York University’s School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD) stands as a premier Canadian institution offering transformative, interdisciplinary education across visual arts, digital media, theatre, film, design, music, and cultural studies, fostering innovation through cutting-edge facilities and industry-integrated learning in the Greater Toronto Area. This dynamic faculty merges traditional artistic disciplines with emerging technologies, preparing graduates for leadership in creative industries through hands-on production, critical theory, and collaborative research initiatives that redefine cultural landscapes.

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Academic Departments & Program Offerings

AMPD integrates six distinct departments delivering comprehensive degree pathways:

• Department of Visual Art & Art History: BFA in Visual Arts, BA in Art History, MFA, MA, PhD. Specializations include painting, sculpture, photography, and critical curation.
• Department of Cinema & Media Arts (Canada’s largest film school): BFA in Film Production, BA in Cinema & Media Studies, MFA. Features streams in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, and emerging media.
• Department of Computational Arts: BFA in Digital Media, BFA in Digital Visual Effects. Combines coding, interactive installations, VR/XR, and generative systems.
• Department of Design: BDes in Graphic Design, BDes in Information Design, MDes. Focuses on UX/UI, data visualization, and sustainable design practices.
• Department of Music: BA in Music, BFA in Music, MFA, MA. Covers performance, composition, technology, and musicology.
• Department of Theatre: BFA in Acting, BFA in Production/Design, BA in Theatre Studies, MFA. Includes devised theatre, technical production, and dramaturgy.

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Graduate programs emphasize research-creation methodologies with PhD options in Art History, Film, Theatre, and Music. Unique combined degrees include the BA/BEd in Visual Arts and specialized certificates in Cultural & Artistic Practice for Educators.

Advanced Infrastructure & Facilities

Students access $180 million in purpose-built infrastructure across York’s Keele Campus:

• Joan & Martin Goldfarb Centre for Fine Arts: Digital sculpture lab, 3D printing studio, and painting ateliers with natural lighting systems.
• Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Building: Soundstage complex with motion-capture technology, 4K post-production suites, and AR/VR development labs.
• Performance Venues: Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan Theatre (flexible 300-seat), Joseph G. Green Studio Theatre, and McLean Performance Studio.
• Specialized Resources: Gamemaker Lab, Future Cinema Lab, 3D immersive audio facility, and costume fabrication workshops.
• Galleries & Exhibition Spaces: Gales Gallery, AMPD Gallery, and off-site partnerships with Toronto cultural institutions.

Research & Industry Integration

AMPD drives innovation through 30+ research centres including:

• Sensorium Centre for Digital Arts & Technology
• Institute for Research on Digital Learning (IRDL)
• Centre for Vision Research (computer vision collaborations)
• Archive of Cuban Music & Performing Arts

Industry partnerships provide co-op placements with TIFF, Canadian Stage, Moment Factory, and Ubisoft Toronto. The AMPD Accelerator supports creative entrepreneurship through startup incubation and IP development.

Experiential Learning Framework

All programs incorporate mandatory practicum components:

• Toronto Advantage: Internships at CBC, OCAD Digital Futures, Soulpepper Theatre
• International Exchanges: 80+ partners including Paris College of Art, Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts
• Festival Pipeline

: Curated participation in Hot Docs, Nuit Blanche, Luminato

• Capstone Productions: Mainstage theatre seasons, film festivals, gallery exhibitions

Faculty & Pedagogical Approach

180+ full-time faculty include Oscar, Grammy, and Governor General’s Award winners like:

• Filmmaker John Greyson (TIFF Retrospective Honoree)
• Composer Christos Hatzis (JUNO Award)
• Digital artist Suzanne Stein (Google Creative Lab)

Studio-based learning employs mentor-apprentice models with 16:1 student-faculty ratios. Critical studies integrate Indigenous methodologies, decolonial frameworks, and global cultural perspectives.

Distinctive Advantages

Key differentiators include Canada’s first Digital Media BA/BFA (1999), North America’s only BFA in International Dance & Multiple Disciplines, and mandatory cross-departmental collaborations. AMPD leads in accessibility initiatives with adaptive technologies in all facilities and ASL-integrated performance programs. Alumni recognition spans 20 Governor General’s Medals, 15 Canadian Screen Awards, and leadership roles at Pixar, National Ballet, and the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Through its fusion of technical mastery, conceptual innovation, and community-engaged practice, AMPD cultivates versatile creators capable of navigating evolving cultural economies while maintaining rigorous artistic standards within a research-intensive university environment.

Department of Visual Art & Art History

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Visual Arts

Description: Immersive studio-based program exploring painting, sculpture, photography, print media, and installation art. Integrates contemporary theory with technical skill development through critique sessions and professional practice seminars. Features dedicated studio spaces accessible 24/7.

Outcomes: Prepares graduates for careers as professional artists, gallery directors, art conservators, and community arts organizers. Develops portfolio for exhibition opportunities and graduate studies.

Duration & Structure: 4-year program (120 credits). First-year foundation studies followed by specialization. Requires senior studio thesis exhibition and professional practice capstone.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art History

Description: Critical examination of global art movements from antiquity to digital era. Covers curation methodologies, museum studies, and critical theory with hands-on work in the Art Gallery of York University collections.

Outcomes: Careers in museum curation, arts administration, cultural policy, heritage conservation, and art journalism. Develops research skills for academic pathways.

Duration & Structure: 4-year program (120 credits). Includes mandatory internship at cultural institutions like AGO or Power Plant Contemporary. Final-year research paper requirement.

Department of Cinema & Media Arts

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Film Production

Description: Canada’s largest film program covering directing, cinematography, editing, sound design, and producing. Hands-on training in soundstages with Arri Alexa cameras and DaVinci Resolve editing suites. Includes screenwriting labs and industry mentorship.

Outcomes: Careers as directors, cinematographers, editors, producers, and production designers. Alumni credits include TIFF selections and Netflix productions.

Duration & Structure: 4-year program (120 credits). Crew-based production courses culminate in thesis films screened at Cinespace studios. Mandatory 3rd-year industry internship.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Cinema & Media Studies

Description: Critical analysis of film, television, and digital media through cultural, historical, and theoretical frameworks. Explores global cinema, streaming platforms, and emerging media technologies with archival research components.

Outcomes: Careers in film programming, media policy, archival research, festival management, and academic scholarship.

Duration & Structure: 4-year program (120 credits). Includes curatorial practicum at Toronto film institutions. Requires senior research thesis with oral defense.

Department of Computational Arts

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Digital Media

Description: Combines programming (Python, C++, OpenFrameworks) with interactive art creation. Covers physical computing, generative art, game design, and immersive installations using motion capture and VR systems.

Outcomes: Careers as creative coders, VR developers, game designers, and interactive installation artists. Alumni work at Ubisoft, Moment Factory, and TIFF Nexus.

Duration & Structure: 4-year program (120 credits). Features annual showcase at Digital Media Showcase. Requires collaborative capstone project with industry partner.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Digital Visual Effects

Description: Technical training in VFX pipeline including compositing (Nuke), 3D modeling (Maya), motion graphics, and virtual production. Partners with SideFX for Houdini certification workshops.

Outcomes: Careers as VFX artists, technical directors, compositors, and CG supervisors in film/game industries.

Duration & Structure: 4-year program (120 credits). Includes demo reel development course. Mandatory co-op term at studios like Spin VFX or Pixomondo.

Department of Design

Bachelor of Design (BDes) in Graphic Design

Description: Studio-intensive program covering typography, branding, publication design, and information systems. Emphasizes sustainable design practices and UX/UI principles using Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.

Outcomes: Careers as art directors, brand strategists, UX designers, and publication designers. Portfolio development for agencies and in-house design teams.

Duration & Structure: 4-year program (120 credits). Includes client-based projects and industry juried reviews. Final-year professional portfolio showcase.

Bachelor of Design (BDes) in Information Design

Description: Focuses on data visualization, wayfinding systems, and interactive information architectures. Combines human-centered design with cognitive science principles through sensor-based prototyping labs.

Outcomes: Careers as information architects, data visualization specialists, experience designers, and usability researchers.

Duration & Structure: 4-year program (120 credits). Includes civic data partnership projects. Requires capstone project solving complex information challenges.

Department of Music

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music

Description: Comprehensive study of musicology, ethnomusicology, and theory with ensemble participation. Specializations available in jazz studies, global music traditions, and music technology.

Outcomes: Careers in arts administration, music journalism, education, and audio preservation. Foundation for musicology graduate studies.

Duration & Structure: 4-year program (120 credits). Includes field research component and recital attendance requirements. Senior thesis on musicological topic.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Music

Description: Performance-intensive program with individual lessons, ensemble work, and composition studies. Features recording sessions in the 3D immersive audio lab and concert hall performances.

Outcomes: Professional performance careers in orchestras, ensembles, and solo practice. Alumni include JUNO award winners and Canadian Opera Company members.

Duration & Structure: 4-year program (120 credits). Requires jury examinations each semester. Capstone includes full recital and professional recording project.

Department of Theatre

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Acting

Description: Conservatory-style training in movement (Laban technique), voice (Linklater method), scene study, and devised theatre. Includes on-camera acting and audition techniques with agent showcases.

Outcomes: Professional acting careers in theatre, film, television, and voice performance. Alumni appear at Stratford Festival and Mirvish Productions.

Duration & Structure: 4-year program (120 credits). Features progressive training from foundation techniques to mainstage productions. Includes Toronto Theatre Industry immersion term.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Production & Design

Description: Technical training in scenic design, lighting, sound, costume construction, and stage management. Works directly on departmental productions in the Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan Theatre.

Outcomes: Careers as production managers, technical directors, set designers, and wardrobe supervisors for theatre and live events.

Duration & Structure: 4-year program (120 credits). Rotational assignments across all production areas. Requires portfolio documenting 3+ realized productions.

Graduate Programs

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Visual Arts

Description: Advanced studio research with critical theory components. Features individual studios, access to fabrication labs, and professional development seminars.

Outcomes: Prepares for professional art practice, university teaching, and gallery representation.

Duration & Structure: 2-year program (54 credits). Culminates in thesis exhibition and written support paper.

Master of Design (MDes)

Description: Research-creation program addressing social innovation through design. Specializations in health design, sustainable futures, and interactive technologies.

Outcomes: Leadership roles in design innovation, corporate research, and academic positions.

Duration & Structure: 2-year program (60 credits). Includes collaborative industry project and thesis prototype development.

PhD in Film

Description: Doctoral research combining practice and theory in cinema studies, digital media preservation, or production methodologies.

Outcomes: Academic careers, archival leadership, and advanced research positions.

Duration & Structure: 4-6 year program. Combines coursework, comprehensive exams, and dissertation with creative component.

Master of Arts (MA) in Theatre & Performance Studies

Description: Research-intensive program examining performance theory, historiography, and contemporary practices with optional production components.

Outcomes: Careers in dramaturgy, theatre criticism, cultural policy, and archival curation.

Duration & Structure: 2-year program (48 credits). Includes practicum at Toronto theatre companies. Thesis with performance analysis component.

Contact: York University | School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD):

The School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design is located on York University’s Keele campus in the northwest area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Address:
The School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design
4700 Keele Street
Toronto ON Canada M3J 1P3

PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
Application, supplementary evaluation and admission information.
Email: ampd@yorku.ca

Office Hours:

Monday to Friday
8:30 am – 4:30 pm

For more contact information, please visit https://ampd.yorku.ca/connect/