Bachelor of Arts in Art and Design Degree Program Guide

BA Art & Design program guide header

Engage with a diverse and comprehensive curriculum that spans traditional and contemporary art practices, design principles, and digital media, providing a well-rounded foundation in both art and design to meet your unique ambitions. Gain hands-on experience through internships, community projects, and gallery exhibitions, preparing you for a successful career in art and design professions.

Additionally, we offer a Bachelor of Design,  Bachelor of Fine Arts, and BA Honors degree in the History of Art, Design, and Visual Culture that have different entry requirements, required courses, and cover different subject areas. We always recommend considering all options available to you before applying!

Academic Requirements for BA Art & Design Majors

General Requirements and Information
  • The Department of Art & Design offers courses in studio disciplines (Drawing, Media Arts, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Industrial Design, Visual Communication Design) and in the History of Art, Design, and Visual Culture. The program allows for different combinations of these courses
  • For information relating to courses in Art & Design, consult Course Listings for ART, DES, and HADVC
  • See the department website for more information
Course Requirements
  •  A major in Art & Design requires a minimum of 30 units to a maximum of 48 units at the senior level in ART and/or DES and/or HADVC, of which at least 6 units must be at the 400-level
Additional Notes
  • Students are expected to have completed prerequisite courses with a minimum average grade of B-. Registration may be withheld in cases where the average grade in prerequisite courses is below a B-

Academic Requirements for BA Art & Design Minors

Minor Requirements
  •  A minor in Art & Design requires a minimum of 12 units to a maximum of 42 units at the senior level in ART and/or DES and/or HADVC, of which at least 6 units must be at the 300- or 400-level
  • ART 134 and DES 135 are the prerequisites for all second-year studio courses in the department
  • Students are expected to have completed prerequisite courses with a minimum average grade of B-. Registration may be withheld in cases where the average grade in prerequisite courses is below a B-
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Bachelor of Design (BDes) students in Art & Design have priority registration in all ART and DES studio courses at the senior level. Registration in remaining spaces is based upon academic performance in required prerequisite courses

The University of Alberta Calendar will always contain the most up-to-date degree requirements for your program, and your requirements are determined by the calendar year you were admitted in.

What kinds of courses can BA Art & Design students take?

  • ART 134 - Art Fundamentals
  • ART 240 - Drawing I
  • ART 310 - Painting: Introductory Studies I
  • ART 322 - Printmaking: Introductory Studies (Silkscreen)
  • ART 350 - Media Art: Digital Media I
  • ART 360 - Structural Sculpture I
  • DES 135 - Design Fundamentals
  • DES 300 - Foundations of Industrial Design
  • DES 302 - Introduction to Visual Presentation
  • HADVC 210 - History of Photography
  • HADVC 203 - History of Art, Design, and Visual Culture in 17th Century Europe
  • HADVC 215 - China Art Now
  • HADVC 256 - History of Art, Design, and Visual Culture in the Contemporary Era
  • HADVC 257 - History of Art, Design, and Visual Culture in Canada

What kinds of careers can you pursue with a BA Art & Design degree?

There are many different fields and career paths that students can pursue with an Art & Design degree. From performing arts to visual communications, graduates are equipped with project management, attention to detail and creative thinking skills to name a few, that are assets in today’s job market. Although there is a list of career options below, it is important to understand that careers are not linear. Intentionally engaging in a variety of activities and following your curiosities will open new opportunities that you might not have expected. To learn more about how you can put your Arts degree to work, stop by the HUB Career Centre (8917 HUB Mall) for more information.

  • Professional Artists
  • Printmaker
  • Graphic and Visual Communications Designer
  • UX/UI (User Experience/User Interface) Designer
  • Illustrator
  • 2D/3D Animation Modeler
  • Product Creator
  • Industrial Designer
  • Educator (Professor, Secondary or Primary)
  • Curator & Gallery Director
  • Exhibition Designer
  • Museum Educator
  • Arts & Cultural Manager
  • Communications and Marketing Consultant 
  • Video Communications Specialist
  • +More!

Interested in gaining work experience related to your career goals? If so, apply to Arts Work Experience to gain full-time, PAID, work experience before you graduate!

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