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Image Arts

Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
Administered by: School of Image Arts
Program Format: Full-time, four-year program.

O.S.S.D. with six Grade 12 U/M courses including Grade 12 U English.

Notes: 

  1. ENG4U/EAE4U is the preferred English. 
  2. The grade required in the subject prerequisite (normally in the 65-70 percent range) will be determined subject to competition.
  3. Applicants will be required to provide samples of work appropriate to the option they intend to enter, as well as a written statement of interests. As part of the admission selection process, applicants must visit the Image Arts: Film Studies or the Image Arts: Photography Media Arts program page for details about the non-academic requirements.
  4. A non-academic assessment fee of $50 CAD (non-refundable and subject to change) is required.
  5. Assessment will be made on the basis of academic performance, proficiency in communication skills, and creative potential, as demonstrated by the applicant’s history and submissions. 
  6. Students wishing to study on a part-time basis, as well as Special or Auditing Students are not normally admitted to this program.
  7. Subject to competition, candidates may be required to present averages/grades above the minimum.

 

Graduates are capable of performing responsibly in the relevant industries as professionals in both creative and managerial positions, ranging from the commercial to the artistic and experimental.

The curriculum provides students with the necessary grounding to pursue graduate studies in a variety of media-related academic and artistic disciplines. The Film and Photography Media Arts Programs provide an experiential education with a foundation in design, art history, and cultural studies.

There is a strong link between theory and practice in each of these programs. The curriculum is enhanced by a broad offering of liberal studies courses, core electives, and open electives.

The School of Image Arts houses both analogue and digital resources and students are expected to develop a professional proficiency in these tools. Access to facilities is governed by School policies and curriculum. Students will be required to own certain items of equipment appropriate to the program they enter. Please refer to the sections on Special Department Charges and on the Cost of Attending Toronto Met in the Student Services portion of this calendar.

Film Program

The Film Program offers a comprehensive academic framework for undergraduate studies in the theory and practice of analogue and digital storytelling leading to career choices in the Canadian screen industries and to further study at the graduate level. The program emphasizes experiential learning and is designed to nurture personal visions that will contribute to the growth and diversity of Canadian culture, as well as enhancing Canada’s presence in international film and video. In addition, the program aims to create flexible, quick-thinking, highly adaptable film/video makers capable of working effectively in a variety of disciplines and roles. Graduates are equipped to take advantage of many different artistic and commercial opportunities in the world of visual communication.

Photography Media Arts Program

The Photography Media Arts Program offers an integrated academic framework for undergraduate studies in the theory and practice of photography and related media, leading to career possibilities in the many creative, artistic and commercial fields that use the photographic image, or to further study at the graduate level. The aim of the program is to produce graduates capable of working effectively in traditional and digital image-making systems. The curriculum is designed for maximum flexibility. The foundation years provide a base for working in an interdisciplinary mode at the upper year levels. An atmosphere of creative and critical inquiry across all four years gives students a rich awareness of the visual, aesthetic, technological, and cultural issues affecting the creation of images, as well as an enhanced appreciation of the rapid and radical changes occurring in the professions they will be entering.

Core Elective Courses

From second year, students choose core elective offerings. These courses are designed to enhance and deepen a student’s professional practice and critical-theoretical knowledge. For example, professional courses include studio and location lighting, sound design, art direction, screenwriting. Students can enrol in advanced courses in photo and film history, visual culture, national cinemas, history of animation and gaming, curatorial practices and advanced topics in film and photo criticism.

Liberal Studies

Students must take two lower level liberal studies courses and four upper level liberal studies courses to graduate. Students must not choose courses that are restricted for their program or major.

Please refer to the liberal studies chapter of this calendar for more information on the Liberal Studies Policy. Further information on liberal studies can also be found at the Faculty of Arts' Liberal Studies website (opens in new window) .

Table A - Lower Level Restrictions

IRL 100 and NPF 188 are not available for credit.  

Table B - Upper Level Restrictions

IRL 500, PSY 713 and PSY 813 are not available for credit.

Minors

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Toronto Met (with some exceptions). Please refer to the Minors chapter of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and exclusions.

The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education Certificates

Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible program exclusions. Please refer to the Certificate Registration section of the Curriculum Advising website (opens in new window)  for complete details.

1st & 2nd Semester

REQUIRED:

  • MPC 101 Introduction to Compositional Design
  • MPC 103 Reframing Art History
  • MPC 203 Modern Art and Theory
  • MPF 106 Film Production: Silent Film
  • MPF 107 Intro to Cinematography
  • MPF 206 Film Production: Sound Film
  • MPF 207 Introduction to Editing and Sound
  • MPF 290 Introduction to Film Studies

LIBERAL STUDIES:
Two courses from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

  

3rd & 4th Semester

REQUIRED:

  • MPC 125 Intro to Time-Based Media
  • MPC 225 Intro to Creative Technologies
  • MPF 322 Film Prod.- Directing for Camera
  • MPF 324 Writing for Film I
  • MPF 327 Film History and Criticism to 1960
  • MPF 422 Film Production
  • MPF 423 Film Technology III
  • MPF 427 Film History and Criticism since 1960

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I.

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

  

5th & 6th Semester

REQUIRED:

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I.

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

LIBERAL STUDIES:
Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

  

7th & 8th Semester

Revised curriculum begins 2025-2026 for students admitted Fall 2022 and after.

REQUIRED:

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I.

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

*MPF 420 and MPF 430 both have a GPA weight of 2.00 and a course count of 2.00.

7th & 8th Semester

Last offered 2025-2026 to students admitted Fall 2022 and before.

REQUIRED:

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I.

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

LIBERAL STUDIES:
Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

MPI 71A/B has a GPA Weight of 2.00 and a Course Count of 2.00.

3rd & 4th Semester

Last offered 2025-2026.

REQUIRED:

  • MPC 125 Intro to Time-Based Media
  • MPC 225 Intro to Creative Technologies
  • MPS 301 Histories of Photography
  • MPS 306 The Idea of Photography
  • MPS 307 The Photographic Print
  • MPS 308 Photography Media Arts: Production III
  • MPS 407 The Photographic Studio
  • MPS 408 Photography Media Arts: Production IV

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I.

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

  

5th & 6th Semester

Last offered 2026-2027.

REQUIRED:

  • MPS 401 History of Photography and Media Art II
  • MPS 406 Critical Debates in Photography
  • MPS 506 Photography Media Arts: Production V
  • MPS 507 The Photographic Book
  • MPS 606 Photography Media Arts: Production VI
  • MPS 607 The Expanded Image

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I.

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

LIBERAL STUDIES:
Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

  

7th & 8th Semester

Revised curriculum begins 2025-2026 for students admitted Fall 2022.
Last offered 2027-2028 to students admitted Fall 2024.

REQUIRED:

  • MPS 420 Film: Photography Media Arts: Senior Project I*
  • MPS 430 Photography Media Arts: Senior Project II*
  • MPS 701 Photography Now
  • MPS 801 Professional Creative Practices

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I.

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

LIBERAL STUDIES:
Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

*MPS 420 and MPS 430 both have a GPA weight of 2.00 and a course count of 2.00.

7th & 8th Semester

Last offered 2025-2026.

REQUIRED:

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I.

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

LIBERAL STUDIES:
Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

MPI 71A/B has a GPA Weight of 2.00 and a Course Count of 2.00.

1st & 2nd Semester

1st Semester

REQUIRED:

  • CSE 100 Wicked Problems
  • MPC 103 Reframing Art History
  • MPS 106 Photography Media Arts: Production I
  • MPS 107 Photography and Digital Imaging

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

2nd Semester

REQUIRED:

  • MPC 101 Intro to Compositional Design
  • MPC 201 Contemporary Art: Concepts and Theories
  • MPS 206 Photography Media Arts: Production II

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

  

3rd & 4th Semester

First offered 2026-2027 to students admitted Fall 2025 and after.

3rd Semester

REQUIRED:

  • CSE 200 Creative Strategic Foresight
  • MPC 125 Intro to Time-Based Media
  • MPS 301 Histories of Photography
  • MPS 307 The Photographic Print
  • MPS 308 Photography Media Arts: Production III

4th Semester

REQUIRED:

  • MPC 225 Intro to Creative Technologies
  • MPS 306 The Idea of Photography
  • MPS 407 The Photographic Studio
  • MPS 408 Photography Media Arts: Production IV

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I or Table II

  

5th & 6th Semester

First offered 2027-2028 to students admitted Fall 2025 and after.

5th Semester

REQUIRED:

  • CSE 300 Creative Global Masterclass OR CSE 310 International Context
  • MPS 506 Photography Media Arts: Production V
  • MPC 203 Modern Art and Theory

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I or Table II

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

6th Semester

REQUIRED:

  • MPS 606 Photography Media Arts: Production VI
  • MPS 406 Critical Debates in Photography

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I or Table II.

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

  

7th & 8th Semester

First offered 2028-2029 to students admitted Fall 2025 and after.

7th Semester

REQUIRED:

  • MPS 420* Photography Media Arts: Senior Project I

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I or Table II.

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

  • MPS 430* Photography Media Arts: Senior Project II
  • MPS 801 Professional Creative Practices

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

*MPS 420 and MPS 430 both have a GPA weight of 2.00 and a course count of 2.00.

A Program Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of volunteers that provides expert advice to a school or department on program related matters such as curriculum, program review, technology and trends in the industry, discipline or profession. For more information, see Senate Policy #158 (Program Advisory Councils).

Jan Allen
Chief Curator/Curator of Contemporary Art
Agnes Etherington Art Centre

Sean Farnel
Independent Film Programmer

Vera Frenkel
Multidisciplinary Artist

Geoffrey James
Photographer/Writer

Patricia Rozema
Director/Screenwriter/Producer/Editor

Bonnie Rubenstein
Artistic Director
Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, Toronto

Theresa Scandiffio
Senior Director and Lead Programmer, Learning Division
Toronto International Film Festival