Bachelor of Design

at MacEwan University Canada

The two-year Fine Art diploma program prepares students for degree completion (Bachelor of Fine Art or Bachelor of Arts) and for starting a professional art practice. Students study historical and contemporary art in studio and art history courses, along with English, FFAC options and university electives. Students work in studios in Allard Hall on MacEwan University’s downtown campus, walking distance to campus facilities and services, as well as to museums and galleries in Edmonton’s downtown arts district.

The Fine Art program exposes students to the diversity of contemporary art practice, and emphasizes the development of creative, research and professional skills. In the first year, students learn elements and principles used in visual composition, art themes and media, creative research and histories of art and visual culture. In the second year, they develop a personal direction as they study and explore contemporary art theories and practice, professional practice, and pursue idea and process within studio course objectives. Digital technologies along with traditional approaches are incorporated throughout the curricula in coursework in drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, performance art, digital art, video and emerging forms. Studio assignments are designed to foster creative problem-solving skills, fluency with creative language and a strong work ethic. Through critiques, lectures and seminars, and visiting artist lectures, students learn to discuss their own art as it relates to contemporary art and its influences and contexts.

Get ready for a dynamic career in theatre production. Our stages are waiting for you.

The theatre production major prepares you to work in live and recorded entertainment sectors as a technician, artisan, craftsperson and manager. Through hands-on work experience, you produce the entire MacEwan University theatre season. Trained in the fundamental areas of theatre production, you learn to apply those skills as a member of a variety of creative teams: stage and production management, costuming, scenic painting, scenic construction, lighting, video, properties and audio.

What to expect
From your first term until the final year of your degree, you are a member of a variety of creative teams: stage and production management, costume, scenic painting, scenic construction, lighting, video, properties and audio. The theory you learn in class is immediately put into practice through hands-on activities.

In the first two years, you complete required foundational courses. In the third and fourth years, you have the opportunity to focus on a specific area of theatre production and to enhance your learning with courses from other disciplines.

You get a definite sense of accomplishment from overcoming obstacles. Discussions that revolve around differing ideas, opinions, perceptions and beliefs energize you. When you think about the future, you don't just want to be prepared for something, you want to be prepared for anything.
An arts degree says that you are a person who likes to challenge and be challenged. You will learn about human nature and the human mind as they are revealed through the arts, the languages and the politics of past and present cultures. By expanding your knowledge and becoming a critical thinker and good communicator, you will be equipped to adapt, learn, analyze, problem-solve and innovate.

What will I study?
A Bachelor of Arts emphasizes both breadth and depth of study and allows you exceptional flexibility and customization. You can complete a major and a minor, a double major, or a major and two minors. You can also adjust the size of your major and minor to explore subjects and disciplines to the extent you want.

The legal major of the Office Assistant program provides the skills you need to work as a legal assistant in today’s competitive market.

You train on a variety of software packages to prepare for a challenging career in the legal field. As a graduate of the program, you become adept with technology, understand procedures in a law office, have a basic knowledge of law, and are able to work in time-sensitive situations.

The program of study for the legal major consists solely of core courses; you do not take electives or options. The core courses must be completed in the order presented in the program of study; that is, term one courses are taken only in the first term, and so on.

The legal major provides core office skills and legal-specific courses for entry-level legal assistants that include legal transcription, basic legal theory and legal office procedures. The legal assistant in today’s competitive market must be adept with technology, understand procedures in a law office, have a basic knowledge of law and be able to work within time limits.

For more than 44 years the Office Assistant program has been providing quality graduates. Today’s office assistants are highly accomplished software experts who use their skills to help other staff get the most from a computerized office. In addition, office assistants are involved in managing the organizational affairs of their areas that include handling public enquiries, managing computer and paper files, organizing schedules, arranging meetings of senior staff, as well as providing strong customer service and problem-solving skills.

The Office Assistant program is ideal as a foundation for other careers or as a complement to prior training and experience. It runs for 10 months from September until June, ending with a field placement. It is a comprehensive program that offers students the opportunity to specialize in one of the following three majors:

• Administrative Major
• Legal Major
• Medical Major

The program is well suited for individuals with strong organizational skills,  an attention for details, familiarity with computers and software, a professional manner, and excellent verbal and written communication skills. Graduates are often required to work independently and in a team environment, so students who are positive and self-motivated do exceptionally well. The program has built a solid reputation with employers, resulting in a job placement rate near 100 per

The Bachelor of Music focuses on the study of jazz and contemporary popular music, responds to the current demands of the industry and combines a high degree of professionalism along with the academic rigour required for further education at the graduate level. The opportunity to study with internationally renowned professionals while following a challenging academic curriculum will give you the skills, insights, competency and credentials to pursue a career as a performer, creator and leader in the evolving music industry.

All Bachelor of Music students share a common curriculum in the first year that focuses on individual study (voice, piano, guitar, bass, drums, winds, brass or violin), performance ensemble, theory (jazz and traditional), aural skills, and musicology. After successful completion of the first year, students pursue a major route (specialized program of study).

The Recording and Production major is unique in Canada because of its focus on jazz and contemporary popular music and its commitment to the tonmeister approach that holds musicianship and musical art central to the development of high-level music recording engineers and producers. Students in the Recording major take courses in recording studio and production techniques, acoustics and psychoacoustics, technical ear training, live sound reinforcement, digital/analog signal flow, applications in music technology, and mastering, and acquire professional-level skills in AVID Pro Tools and other essential industry-standard software. The program of study also includes core Bachelor of Music courses in performance, theory, aural skills, cultural studies of music, and the business of music.

MacEwan's Travel program takes you places. This two-year diploma program is condensed into an accelerated 13-month format so you can fast track your studies to get right to work. In this program you'll study the ins and outs of the travel industry: from sales and tickets to managing suppliers and agents. You'll also receive hands-on experience with the actual computerized reservation systems used by the travel industry.

Get an in-depth look at the world's most important tourist destinations, and learn what motivates travelers to frequent them. Learn how to deal with everything from international border crossings to environmental and social concerns. Develop an understanding of the evolving travel market and the technology used to document and sell North American and international travel.

Since the Library and Information Technology program started more than 40 years ago, the proliferation of information has led to a dramatic increase in the use of technology to organize, control and provide access to information resources.

Information personnel require excellent interpersonal and communication skills coupled with the ability to deal accurately with detail. They are versatile and can quickly adapt to a rapidly changing work environment.

Students in the Library and Information Technology program develop the expertise needed to organize, retrieve and manage information. Graduates are equipped with the skills necessary to work in any setting that handles information management, not just traditional libraries.

This program exposes students to practical aspects of the profession, including cataloguing, reference, circulation, research techniques, information systems design, records management, and services to various types of library patrons. Using a wide array of electronic and print resources, students become familiar with the broad scope of information organization and retrieval. Students will also develop strong professional skills and competencies to work effectively within an organizational structure and in a customer service role. They will examine the central purpose of libraries in society, and consider ways that social responsibility, ethical behaviour, and social justice are important philosophical foundations for the library profession.

In combination with Arts & Science courses taken, students potentially may receive 60 credits towards a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Succeeding in the insurance industry means meeting clients’ diverse needs and running an efficient operation. Whether you’re an entrepreneur who wants to own your own brokerage, or someone looking for a large corporate environment, you’ll be sure to draw on your skills in business, management, finance, communication and problem solving.

This program is an accelerated program, with students studying continuously for a 13-month period to earn a full diploma. The Insurance and Risk Management program integrates business studies with industry-specific courses.  Business topics include: management, finance, communications and accounting -- along with specialized courses in insurance principles, underwriting and claims.

Career prospects are exceptional in the insurance and risk management field, with a graduate employment rate at almost 100% - and you can block transfer your credit to MacEwan's Bachelor of Commerce degree, graduating with a specialized diploma and a degree.

MacEwan University’s innovative and dynamic two-year 60-credit diploma in Arts and Cultural Management will prepare you for a career in arts management. Whether you are a practicing artist looking for the skill set to manage your own career or someone who loves supporting the creation and development of arts and culture in your community, this diploma will prepare you to take on administrative and management roles in the creative and cultural sectors. Building on the success of almost 40 years of arts management training at MacEwan University, you will leave the program with the skills you need to begin an exciting career in arts and cultural management.

Through the program, you develop close ties to the arts and cultural community, and emerge from your studies ready to assist organizations in the areas of fund/resource and audience development, publicity and media relations, human resource management, special event planning, project management, and much more.

After completing the academic portion of the program, you will practice what you have learned in an exciting two-month field placement with an organization of your choice. This practical experience comprises six credits in the credential and is a key factor for your successful transition into paid employment in the sector.

A variety of international educational opportunities are available to students throughout their course of study, including cultural study tours and international exchange opportunities.

If you have other post-secondary education and want to start working sooner, you may choose to exit the program with a certificate after one year of study.