- HBA · 4 years
- Work experience details
- ~High 80s to low 90s
Art, Performance and Cinema Studies
Simon Fraser University · SFU Vancouver · Goldcorp Centre for the Arts
Image source
AI-generated ink illustration
Conceptual study artwork, not a photograph of teaching facilities.
Unidex · generated with ImageGen
Checked 2026-11-05
Symbolic subject artwork; no university facility depicted
~Low 80s for domestic applicants
Entering average
Published approximate guidance: Low 80s for domestic applicants. Official three-year historical guide checked November 2026. Faculty-wide high school guide for Canadian citizens and permanent residents. SFU lists mid 80s for applicants on a study permit.
SFU three-year historical high school admission guide
Deadlines
January 2027
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Next deadline
2 deadlines
Fall undergraduate application
2027 entry · High school applicants
The application period opens October 1, 2026.
Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarship documents due
Fall 2027 entry · Applicants for USES
January 31, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Include both references and admission documents on your goSFU to-do list. A complete qualifying USES application can also cover Beedie’s supplement.
Other deadline details
No central deadline, each B.C. institution sets its own application open and close datesEducationPlannerBC, deadlines are set per institutionRecurring annual · Every year
- No central deadline, each B.C. institution sets its own application open and close dates
- No central B.C. deadline
- Each institution and sometimes each program sets its own dates
Full source wording
Verbatim: "Each institution sets their own application open and close dates. These dates also may vary based on the program you are applying to. You can use the search database to explore programs you are interested in applying to or visit the institution's website directly. Please refer to the institution's website or contact the Admissions/Registrar's Office directly for application deadlines and details." EducationPlannerBC is the single application service for B.C.'s 25 public post-secondary institutions but publishes no deadline dates of its own.
SourceChecked
Requirements
Admission requirements
High-school prerequisites
Check the university’s requirements for your province and applicant category.
- Graduate high school and complete at least five approved academic Grade 12 courses.
- Complete English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12.
- Meet SFU’s English-language and quantitative skills requirements. The minimum English grade is 70% in Language Arts 11, English 12 or an equivalent.
Application steps
Step 1Check the admission requirements
- Check the published entry route for your applicant category.
Step 2Apply through EducationPlannerBC
Step 3Student Centre document list and final official records
- Submit the documents on your Student Centre To Do List. Upload items with an upload button; other items must come directly from an institution or by mail. Uploads are unofficial and can be used for evaluation. A conditional offer requires final official documents ordered directly from the institution.
Step 4Fall 2026 application fee: $87.75 domestic or $130 international
- The Fall 2026 calendar requires this non-refundable CAD fee before an admission or readmission application is submitted. It is separate from tuition and any later admission deposit.
Applicant pathways
BC and Yukon high school prerequisites
BC and Yukon high school applicants
- Graduate high school and complete at least five approved academic Grade 12 courses.
- Complete English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12.
- Meet SFU’s English-language and quantitative skills requirements. The minimum English grade is 70% in Language Arts 11, English 12 or an equivalent.
Ontario high school prerequisites
Ontario high school applicants
- Complete six or more approved Grade 12 U/M courses, including ENG4U with a minimum grade of 70%.
- At Grade 11, complete ENG3U and either MCF3M or MCR3U.
- Meet SFU’s English-language and quantitative skills requirements.
- At Grade 11, complete one of SBI3U, SCH3U, SVN3M and SPH3U.
- Complete two courses from Arts Education 4M, Social Studies 4U/M, Math 4U or Science 4U/M, and three additional List A or List B courses.
SFU application choice
Direct first-year applicants
- Select Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology.
- SFU lists BA Art Performance & Cinema.
Fall 2027 programme application
High school applicants
- SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts does not require a supplemental application for this programme.
Degree requirements
Credits and degree requirements
Grades and academic standing
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.67 in Contemporary Arts courses to remain in the major.
Required courses and electives
- Meet the published university writing, quantitative and breadth requirements.
Program facts
Entering average~Low 80s for domestic applicants
Faculty-wide high school guide for Canadian citizens and permanent residents. SFU lists mid 80s for applicants on a study permit.
SFU three-year historical high school admission guideMajors & specializations
Two streams under the same BA entry.
Art and Performance Studies Stream
BA
Study art, visual culture and performance with courses in artistic history and practice.
Courses
Spring 2027 degree requirements and course choices by division. Consult the linked calendar for exact choice groups and prerequisites.
Lower Division Requirements for Both Streams6 listed
Shared required courses. Complete the remaining lower-division units in the selected stream.
CA 110Art, Performance and Cinema Studies: Introductory Seminar3 unitsDiscuss contemporary art and performance and examine work in Vancouver galleries, cinemas, and public spaces.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 110
CA 118Contemporary Art History3 unitsStudy visual art since 1945 through movements and debates about identity, power, and the role of art.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 118- CA 137The History and Aesthetics of Cinema II3 units
Compare artistic approaches in cinema from 1945 onward.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 137 - CA 186Art and the Moving Image3 units
Explore moving images across art forms, from early experiments to current practice.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 186 
CA 210Art and Visual Culture: Materials, Forms, Histories3 unitsRead and apply methods for interpreting visual work and placing it in historical context.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 210
CA 285Interdisciplinary Studio - Composition/Collaboration3 unitsCreate and critique original compositions in teams drawn from different studio disciplines.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 285
Art and Performance Studies
Art and Performance Studies
Lower Division Requirements17 listed
Additional lower-division courses and eligible options for this stream.
- CA 117Modern Art History3 units
Interpret visual art from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries in its social and institutional settings.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 117 
CA 217Introduction to Performance Studies3 units- CA 127History of Dance: From the 20th Century to the Present3 units
Trace modern dance and changing ballet practices from the early 20th century onward.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 127 - CA 136The History and Aesthetics of Cinema I3 units
Study the development of cinema from the 1890s to around 1945, with attention to film as an art form.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 136 - CA 140Contexts in Creative Music and Sound Practice3 units
Examine how identity, politics, history and artistic traditions shape current music and sound practices.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 140 - CA 149Sound3 units
Learn basic acoustics, synthesis, sampling, signal processing and production for sound and performance.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 149 - CA 216Selected Topics in Cinema Studies3 units
Explore a particular cinema studies topic in depth. Students may repeat the course once for a different topic.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 216 - CA 228WDance Aesthetics3 units
CA 235Experimental Film and Video3 unitsExamine experimental moving-image work and how it changes artistic form and genre.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 235- CA 257WContext I3 units
- CA 120Introduction to Dance Forms: Contemporary and Popular3 units
- CA 150Introduction to Theatre and Performance Making3 units
- CA 160Introductory Studio in Visual Art I3 units
Develop an idea through experiments in mark-making, materials, studio methods and installation.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 160 
CA 172Scale Modelling I3 unitsUse measurement and geometry to make scale models and technical drawings.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 172- CA 175Transforming Objects3 units
Prototype ways to transform objects for storytelling, using approaches such as masks, costume or puppetry.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 175 - CA 243Gamelan I3 units
- CA 278Video and Projection I3 units
Upper Division Requirements15 listed
At least 28 upper-division units. This list includes required courses and options.
CA 312Selected Topics in Contemporary Arts (3) * Investigates a selected thematic topic in art and performance studies such as: postcolonial theory and the arts; perception and embodiment; art activism and resistance; or urban art and culture. This course can be repeated twice for credit if the topic is different. Prerequisite: 45 units. CA 319W - Critical Writing in the Arts3 units- CA 412Advanced Seminar in Art and Performance Studies (4) * Provides an in-depth investigation of a selected theoretical, historical or thematic topic in art and performance studies. This course requires independent research leading to a substantial paper, as well as directed reading preparation for seminars. Topics will vary from term to term. The course may be repeated four times for credit if the topic is different. May be of particular interest to students in other departments. Prerequisite: Eight upper division units; and one of CA 210W (or 210 ), 316 (or 337), 318 (or 335), or 357W . Section Instructor Day/Time Location D100 Claudette Lauzon Jan 5 – Apr 12, 2027: Tue, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m. GOLDCORP and one of CA 314 - Readings in the History of Art, Performance and Cinema (3) * Investigates a selected topic in the history of art, performance and cinema. This course can be repeated twice for credit if the topic is different. Prerequisite: One of CA 210W, 216 , 228W , 235 , 236 , 257W , 316 , 318 or 344 . Section Instructor Day/Time Location D100 Denise Oleksijczuk Jan 5 – Apr 12, 2027: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m. GOLDCORP CA 315 - Sound Art: History and Concepts4 units
CA 414Advanced Topic in the History of Art, Performance and Cinema (3) * An in-depth investigation of a selected topic in the history of art, performance and/or cinema. This course can be repeated twice for credit if the topic is different. Prerequisite: 60 units, including one of CA 210W, 216 , 228W , 235 , 236 , 257W , 316 , 318 or 344 . CA 416 - Advanced Seminar in Cinema Studies (4) * Intensive study and analysis of selected topics in film theory, history, criticism and aesthetics. Examples include: work of specific directors or periods; theories of narrativity; particular aspects of national cinemas, etc. This course can be repeated once for credit if the topic is different. Prerequisite: 60 units, including one of CA 216 , 235 , 236 , 316 or 318 . CA 485 - Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Contemporary Arts5 units- CA 308Contemporary Arts Field School I (Theory/History)4 units
- CA 314Readings in the History of Art, Performance and Cinema (3) * Investigates a selected topic in the history of art, performance and cinema. This course can be repeated twice for credit if the topic is different. Prerequisite: One of CA 210W, 216 , 228W , 235 , 236 , 257W , 316 , 318 or 344 . Section Instructor Day/Time Location D100 Denise Oleksijczuk Jan 5 – Apr 12, 2027: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m. GOLDCORP CA 315 - Sound Art: History and Concepts4 units
- CA 316Intermediate Selected Topics in Cinema Studies (4) * Explores critical studies in cinema and addresses a variety of topics. This course can be repeated once for credit if the topic is different. Students with credit for CA 337 may take this course for further credit if the topic is different. Prerequisite: CA 136 or 137 . Section Instructor Day/Time Location D100 Laura Marks Jan 5 – Apr 12, 2027: Fri, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m. GOLDCORP CA 318 - Theory and Cinema4 units
- CA 341Music and Culture3 units
CA 344Thinking and Writing About Sound (3) * An in-depth investigation of selected social, political, philosophical, and theoretical issues associated with contemporary music and the sonic arts. Topics such as sound and technology, popular music and the mass media, or critical issues in non-western and Indigenous music might also be considered. This course can be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: CA 140 or permission of instructor. Section Instructor Day/Time Location D100 Eldritch Priest Jan 5 – Apr 12, 2027: Tue, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m. VANCOUVER CA 357W - Context II3 units- CA 359Selected Topics in Theatre3 units
CA 381Thriving as a Cultural Entrepreneur3 units- CA 386Film Music: An Overview of the Relationship between Music and Moving Pictures3 units
- CA 389Selected Topics in the Contemporary Arts II (3) * A specific topic in the historical and contemporary arts which is not otherwise covered in depth in regular courses or which is not appropriately placed within a single arts discipline. The work will be practical, theoretical, or a combination of the two, depending on the particular topic in a given term. May be of particular interest to students in other departments. May be repeated twice for credit when offered with different topics. Prerequisite: 30 units of CA courses. CA 401 - Directed Studies (Theory/History)3 units
- CA 406Practicum in Contemporary Arts II4 units
- CA 408Contemporary Arts Field School III (Theory/History)4 units
- CA 489Interdisciplinary Project in Contemporary Arts5 units
Cinema Studies
Cinema Studies
Lower Division Requirements18 listed
Additional lower-division courses and eligible options for this stream.
- CA 136The History and Aesthetics of Cinema I3 units
Study the development of cinema from the 1890s to around 1945, with attention to film as an art form.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 136 - CA 216Selected Topics in Cinema Studies3 units
Explore a particular cinema studies topic in depth. Students may repeat the course once for a different topic.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 216 - CA 235Experimental Film and Video3 units
Examine experimental moving-image work and how it changes artistic form and genre.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 235 - CA 236Cinema in Canada3 units
Trace Canadian drama, documentary and experimental filmmaking, with emphasis on Quebec and western Canada.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 236 - CA 117Modern Art History3 units
Interpret visual art from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries in its social and institutional settings.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 117 - CA 127History of Dance: From the 20th Century to the Present3 units
Trace modern dance and changing ballet practices from the early 20th century onward.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 127 - CA 140Contexts in Creative Music and Sound Practice3 units
Examine how identity, politics, history and artistic traditions shape current music and sound practices.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 140 - CA 149Sound3 units
Learn basic acoustics, synthesis, sampling, signal processing and production for sound and performance.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 149 - CA 217Introduction to Performance Studies3 units
- CA 228WDance Aesthetics3 units
- CA 257WContext I3 units
- CA 120Introduction to Dance Forms: Contemporary and Popular3 units
- CA 150Introduction to Theatre and Performance Making3 units
- CA 160Introductory Studio in Visual Art I3 units
Develop an idea through experiments in mark-making, materials, studio methods and installation.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 160 - CA 172Scale Modelling I3 units
Use measurement and geometry to make scale models and technical drawings.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 172 - CA 175Transforming Objects3 units
Prototype ways to transform objects for storytelling, using approaches such as masks, costume or puppetry.
SFU Spring 2027 CA 175 - CA 243Gamelan I3 units
- CA 278Video and Projection I3 units
Upper Division Requirements15 listed
At least 28 upper-division units. This list includes required courses and options.
- CA 316Intermediate Selected Topics in Cinema Studies (4) * Explores critical studies in cinema and addresses a variety of topics. This course can be repeated once for credit if the topic is different. Students with credit for CA 337 may take this course for further credit if the topic is different. Prerequisite: CA 136 or 137 . Section Instructor Day/Time Location D100 Laura Marks Jan 5 – Apr 12, 2027: Fri, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m. GOLDCORP CA 318 - Theory and Cinema4 units
- CA 319WCritical Writing in the Arts3 units
- CA 416Advanced Seminar in Cinema Studies (4) * Intensive study and analysis of selected topics in film theory, history, criticism and aesthetics. Examples include: work of specific directors or periods; theories of narrativity; particular aspects of national cinemas, etc. This course can be repeated once for credit if the topic is different. Prerequisite: 60 units, including one of CA 216 , 235 , 236 , 316 or 318 . and one of CA 312 - Selected Topics in Contemporary Arts (3) * Investigates a selected thematic topic in art and performance studies such as: postcolonial theory and the arts; perception and embodiment; art activism and resistance; or urban art and culture. This course can be repeated twice for credit if the topic is different. Prerequisite: 45 units. CA 314 - Readings in the History of Art, Performance and Cinema (3) * Investigates a selected topic in the history of art, performance and cinema. This course can be repeated twice for credit if the topic is different. Prerequisite: One of CA 210W, 216 , 228W , 235 , 236 , 257W , 316 , 318 or 344 . Section Instructor Day/Time Location D100 Denise Oleksijczuk Jan 5 – Apr 12, 2027: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m. GOLDCORP CA 315 - Sound Art: History and Concepts4 units
- CA 412Advanced Seminar in Art and Performance Studies (4) * Provides an in-depth investigation of a selected theoretical, historical or thematic topic in art and performance studies. This course requires independent research leading to a substantial paper, as well as directed reading preparation for seminars. Topics will vary from term to term. The course may be repeated four times for credit if the topic is different. May be of particular interest to students in other departments. Prerequisite: Eight upper division units; and one of CA 210W (or 210 ), 316 (or 337), 318 (or 335), or 357W . Section Instructor Day/Time Location D100 Claudette Lauzon Jan 5 – Apr 12, 2027: Tue, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m. GOLDCORP CA 414 - Advanced Topic in the History of Art, Performance and Cinema (3) * An in-depth investigation of a selected topic in the history of art, performance and/or cinema. This course can be repeated twice for credit if the topic is different. Prerequisite: 60 units, including one of CA 210W, 216 , 228W , 235 , 236 , 257W , 316 , 318 or 344 . CA 416 - Advanced Seminar in Cinema Studies (4) * Intensive study and analysis of selected topics in film theory, history, criticism and aesthetics. Examples include: work of specific directors or periods; theories of narrativity; particular aspects of national cinemas, etc. This course can be repeated once for credit if the topic is different. Prerequisite: 60 units, including one of CA 216 , 235 , 236 , 316 or 318 . CA 485 - Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Contemporary Arts5 units
- CA 308Contemporary Arts Field School I (Theory/History)4 units
- CA 312Selected Topics in Contemporary Arts (3) * Investigates a selected thematic topic in art and performance studies such as: postcolonial theory and the arts; perception and embodiment; art activism and resistance; or urban art and culture. This course can be repeated twice for credit if the topic is different. Prerequisite: 45 units. CA 314 - Readings in the History of Art, Performance and Cinema (3) * Investigates a selected topic in the history of art, performance and cinema. This course can be repeated twice for credit if the topic is different. Prerequisite: One of CA 210W, 216 , 228W , 235 , 236 , 257W , 316 , 318 or 344 . Section Instructor Day/Time Location D100 Denise Oleksijczuk Jan 5 – Apr 12, 2027: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m. GOLDCORP CA 315 - Sound Art: History and Concepts4 units
- CA 338WWriting for Film3 units
- CA 341Music and Culture3 units
- CA 344Thinking and Writing About Sound3 units
- CA 381Thriving as a Cultural Entrepreneur3 units
- CA 386Film Music: An Overview of the Relationship between Music and Moving Pictures3 units
- CA 389Selected Topics in the Contemporary Arts II (3) * A specific topic in the historical and contemporary arts which is not otherwise covered in depth in regular courses or which is not appropriately placed within a single arts discipline. The work will be practical, theoretical, or a combination of the two, depending on the particular topic in a given term. May be of particular interest to students in other departments. May be repeated twice for credit when offered with different topics. Prerequisite: 30 units of CA courses. CA 401 - Directed Studies (Theory/History)3 units
- CA 406Practicum in Contemporary Arts II4 units
- CA 408Contemporary Arts Field School III (Theory/History)4 units
- CA 489Interdisciplinary Project in Contemporary Arts5 units
Elective choices
- Choose either Art and Performance Studies or Cinema Studies.
- Complete the 30-unit lower-division plan for the chosen stream, including the shared core, and at least 28 upper-division units. Each stream has its own course selections.
Study locations
- Study locations
- SFU Vancouver · Goldcorp Centre for the ArtsSFU School for the Contemporary Arts · teaching facilities by campus
Careers
Career examples have not been verified for this page.
Official program pageCosts
Normal undergraduate courses
Published cost estimate
2026–27 · Per unit · CAD
Canadian students example · Choose your category
Tuition$220.61Books and suppliesNot researched
ResidenceNot estimated
Meal planNot estimatedEstimated subtotalNot available
Fall 2026 rates · Course level and entry cohort matter
Housing and meals are outside this estimate.
Last updated
