earn a Bachelor of Arts degreee in Fine Arts
By alternating school terms and paid co-op work terms throughout your degree, you can explore new career areas and types of employers as your career interests evolve.
Choose Studio Practice or Visual Culture as the area of focus for your Fine Arts major or add additional areas of interest and expertise by including a minor (or minors) as part of your degree.
Within the Studio Practice major, you can choose specializations in Intensive Studio, Digital Art, or the Teaching Preparation Specialization. With the Teaching Preparation specialization, you'll be eligible for the Bachelor of Education program at Nipissing University in either the Junior/Intermediate or Intermediate/Senior divisions.
Popular areas of focus for Fine Arts students include Digital Arts Communication, Intensive Studio, and Film Studies.
Graduates often pursue careers in creative fields such as marketing, design, and education. They commonly work in art galleries, banks, schools, media companies, and more.
Learn about the future of careers in arts, humanities, social sciences, languages, and creative arts.
Available as a