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MFA Creative Studies

Courses | Admission Requirements | Thesis Requirements

Students in the FCCS/IGS MFA can focus on the Visual Arts, Media Arts, Creative Writing, or Performance (Theatre).  They can also combine those disciplines and other academic disciplines to form an individualized program of study.  The IGS MFA program is unique in Canada and is designed to encourage an exchange of ideas and influences from non-studio and other academic disciplines reflecting the complex nature of contemporary art and literary practice.  It is designed to address and accomodate the specific needs and interests of each candidate as they pursue their MFA degress at UBC Okanagan.  The FCCS faculty offers a diverse range of practical and theoretical approaches and areas of expertise as well as an openness and willingness to explore new approaches in contemporary arts practice.

Visual and Media Arts encourages and supports research and exploration in a variety of traditional and non-traditional visual media and allows for students to maintain a specific focus or to work in a cross-disciplinary manner.  Creative Writing focuses on a writer's development in his or her preferred literary genre with opportunities for expanded creation and research offered by an interdisciplinary setting.  In Performance (Theatre) students will have the opportunity to explore performance-based practices and theories across disciplinary categories and cultural boundaries.

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Courses

  • IGS 506  Creative Research Methods
  • IGS 580  Graduate Workshop in Creative Writing

Special Topics

  • IGS 520   Interdisciplinary  Workshop
  • IGS 520  Photography
  • IGS 530  Performance Creative 
  • IGS 530  Fact/Fiction
  • IGS 530  Eco Poetry

Direct Studies and Special Topics Courses are offered in the following areas:            

  • Life Writing
  • Drama
  • Drawing
  • Novel and Novella
  • Painting
  • Performance
  • Photography
  • Poetry
  • Printmaking
  • Short Fiction
  • Sculpture and Installation
  • Video and New Media

Students are also expected to complete 3 credits in either Cultural Theory (IGS 501Y-001) or Critical Theory (IGS 501X-001) as well as 6 credits directly related to their creative practice.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the FCCS/IGS MFA requires support material in addition to the IGS application forms. The Department of Creative Studies evaluates the support material separately in order to make recommendations to the College of Graduate Studies.  Applications, which pass through the portfolio screening, are forwarded for recommendation to the College of Graduate Studies for final approval after all other admission criteria is met.

All application material including support material must be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies by the January deadline. 

**  Please note you must also fill out the Supplemental Application for the MFA in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies.  [Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies Supplemental Application (Part B).]

Required Support Material

  1. Portfolio of recent work or of work relevant to thesis proposal (last 5 years) consisting of:
    • Visual and Media Arts
      15 - 20 images electronic only on CD-ROM (jpeg or tiff 8 x 10in at 200dpi max.) Video/Film applicants should have a selection of recent video work on DVD or VHS for viewing. The Department may request additional original work for further evaluation purposes.
    • Creative Writing
      30 pages of published or unpublished work in two genres.  The work can be photocopies of published material (providing bibliographical information about the publication) or can be in manuscript format (double-spaced, one side of the page). Submission should be made electronically to College of Graduate Studies.
    • Performance
      Support material will be accepted in the following formats:
      Video documentation of performance work on DVD or VHS - 30 minute maximum; performance texts maximum 30 pages; 15 - 20 images of performances; digital sound recordings. Applicants may choose to provide support material in more than one format if appropriate.
  2. Artist/Performer CV or Filmography or list of publications or other writing related accomplishments. Please include participation in or collaboration on any interdisciplinary projects.
  3. Artistic Statement. A brief generalized description contextualizing your work in relationship to contemporary art/writing/performance practice, including interdisciplinary innovation. (2 page max. Double Spaced.)

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Thesis Requirements

Visual Arts
Requires an exhibition of a body of work completed during residency in the program, a written thesis of 8,000-10,000 words, and an oral defense of both exhibition and written thesis.

Creative Writing
Requires a full-length work of publishable quality (book-length poetry, fiction, or non-fiction manuscript, full-length stage play, libretto or screenplay) with a 2500- 5000 word introductory support paper, and an oral defense.

Performance
Requires a publicized public event equivalent in scope and profile to a full-length evening performance; documentation of the creation, development and the theoretical context of the work; oral defense of both performance and documentation.  Documentation of the work may be realized in different formats in consultation with the supervising faculty member.

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Last reviewed shim1/3/2013 2:47:17 PM

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