BFA - Indigenous Art (Art Studio)
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Indigenous Art
Major: Art Studio
Honour the past. Shape the future.
Develop your voice as an artist or arts professional through an intensive studio experience while you pursue an in-depth exploration of Indigeneity, land use and post-colonial theory in contemporary art.
With the studio courses you take, you'll receive instruction in a range of methods and materials in drawing, painting, photography, Indigenous art, installation art, performance art, spatial practices, printmaking, video and media art, and electronic art. Art History/Museum Studies courses and Indigenous Studies courses help expand your critical thinking and writing skills, and provide a context for your emerging voice as a contemporary artist.
As a senior student, develop your own artistic direction with support from an art studio professor, who works one-on-one with you. In addition, you have your own studio space where you have the freedom to experiment.
Program: Bachelor of Fine Arts - Indigenous Art
Major: Art Studio
Degree Length: 4 years
Our Bachelor of Fine Arts - Indigenous Art program deepens your studies in Art through Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being. The Indigenous Art (Art Studio) program allows you to study Indigeneity, sovereignty and post-colonial theory in contemporary art and apply it in your own practice.
Gain hands-on experience through land-based learning, research, and knowledge-sharing with Indigenous Elders and community members. Preserve culture and tell stories that matter through a creative lens.
Key skills gained
- Critical thinking grounded in decolonization & representation
- Ethics, reciprocity & community engagement
- Land-based practice & cultural protocols
Explore careers in
- Cultural policy
- Advocacy & social justice programs
- Community arts institutions
What you need to know as a current student in this program
Required courses in the program are offered by the Department of Art and the Department of Indigenous Studies. There are some required courses in Art, Art History/Museum Studies and Indigenous Studies that provide a great foundation for your major, but you also have flexibility on choosing a number of courses for the path of specialization and creative study you wish to take. Refer to your Program Planning Guide in your calendar year for the courses you'll want to choose and need to take for this major.
Did you know?
Indigenous students enrolled in Fine Arts courses at the University of Lethbridge have a unique mentorship opportunity. The Faculty of Fine Arts' Indigenous Student Mentorship Program is a pilot project that invites Indigenous students in the Fine Arts to meet with the Fine Arts Indigenous Student Mentors for connection, advice, support and more in a supportive environment.
- at least 40 courses (120.0 credit hours) with cumulative and graduation grade point averages of at least 2.00;
- a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 in all Art, Art History, and Museum Studies courses;
- at least 13 Art, Art History and Museum Studies courses (39.0 credit hours) at the 3000/4000 level, and at least two Indigenous Studies courses at the 3000/4000 level;
- completion of at least 30 (90.0 credit hours) required courses for Art Studio majors.
- 8 courses for Liberal Education Requirements.
Remember that program requirements vary depending on the calendar year, which is usually the year of admission (or readmission) to ULethbridge. Therefore, requirements may differ from year to year even within the same major.
Not sure what calendar year you should be using for your program? Want to change your calendar year?
What is a Program Planning Guide?
A Program Planning Guide (PPG) outlines the courses required to complete your program, along with a sequencing plan. You should keep your Program Planning Guide up to date and refer to it for course registration and general program planning. You can find and download Program Planning Guides below!
Did you know? A minor is a great way to complement your major and have your interests in another subject area recognized on your official transcript. It is an optional component of your degree program that requires a smaller number of courses to complete.
See an Advisor for more information about this.
- Visit Fine Arts Advising to request a program check and confirm you are on track to complete your requirements.
- Review the Convocation page and Graduation Checklist.
- Apply for graduation on the Bridge by the applicable deadline.
Fine Arts Advisors are here to help you along the way!
We understand that your goals may change during your academic journey. The Fine Arts Student Program Services team is here to assist you in selecting courses, exploring your academic options, doing program checks and making sure you have everything you need to graduate from this program.
Additional Resources
See what we're about in Fine Arts!
Interested in this program but have a few more questions? Speak to a human about this program today!
Contact Dr. Nick Sullivan, our Fine Arts Recruitment & Retention Specialist. Nick can answer Fine Arts admissions-related questions, and gives awesome tours of the University Centre for the Arts.