UBC Okanagan’s Art History and Visual Culture program delves into the heart of human experience and identity, and its tangible expressions of cultural values, religious beliefs, and political agendas. The program offers a variety of global perspectives for exploring art and visual culture with course offerings on the arts of South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Students in the program explore and analyse diverse forms of art and visual culture, while focusing on developing critical thinking and writing abilities. They examine “high” art, pop culture, architecture, everyday objects, performance and aesthetics in their cultural and historical contexts. Cross-disciplinary approaches that draw from literary and cultural studies, gender and women’s studies, history, the digital humanities and anthropology are employed as well.

Pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree with either a Major or a Minor in Art History and Visual Culture. Another interesting option is the Combined Major, which can currently be taken with Creative Writing, Cultural Studies, or English. BFA students can easily complete a minor as well.

The program is a practical option for students who are continuing on to professional programs or graduate studies.

You will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world’s artistic heritage and contemporary art scenes.

UBC Okanagan’s Art History and Visual Culture courses address topics such as digital art history, historical and contemporary global art and architecture; art in Canada; art and popular music; global Surrealism; Latin American art; art, literature, and gender in the Islamic World; and art, fashion, and performance in Africa.

Sample courses:

• ARTH 101/102 – Art and Visual Cultures of the World I & II
• ARTH 203 – Global Contemporary Art
• ARTH 370 – Art and Literature of the Islamic World
• ARTH 403 – Global Surrealism

View course descriptions for the 2020-2021 academic year. Browse all Art History and Visual Culture courses and descriptions in the Academic Calendar.

The following links take you to Art History and Visual Culture program details in the Okanagan Academic Calendar, a comprehensive guide to all programs, courses, services, and academic policies at The University of British Columbia:

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art History and Visual Culture

• Major in Art History and Visual Culture
• Combined Major with Art History and Visual Culture
• Minor in Art History and Visual Culture

Find out more about how to declare your major.

Communications and Rhetoric Certificate

Students can receive a Certificate in Communications and Rhetoric by completing 15 credits through courses from four thematic interdisciplinary and relational clusters, and a final capstone project. This is an add on to any major; some credits can be double counted.

Learn about graduate studies

Prospective master’s and PhD students interested in working with faculty in the area of Art History and Visual Culture can do so through Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies (IGS) in the Digital Arts & Humanities theme.

For your application to be considered, you’ll need to do three things:

• Meet general requirements (e.g., graduate from secondary school)
• Demonstrate a certain level of English competency
• Meet specific requirements for the degree you’re applying to.

Then, UBC will take a closer look at your application. We’ll read your Personal Profile to get a sense of who you are and what you’ve achieved.  We’ll also look at all of your Grade 11 (junior level) and Grade 12 (senior level) courses, paying special attention to the courses that relate to the degree you’re applying to.

Find your specific requirements at you.ubc.ca

Students are encouraged to declare their major in Art History and Visual Culture at the end of their first year in order to take the prerequisite second-year courses. Refer to the Academic Calendar for required courses.

Application Deadlines 
Plan ahead to ensure you meet important deadlines and other target dates listed at you.ubc.ca.

Tuition Fees
UBC Okanagan’s fees compare favourably with universities of the same high calibre. See Financial Planning for helpful resources, and add up your first-year costs with our Cost Calculator.

Apply to UBC at you.ubc.ca—there are just five steps in the application process. Soon you could be studying at one of the world’s top universities.

Check out the steps to apply to UBC, and be sure to choose “Okanagan campus.”

Or let our Student Recruitment & Advising experts guide you: call 1-877-807-8521.

• Museums, galleries, historical societies, schools and universities
• Provincial and federal arts, cultural or heritage departments and agencies
• Architecture or law firms, publishing houses and magazines

Co-operative work-placement opportunities exist for all students completing a Bachelor of Arts degree. Earn a degree and relevant, paid work experience at the same time. Apply through the Co-operative Education Office in September of Year 2 or Year 3 of your BA degree program.

The UBC Okanagan Arts Career Apprenticeship Program (UBCO ACAP) connects upcoming arts, humanities and social sciences graduates from the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies with Okanagan-based employers for one-year, paid, early career opportunities.

Prospective master’s and PhD students interested in working with faculty in the area of Art History and Visual Culture can do so through Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies (IGS)

Co-supervisory arrangements with other program areas are also possible. Please contact individual faculty members for further information.

• See the world through Go Global, a UBC program for exchange and study with more than 150 international partner institutions.
• Travel to conferences or competitions with financial assistance available through the Tuum Est Student Initiative Fund, which provides financial support up to $3,500.

• Follow your ideas and get a head start on your career. English professors engage students in research projects, labs and centres that range from Indigenous studies and the study of animal ethics to digitized cultural history.
• Take part in Eco Art Incubator, a research initiative that provides students and artists with a platform from which to work, as well as access to artist-friendly resources for conservation and ecological initiatives.
• Investigate opportunities offered through the Centre for Culture and Technology (CCT), an interdisciplinary institute that engages in multiple forms of art, media, and information technologies as vehicles for the exploration and expression of community, culture, and identity.
• FCCS faculty run the AMP Lab, which houses projects that engage the work of the humanities, adding value to cultural artifacts through interpretation and analysis in a digital context.

Get a financial boost to start your research experience and help pay for travel and other expenses. Merit-based cash awards also look impressive on your resumé.

• The Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies Undergraduate Research Awards ($2,500) provide undergraduate students with support you can use to engage in research and creative activities during the summer.
• The FCCS Community Engagement Award recognizes activities that make a significant and positive impact on communities beyond the university.
• More scholarships, bursaries and grants available for all students.

• Learn through doing, create strong connections, and develop professional skills with a campus job arranged by UBC’s Work Study Program.
• Meet a community need and get practical experience by volunteering for a Community Service Learning project— a life-changing experience.
• Build up your portfolio by flexing those creative muscles — photograph, illustrate, write, edit, interview and perform other journalistic roles at UBC Okanagan’s newspaper, The Phoenix, the official students’ free press.
• Co-op puts your classroom learning to the test, allowing you to explore career options while earning money. Inquire about Co-op by phone at 250.807.9623 or by email.
• More Employment Opportunities in FCCS.

• Get a glimpse into life on UBC’s Okanagan campus at you.ubc.ca.
• Take a virtual tour of our state-of-the-art labs, modern facilities, campus residences.
• Visit the campus for a personal guided tour led by a student ambassador.
• Tour the campus, city and lake with this interactive 360-degree Kelowna From Above* video.
  * Best viewed in Chrome and Firefox 

On the first day of university, faculties offer “Meet the Faculty” sessions where you can get to know the Dean, professors, and the staff who provide student support. It’s all part of UBC Okanagan’s new student orientation: CREATE.

Attend an orientation tailored to your needs as an aboriginal student, domestic student, international student, or student living in residence. You can even register your parents for an orientation that includes a workshop and campus tour.

• Peer mentors are a great resource — ask questions and learn from students who’ve been there, done that.
• Navigate your studies with the help of a professor, your Program Advisor.
• Use the library which offers print, audiovisual and electronic research materials, a leisure-reading collection and loaner laptops. It also offers research consultations, instruction and workshops.
• The library’s Writing and Resource Centre can help you articulate your ideas. Pursue your research in a range of subject areas and scholarly genres, including essay writing, grammar, presentation skills, punctuation, thesis development, and coursework.
• Familiarize yourself with resources designed to help you succeed. Student Services offers a variety of academic supports, from study sessions to tutoring and writing workshops.

Take advantage of the many opportunities to get involved and stay active—from workout space in the new Hangar Fitness Centre, to athletic courts, intramurals, fitness classes, and varsity athletics.

Learn more at Sports and Recreation, which includes links to fitness facilities, sport clubs, intramurals and recreation programs, as well as the nationally ranked UBC Okanagan Heat varsity teams that compete in the Canada West Universities Athletics Association.

• Join a community of fellow creative and critical thinkers at events such as the Visiting Artist Series, Draw by Night, AlterKnowledge Discussion Series, and more.
• Branch out, get involved in student life, and have fun by joining a campus club or association.
• If you don’t find a club that interests you, you can start a new one!

Meet new people while living in a study-oriented environment with easy access to academic and personal support.

UBC Okanagan offers modern residence living surrounded by hiking and biking trails. One of the newest residences, Purcell, includes a rooftop patio that offers a panoramic view of the campus and the Okanagan Valley.

Find out more about living in residence at you.ubc.ca.

UBC’s Okanagan campus borders the dynamic city of Kelowna, a hub of economic development with a population of more than 150,000 people—the fourth fastest growing population in Canada. In fact, the Okanagan Valley is rated one of the best communities in Canada to grow your business.

More than 160 buses travel daily from campus to key locations such as Kelowna’s cultural district and thriving downtown waterfront. The campus is two minutes from the Kelowna International Airport, one of the Top 10 busiest airports in Canada.

UBC Okanagan is situated within the First Nations territory of the Okanagan Nation, whose spirit of stewardship for the land is reflected in the university’s respect for sustainability.

A diverse natural region with sandy beaches, beautiful farms, vineyards and orchards, and snow-capped mountains, the Okanagan Valley features sweeping stretches of lakeside and endless mountain trails for biking and hiking.

Explore the Okanagan lifestyle at you.ubc.ca.