Fine Arts – Advanced | Durham College

Program Overview

Find a way to make a difference with your creativity. The Fine Arts – Advanced program will push you along the path you have chosen, challenging you through critical discussions, pointing you to artists with similar concerns and aesthetics, and encouraging you to grow and achieve the potential evident in your preliminary explorations. This program will prepare you to address the complex challenges of the 21st century and promotes citizenship by educating you not only for careers and jobs in the visual arts, but also for your role as an active and engaged practicing artist in your community.

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program are required to purchase their own laptop. For specific laptop and software requirements for this program click here.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)

Note: this program has additional recommended requirements. Please visit the Admission Requirements tab for further information.

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Tuition

Year one domestic: $2,722 (CAD)
Year one international: $13,322 (CAD)

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Semester 1 Courses

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Drawing

Creativity

Mixed Media

Intakes and Availability

Date	Domestic Availability	International Availability
September 2021	Open	Open

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Curatorial assistant
Fabricator
Gallery curatorial assistant
Illustrator
Museum/gallery technician
Professional studio artist
Photographer
Videographer

View all Career Options

Program Details

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program are required to purchase their own laptop. For specific laptop and software requirements for this program click here.

The Fine Arts program will offer you a wide range of experience and knowledge in the visual arts through a variety of ideas, mediums, materials and techniques including:

Drawing
Multimedia
Painting
Photography
Rapid proto-typing
Sculpture/modelling
Site-specific installations
Sound and video production
Woodworking

With curriculum based on fundamental courses in art, craft and design, you will be introduced to historical precedents, critical analysis and the practical skills essential to visual culture and its disciplines. Courses also focus on:

Entrepreneurship and professional practice
Product and materials design
Video production and editing
Web development

You will learn to use your skills and talents as an artist, developing a personal aesthetic and making significant contributions to the local culture and economy by collaborating with community groups and not-for-profit organizations. You will also benefit from experienced faculty and close proximity to galleries, museums and studios located in Durham Region and across the Greater Toronto Area.

Through the production of a comprehensive portfolio of work, you will possess the combination of professional studio experience and entrepreneurial skills required to build a successful career in this vibrant sector.

In The News

Program Learning Outcomes

Produce a portfolio of work including a comprehensive artist’s statement that reflects an advanced and sophisticated ability to communicate visually.
Express artistic concepts and personal vision through the manipulation of a variety of media.
Enhance visual, written and verbal communication in the practice and promotion of personal artwork through the use of technology.
Communicate effectively in visual, verbal and written forms appropriate to the presentation and promotion of one’s work.
Research and evaluate contemporary developments and issues in visual and creative arts, as well as current trends in the market, in order to make informed decisions about one’s career in the arts.
Identify and apply guidelines regulations with respect to health and safety applicable to the use of art materials and methodology.
Evaluate historical and contemporary works of art from a critical perspective.
Analyze and evaluate research for visual, written and oral presentation that directs problem solving, informs the creative process and reflects the influence of artistic styles and individuals from periods of history.
Create a career plan that reflects professional business practices and knowledge of organizations and institutions that support the arts, for purposes of self-promotion and other art-related activities.
Prepare for and appropriately exhibit one’s work in public galleries, displays and shows, including the documentation of work through the effective use of photography.
Solve complex problems related to the conceptual process involving project specifications, deadlines, budgetary restrictions and potential client directives.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Semester 5

Semester 6

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change. Please note that as a result of COVID-19 the 2020-21 program of study may be modified to accommodate program delivery changes. Students should refer to their timetable for the most up-to-date course information.

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Curatorial assistant
Fabricator
Gallery curatorial assistant
Illustrator
Museum/gallery technician
Professional studio artist
Photographer
Videographer

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Arts education
Maintaining a professional studio for personal and public art production
Museum or gallery preparator/technician
Photography, video production and post-production studio
Studio art production (illustration, animation, games)

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:

Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.

Laptop Requirements

Laptop requirements

A Mac notebook computer is recommended. Please see the hardware requirements document for details.

Software requirements

Operating System (bundled with new notebook computer purchase)
Membership in Adobe Creative Cloud™ is included in your Student Fees and will be made available during your first week. There is no need to purchase a subscription.
Microsoft Office (Available for free for students from Microsoft through your DC Mail account. Please do not buy it.)

Creative Cloud brings together everything you need to create your greatest work. One simple membership gives you and your classmates to the very latest versions of all the Adobe professional creative desktop applications like Photoshop®, Illustrator®, Premiere Pro® and more — plus new features and upgrades as soon as they're available. And that's just the beginning. With Creative Cloud™, everything you need to create intuitively and collaboratively is included.

Free downloadable software (please download and install prior to the start of classes. Caution: To avoid malware, only download from the actual developer or using the links below):

OTHER RECOMMENDED HARDWARE

All students MUST have a Cat 5e or Cat 6 Ethernet cable 2 meters long to connect to the campus network and an adapter to connect to Ethernet depending on the laptop.
USB flash drive for storing smaller amounts of data
External hard disk USB-3 or USB-C 1 TB or larger
Wacom Intuous 3 6×8-inch digital graphics tablet (optional)

NOTE: These requirements were accurate at the time of posting and are subject to change. Please be aware that hardware and software versions are subject to change and will be updated as needed. For further information and FAQ click here.

COVID-19 Information

Fine Arts – Advanced

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Tuition

Semester 1 Courses

Intakes and Availability

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Program Details

In The News

Program Learning Outcomes

Admission Requirements

Recommended

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Semester 5

Semester 6

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Laptop Requirements

Laptop requirements

Software requirements

OTHER RECOMMENDED HARDWARE

Fine Arts – Advanced in the news

Helpful Resources

College guide September 2020 [PDF]

College guide September 2020 [Interactive]

Graduate Employment Report [PDF]