Visual Arts
Art Education
The Department of Art Education offers programs of
professional training and development in art teaching at the
undergraduate and graduate levels.
Art education as a discipline aims to develop the student as
artist, art teacher and art education researcher. This educative
process centers on understanding and empowerment through
making and responding to art which reflects the socio-cultural
and historical context in which we live.
The Specialization in Art Education (120 credits) is designed
for students interested in a career as an art teacher at the
elementary or secondary level in public or private schools. This
BFA Specialization is a four-year program leading to teacher
certification as an elementary and secondary school art
specialist. It conforms to the Québec Ministry of Education
requirements for an extended teaching practicum in two arts
subjects.
All students are initially admitted to the Major in Art
Education. Transfer to the Specialization is usually granted at the
third- and fourth-year levels upon successful completion of 60
credits in the Major in Art Education including ARTE 220, 230,
320, 330. Requests to transfer are assessed on the applicant's
suitability for school-based teaching. Evaluation is based on 1)
grades for courses completed in the first two years; 2) a letter of
intent; 3) two letters of reference; and 4) an interview. The
Department normally requires a B- average or better from
students wishing to transfer to the Specialization in Art
Education.
The Major in Art Education (66 credits) is designed for
students who plan to teach the visual arts in a non-school or
alternative teaching situation. It is a three-year program. In the
first two years, students are introduced to the fundamentals of
the field of art education. In the third year, students concentrate
on professional practice and performance as community art
educators in settings such as community centres, adult education
programs, recreation programs and museums.
Art Education students have access to studio art and art
history courses, the galleries, studios and workshops in the
Visual Arts Building.
Admission Requirements
All applicants to the Faculty of Fine Arts must submit a
completed official Application for Admission form to the Office
of the Registrar by March 1. The application forms are available
from the Office of the Registrar and at most cégeps.
In addition, all applicants must submit a portfolio, a letter
of intent, a photocopy of their most recent academic record, and
a photocopy of Form A of the University General Application
form to the Art Education Department (VA 209-1) no later than
March 18. 15.
Portfolio Requirements
Contents of portfolios should primarily consist of personally
conceived works of an imaginative and visually explorative
nature, and must consist of:
— both two- and three-dimensional works in a variety of
media;
— approximately 20 pieces of the applicant's own work;
— large works (over 20" x 24") and three-dimensional works
submitted in slide form;
- a list of contents including: works labeled including the applicant's name, title of the
work, date of completion, size of work and
medium(s) used;
:— work presented in a sturdy folder with works flat and
unframed, and be clearly identified and all program choices
(as listed on the applicant's Application for Admission form)
clearly indicated.
Applicants may submit photographs and/or slides of their work.
Applicants must make arrangements to ensure the return of
their portfolio at their own expense by August 31. Mailed
portfolios must include a self-addressed stamped envelope or a
prepaid courier invoice to cover the postage cost of return. The
portfolio can be retrieved only after the applicant has received
their official response from the University.
The Department of Art Education reserves the right to discard
any portfolios that are not retrieved by the applicant by August
31st.
Letters of Intent included in the portfolio must:
— describe the reasons for wanting to attend Concordia
University;
— explain what the applicant hopes to learn at Concordia and
to what this education might lead.
Resources
The Department of Art Education Curriculum Resource Centre is
located in room 202 of the Visual Arts Building on René-
Lévesque Boulevard. The Centre contains selected art curriculum
and teaching resources, art education magazines and a collection
of art prints that can be borrowed for class purposes. The Centre
is open to all students of the University.
Graduate Programs
PhD in Art Education
MA in Art Education
Creative Arts Therapies
The program of Creative Arts Therapies now includes two
options: Art Therapy and Drama Therapy. Art Therapy is a
human service profession which utilizes art media, images, the
creative process, and patient/client responses to the created
art productions as reflections of an individual's development,
abilities, personality, interests, concerns and conflicts.
Drama Therapy is an eclectic creative art therapy that uses
many projective techniques, including puppets, mask making,
playwriting, story telling, role play, and also employs the
methods of psychodrama towards the purpose of symptom
relief and further growth and development of the human
person.
The Creative Arts Therapies are effective treatments for
individuals with developmental, medical, educational, social or
psychological impairments; and are practiced in mental health,
rehabilitation, medical, educational, and forensic institutions.
The Faculty offers a Masters of Arts, Creative Art Therapies,
with an Art Therapy option or a Drama Therapy option. There is
one course in art therapy and one in drama therapy at the
undergraduate level which includes lectures and workshops in
art therapy. As these courses are prerequisites to the respective
graduate option it is recommended that students who intend
to pursue studies at the graduate level in Art Therapy include
the appropriate course in their undergraduate program. For
details concerning admissibility to the MA options in Art and
Drama Therapy or to obtain permission to take either of the
undergraduate courses, please contact the Creative Arts
Therapies Office.
Graduate Level Only
MA in Creative Arts Therapies
Options: Art Therapy
Drama Therapy
Telephone: (514) 848-4790
Email: cats@vax2..concordia.ca
Art History
Art History is important for both the student scholar and the
student artist. An understanding of creative and visual
responses to the world throughout the history of humankind
gives students valuable perspectives both on their own work
and on contemporary visual culture. Art History is more than
art appreciation. It is a lively, at times controversial, discipline
that invites investigation of the roles which intellectual,
cultural, political, social and economic factors play in defining
the work of art and its subsequent reception. For this reason,
students are encouraged to explore such disciplines as history,
literature, philosophy, religion, sociology, and anthropology,
and are strongly advised to study languages appropriate to
their interests. For the art history graduate, there is a future in
a variety of fields — museums and galleries, archives and
libraries, conservation, education, journalism and research.
Programs
The Department of Art History offers Major and Minor programs,
providing students with a solid but individualized foundation in the
critical issues involved in a full understanding of the work of art.
Also available are the Major and Minor programs in Art History and
Studio Art which balance studio work with historical and
theoretical studies. Art History courses are listed at the back of
this booklet.
Major in Art History: 66 credits
Concentration requirements include:
— Perspectives and Methods of Art History
— Art History courses from media- based studies
— Art History courses from art in Canada
— Art History courses from period studies
— Art History courses from methodology
— Art History courses from theory and criticism or
art and society
— other Art History elective courses
Minor in Art History: 30 credits
Concentration requirements include:
— Perspectives and Methods of Art History
— Art History elective courses
Admission Requirements
There are no specific courses or procedures required for the Major
and Minor in Art History other than the successful completion of
a two-year pre-university cégep program (or equivalent).
Art History and Studio Art
For those interested in studying art history and studio art, the
Faculty of Fine Arts offers a combined Major in these fields.
Major in Art History and Studio Art: 60 credits
Concentration requirements include:
— Perspectives and Methods of Art History
— Studio Art courses
— Art History courses
Minor in Art History and Studio Art: 30 credits
Concentration requirements include:
— Perspectives and Methods of Art History
— Art History courses
— Studio Art courses
Admission Requirements
All applicants to the Major or Minor in Art History and Studio Art
are required to submit a General Application for Admission form
to the Office of the Registrar by March 1.
In addition, all applicants must submit a portfolio, a letter of
intent, a photocopy of their most recent academic record, and a
photocopy of Form A of the applicant's General Application Form
to the Department of Studio Arts. For details concerning
portfolio requirements and submission information, please refer
to the section entitled Portfolio Specifications for Studio Arts
Programs on page 19 XX.
Art History and Film
Studies
For those interested in studying art history and film studies, the
Faculty of Fine Arts offers a combined Major in these fields.
Major in Art History and Film Studies: 60 credits
Concentration requirements include:
— Perspectives of Art History and Film Aesthetics
— Art History and Film Studies courses from media-based
studies
— Art History and Film Studies courses from period studies
— Art History and Film Studies courses art and film in
Canada
— Art History and Film Studies courses from methodology
— Art History and Film Studies courses from theory and
criticism
— other Art History and Film Studies elective courses
Admission and Portfolio Requirements
All applicants to the Major in Art History and Film Studies must
submit a portfolio, a letter of intent, a photocopy of their most
recent academic record, and an Admission Evaluation Form to the
School of Cinema. Please refer to the School of Cinema-
Admissions Procedures section on page 10 XX for specific portfolio
requirements and deadline dates for submission.
Resources
The J. Russell Harper Reading Room (VA 407) is a reference
library on the history of art and architecture. The students in the
Undergraduate Art History Students Association administer it for
students studying in the visual arts fields.
The commitment to Canadian art history is reflected in the
Department's involvement in the Journal of Canadian Art History;
in the substantial library of slides housed in the Visual Arts
Building; and in the collection of works by Canadian artists in
the Concordia Art Gallery.
Graduate Programs
MA in Art History (North American Art)
PhD in Art History (offered jointly with Université de Montréal,
UQAM, and Université Laval)