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Visual Arts Certificate
in Studio

The Visual Arts Certificate in Studio program is perfect for those who have a visual arts degree (BFA, MFA or equivalent) in fine arts, media arts, craft or design, and want to continue cultivating their artistic practice, either by studying a new studio discipline or by expanding their knowledge of a practice they may have only briefly touched on in the past.

Division: Dependent on Discipline
Degree: Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Program: Visual Arts Certificate in Studio

Admission Deadline: March 1 (September start) and October 1 (January start)

The certificate is like adding a major to your existing education. It gives participants the ability to tailor their study to meet their individual interests through a wide selection of studio and theoretical credit courses designed for NSCAD degree programs. Certificate students participate in the same credit courses with the same faculty as degree students.

Students can choose a certificate in general practice or within a specific discipline, including ceramics, design, drawing, film, intermedia, jewellery design and metalsmithing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and textiles.

APPLICATION Requirements

For the purposes of the certificate program, courses and requirements have been grouped into three sections of study:

1. Studio (S)
2. Liberal Arts (LAS)
3. Electives (Studio or LAS)

Students are expected to meet course pre-requisites and maintain a grade average of B or better. They may take up to five years from the initial date of enrollment to complete the certificate. Independent study courses, internships and World Travel courses are not eligible for this program. FNDN 1800 Writing for the Arts is also not eligible as participants are expected to have completed the course or an equivalent course during undergraduate study.

Visual Arts Certificate in Studio: General Practice

The Visual Arts Certificate in Studio: General Practice provides individuals with a degree other than in the visual arts the opportunity to develop observational and other critical visual arts skills. They will also gain a better understanding of visual arts theory and practice.

Individuals with an undergraduate degree other than in the visual arts are required to complete 30-credits as follows:

Studio (S):
Fifteen (15) studio credits at the Foundation level (FNDN) must be selected. FNDN 1010 Introduction to Studio Practice and FNDN 1100 Foundation Drawing 1 are required courses, unless their equivalents were completed under a previous program. For individuals admitted to the program and who have no formal art training, a noncredit introductory drawing course or equivalent is required prior to enrolling in FNDN 1100 Foundation Drawing 1.

Liberal Arts (LAS):
Six (6) liberal arts (LAS) credits must be selected. Students must select these credits (two courses) from a choice of three courses: AHIS 2010 Survey of Nineteenth Century Art, AHIS 2020 Survey of Twentieth Century Art or AHIS 2120 Craft and Design History 1750-1950, unless an equivalent course was completed under a previous program. If one of the required courses was completed under a different program, then students may select a LAS course of choice, provided the pre-requisite requirements are met.

Open Electives:
Nine (9) elective credits must be selected. These courses may be any studio (S) or liberal arts (LAS) course, provided pre-requisites have been met. In some cases, instructor written permission will be required.

Visual Arts Certificate in Studio: (Discipline)

Anyone who has earned a visual arts degree (BFA, MFA or equivalent) in fine arts, media arts, craft or design has the opportunity to earn the Visual Arts Certificate in Studio: [Discipline]. These individuals will further their exploration of visual art processes through concentrated study in one studio discipline in which no more than twelve (12) credits were earned during their degree work.

Individuals with a visual arts degree (BFA or equivalent) are required to complete 30-credits as follows:

Studio (S):
Twenty-four (24) studio credits must be selected from one discipline in which no more than twelve (12) credits were earned during degree work. At least nine (9) studio credits must be at the 3000 level or above.

Electives:
Six (6) elective credits must be selected. These courses may be studio (S) or liberal arts (LAS) from any discipline and have no level restrictions, provided pre-requisites have been met.

If a certificate candidate applies and is accepted to a NSCAD University degree program prior to completion of the certificate program, they must formally withdraw from the certificate program. Credits earned in the certificate program may be considered for transfer to NSCAD’s degree program, provided the transfer conforms to the established transfer credit policies and program requirements.

Credits earned at other institutions are not transferable to the certificate program but may be considered to meet pre-requisite requirements. Up to twelve (12) credits earned at NSCAD University may be considered for transfer to the certificate program, provided the credit was not applied to an earned degree at NSCAD or any other institution. Transfer credits must meet certificate program requirements and must be at a grade of B or better.

To Apply

There is no application deadline for this program. If accepted, students are allowed to enroll for classes starting in the next semester. When received and completed, applications are dated and are forwarded in chronological order to the Certificate Admissions Committee. Incomplete applications are held for completion. The Certificate Admissions Committee is the sole judge of decisions regarding admission to the certificate program.