Academic Planning Guide for

VISUAL ART DIPLOMA

&
BACHELOR OF FINE ART
(Updated January 27, 2009)

Please consider the environment by reusing your printed copy of this guide. Bring it with you each time you meet
with an Academic Advisor. Be sure to check for guide updates throughout the year in-person or online at http://
www.rdc.ab.ca/future_students/campus_services/academic_advising/guides.html.

This Academic Planning Guide highlights only major points regarding admission and transfer. Students are advised to
read the university and RDC calendars, and the Alberta Transfer Guide for other necessary information. Some of the
courses listed in this guide have prerequisites. Please refer to the Course Descriptions section of the RDC calendar for
further information.

The Program

Objectives of this program are:

1. To provide a two-year diploma program in Visual Art designed to prepare students with knowledge, skills
and attitudes for employment in Visual Art positions.

2. To prepare students to continue their education in a Bachelor of Fine Arts program.

Creativity takes innovative thinking, determination and visual talent. By choosing either the Visual Art Diploma Program
or the Bachelor of Fine Art Program, you will be challenged over two years to develop your ideas and push your artistic
limits.

Studio courses in drawing, painting, ceramics, visual fundamentals, and sculpture sharpen your sense of sight,
enhance your skills of visual expression, and broaden your creative abilities. The instructors in the Visual Art De-
partment are themselves practicing artists. Studios are fully equipped for ceramics, sculpture, painting, drawing,
printmaking, and design. English and Art History courses offer equal strengths in visual arts vocabulary and criti-
cal thinking while making art of your own.

In the subsequent year, immerse yourself in the sort of learning opportunity that will enable you to acquire the
technical skills to realize your inner vision. Two electives are chosen from full-year studio courses with Printmak-
ing also being offered.

Within a unique and creative environment, you will acquire the specific technical skills and experience directed to
the exciting visual art field. Our program offers a smaller, more personal college atmosphere, the opportunity to
work closely with faculty and fellow students, and the opportunity to produce meaningful art.

The following employment-related fields require a general art foundation, followed by more specialized training,
ending in a four-year undergraduate degree or Master's degree:

Fine Art - sculpture, painting, ceramics, printmaking, photography, and drawing

Commercial Design - lay-out, illustration, display, model-making, and photography
Photography - creative, commercial, industrial, and freelance
Other - art galleries, framing shops, etc.
Crafts Design - ceramics, textiles, glass, and jewellery
Environmental Design - architectural, urban, environmental, and industrial design
Art Education - secondary and post-secondary

Compiled by RDC Academic Advisors in co-operation with the Visual Art Department. Information in this guide is current at the time of printing and is subject to change.
 Program Content
Year 1

Fall Term Winter Term

__ART 101 (1) Visiting Artists __ART 101 (1) Visiting Artists

__ART 201 (3) Art History I __ART 203 (3) Art History II

__ART 231 (3) Visual Fundamentals __ART 233 (3) Visual Fundamentals

__ART 241 (3) Drawing I __ART 243 (3) Drawing II

__ART 251 (3) Two Dimensional Studies Painting I Fall or Winter Term

__ART 261 (3) Three Dimensional Study Ceramics I Fall or Winter Term

__ART 281 (3) Three Dimensional Study Sculpture I Fall or Winter Term

__English 219*(3) Fall or Winter Term

*Note: English 219 has a prerequisite of ELA 30-1 or equivalent (RDC ENGL 095)

Year 2

Fall Term Winter Term

__ART 101 (1) Visiting Artists __ART 101 (1) Visiting Artists

__ART 341 (3) Drawing III __ART 343 (3) Drawing IV

__Option (3) (Art History Recommended) __Option (3) (Art History Recommended)

__English 220* (3) __Option (3)

Choose two of the following full-year studio elective courses:

ART 351/353 Painting II and III

ART 361/363 Ceramics II and III

ART 375/377/379 Printmaking (Two offered each year)

ART 381/383 Sculpture II and III

*NOTE: English 219(3) and English 220 (3) may be replaced by English 210 (6) or English 200 (6); however, this may
require alternate scheduling of ART courses.

OPTIONS

Students have a wide variety of courses to choose from to satisfy the OPTION requirements. University Transfer
students should choose options which are transferable on a course by course basis to the destination university.
Visual Art Diploma students may select 3-credit college level courses as options although university-transfer
courses are recommended. Consult the Alberta Transfer Guide for details.

Many courses require introductory preparation for further study and students are advised to consult the Red
Deer College Calendar for prerequisite requirements.

Compiled by RDC Academic Advisors in co-operation with the Visual Art Department. Information in this guide is current at the time of printing and is subject to change.
Transfer Features

You may transfer up to 20 3-credit course equivalents taken at Red Deer College to the University of Alberta, University
of Calgary, University of Lethbridge or the Alberta College of Art and Design. The B.F.A. program is also transferable to
most other Canadian universities and art colleges, and it would be advised that you contact these institutions directly for
more information regarding admission and transfer regulations. The courses completed within the Diploma may be
transferable to other Universities; students are advised to consult the Alberta Transfer Guide for details. Completion of
two years at Red Deer College does not guarantee acceptance to a university, nor does it guarantee that you will receive
a full 60 transfer credits. Please speak with an Academic Advisor if you have further questions regarding this information.

Where do I find more information?

Red Deer College

Visual Arts/BFA Chairperson Chairperson: Jason Frizzell
Office: 2924
Phone: 342-3328
E-mail: jason.frizzell@rdc.ab.ca
Red Deer College Homepage http://www.rdc.ab.ca/
Red Deer College On-line timetable http://www.rdc.ab.ca/timetable/
Visual Arts/BFA Department Homepage http://www.rdc.ab.ca/programs_and_courses/departments/visual_art/

Related links
Academic Advising http://www.rdc.ab.ca/future_students/campus_services/academic_advising/
On-line Alberta Transfer Guide http://www.acat.gov.ab.ca/
University of Alberta http://www.ualberta.ca/
University of Calgary http://www.ucalgary.ca/
University of Lethbridge http://www.uleth.ca/
Alberta College of Art and Design http://www.acad.ab.ca/
Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design http://www.eciad.ca/

Please Note:

Please be aware that you are responsible for ensuring that your registration is complete and appropriate
and that your course choices comply with the program to which you have been admitted at Red Deer
College and/or to the university to which you wish to transfer (if applicable).

You are cautioned that any changes to your courses, your major or your transfer destination may adversely
affect your transferable credit (if applicable), admission requirements for future programs, or eligibility to
graduate from Red Deer College. Please consult with an academic advisor if you have any questions.

The function of academic advisors is to provide students with information and resources that enable them
to make informed decisions relevant to their education. These resources include the Red Deer College
Calendar, the Academic Planning Guide for your chosen program and Destination University (if applicable),
the Alberta Transfer Guide and the calendar and contact information for your destination university (if
applicable). Academic advisors will assist you in interpreting information from these resources or refer you
to your destination university if appropriate. Students in university transfer programs are strongly advised
to refer to the calendar of the university to which they wish to transfer and should contact appropriate
university departments as required.

Compiled by RDC Academic Advisors in co-operation with the Visual Art Department. Information in this guide is current at the time of printing and is subject to change.