Visual Arts

This pre-university program is intended to give students a balanced education that includes a general education component and a visual arts component preparing students for university studies in the visual arts and education.

Goals of the program
The general goals of the program are as follows:

Determine where one stands in relation to contemporary society and culture;
Develop an artistic intention;
Determine the role one plays in society as an emerging artist;
Use research methods and information technologies;
Use elements of visual language to express oneself in artwork;
Develop artistic potential through a variety of practices;
Present and showcase one’s artistic creations;
Demonstrate attitudes that foster personal, social and artistic development.
Each college determines the ways in which the educational aims, common competencies, goals, objectives and standards are implemented. Each discipline chosen by the educational institution as being part of this program can use its own vocabulary and logic. Each course may contribute to the full or partial achievement of the program goals. The important thing is that all of these elements are taken into consideration in one or more courses and that they become specific focuses of teaching and learning, since they have been recognized as essential to the pursuit of university studies in Visual Arts and that the Diploma of College Studies (DEC) attests that these goals have been met.

Artistic skills developed through the program are: drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and digital imagery.

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be capable of analyzing, interpreting and appreciating works of art. They will have initiated a reflective process that will serve as the basis for their art production. They will be equipped to produce their own artistic works as well as present and showcase them.

Candidates who wish to study and research visual arts must be curious, creative, open-minded, able to think critically and have good manual dexterity.

Before applying to a program leading to a Diploma of College Studies (DCS), applicants who studied in Québec must meet the following three requirements:

The applicant must have a Secondary School Diploma and be in one of the following situations:
The applicant has a Secondary School Diploma (SSD)*
NOTE: a SSD holder that has not passed the following courses may be required to complete remedial courses:
Secondary 5 Language of Instruction
Secondary 5 Second Language
Secondary 4 Mathematics
Secondary 4 Science and Technology or Secondary 4 Applied Science and Technology or Secondary 4 Physical Science
Secondary 4 History and Citizenship Education or Secondary 4 History of Quebec and Canada
The applicant holds a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) and has successfully completed the following subjects*:
Secondary 5 Language of Instruction
Secondary 5 Second Language
Secondary 4 Mathematics
The applicant has training deemed equivalent by the College.
The applicant has training and experience deemed sufficient by the College and has interrupted full time studies for at least 24 months.
The applicant satisfies, if applicable, the special conditions for admission established by the Minister which specify the program prerequisites*.
The applicant satisfies, if applicable, any special conditions for admission established by the College for each of its programs.


*If the applicant is enrolled in school and completing his or her secondary studies at the time of application, the grades sent by the school must demonstrate that the applicant is passing in all the courses required to complete the SSD and required to fulfill the admission requirements.