BA Major

Develop your visual art practice within a well-rounded and stimulating, challenging academic environment while exploring critical theory and art history in the Bachelor of Arts (BA) major in visual art at UBC.

As a VISA student, you will enjoy a program that combines an emphasis on visual art practice with a broad range of elective courses that provide ample room for study in other areas of interest (including a minor or second major).

Held in studio environments, our visual art classes foster individual creative production and visual literacy in a lively atmosphere of instructor-led debate, discussion, and critique.

Program Requirements

  • 9 credits of VISA 110, VISA 180, and VISA 183 with a cumulative average of at least 72%; in exceptional circumstances, VISA 110 may be taken as a co-requisite with select 200-level VISA courses
  • 6 credits of 100- or 200-level ARTH. Normally completed across years 1 and 2
  • 12 credits from 200-level VISA with a cumulative average of at least 72% (only one of VISA 240 or 241 may count toward the VISA major)

  • VISA 380: Studio Theory
  • 9 credits of 300- or 400-level ARTH
  • 18 credits of 300- or 400-level VISA studio courses, of which at least 3 credits must be 400-level VISA
  • Students may substitute a maximum of 6 credits in EDCP (only EDCP 303, 305) courses for VISA course requirements


Declaring the Major

Upon completion of the 100-level Visual Art course requirements stated above, a minimum of 3 credits of ARTH, and a minimum of 27 credits overall, you may request to declare the BA major in Visual Art by completing this form.


Course Planning

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