Winter 2021 Undergraduate Calendar


Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts and the Built Environment (VABE)

In accordance with US government regulations, the VABE program is open only to Canadian citizens legally permitted to commute to the United States. International Visa students interested in the architecture program at the University of Detroit Mercy must apply directly to that institution.

Note: Students admitted to the BFA in Visual Arts and the Built Environment (VABE) program are also required to apply for a US study visa in consultation with the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM), in order to attend and complete courses at the UDM School of Architecture. Admission to the VABE program does not guarantee the granting of a study visa by the US government. Continuation in the VABE program requires that a study visa is granted by the US government.

Students enrolled in the program may be eligible to apply to the fourth year of the architecture program at the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM), following completion of their third year in the VABE program. Students admitted to the fourth year of the UDM program would graduate with a General BA in Visual Arts from the University of Windsor. Students who continue to the fourth year of the Windsor program would graduate with a BFA in Visual Arts and the Built Environment. Students who successfully complete the fourth year of the UDM architecture program can graduate with a B.Sc. in Architecture or be eligible for admission to UDM’s professional program in Architecture (M.Arch.).
    Degree Requirements

    Total courses: forty-four

    (a) School of Creative Arts:
      (i) VSAR-1050, VSAR-1070, VSAR-1080, VABE-1100 (6.0 credit course), VABE-1200 (6.0 credit course); one of VSAR-3830 or VSAR-3840;
      (ii) VSAR-4800 (6.0 credit course), VSAR-4810 (6.0 credit course), and VSAR-4910;
      (iii) VABE-2130, VABE-4600
      (iv)two additional 3000-level studio courses in the same subject area;
      (v) plus MACS-1500, MACS-2140, MACS-2150, MACS-3910, and any one of: MACS-2500 or MACS-3520 or MACS-4520
      (vi) two other Art History courses, one of which has to be at the 4000-level;
      (vii) a successful VABE portfolio evaluation.*

    (b School of Architecture
      (i) Professions: VABE-1190/ARCH1190, VABE-1290/ARCH1290 (each 1.5 credit courses)
      (ii) 4 Design Studio courses: VABE-2300/ARCH1300, VABE-2400/ARCH1400, VABE-3100/ARCH2100, VABE-3200/ARCH2200;
      (iii) Visual Communication: VABE-2110/ARCH 1211, VABE-2210/ARCH2110
      (iv) Building Structures modules: VABE-2640/ARCH2640, VABE-2840/ARCH2840;
      (v) Building Environment modules: VABE-2260/ARCH2260, VABE-2860/ARCH2860;
      (vi) Building Construction modules: VABE-2680/ARCH2680, VABE-2880/ARCH2880;
      (v) Co-op Training Prep: VABE-3000/CEC-300 or VSAR-3800 Visual Arts Internship

    (c) two Social Science courses

    (d) one Science course

    (e) two additional courses from Arts excluding Visual Arts

    (f) GART-1500 and GART-1510; DRAM-2100, PHIL-1100, and MATH-1780 or MATH-1760

    Courses used to calculate the major average are: courses listed under requirements (a) to (b), and any courses taken in the major area(s) of study.

    *Portfolio Evaluation: A A third year gallery exhibition, and for students who pursue a BSc in Architecture from UDM, a successful portfolio evaluation is required. The portfolio evaluation takes place at the beginning of semester six, after the student has gained credit in VSAR-1050, VSAR-1070, VSAR-1080, MACS-1500, VABE-1100, VABE-1200, VABE-2300/ARCH1300, VABE-2400/ARCH1400, VABE-3100/ARCH2100, and is enrolled in VABE-3200/ARCH2200.

    Those students seeking to pursue a BSc in Architecture from the UDM after their third year are encouraged to consult a VABE Advisor on what courses are transferable. Students who opt to graduate after year 3 and enter the UDM BSc program will receive a BA in Visual Arts. For these students, the VA studio course requirements in the BA will be replaced by the architecture studio courses taken at UDM. Acceptable substitutes for BA requirements INCS-2020 and INCS-2030 will include any two Social Sciences courses taken under the option requirements for the VABE program.

    Program Sequencing

    YEAR 1

    Fall:
    University of Windsor
    MACS-1500, VABE-1100, VSAR-1070, MATH-1780 or MATH-1760

    University of Detroit Mercy (taken at UDM campus)
    VABE-1190/ARCH1190

    Winter
    University of Windsor
    DRAM-2100, VSAR-1050, VABE-1200, VABE-2130

    University of Detroit Mercy (taken at UDM campus)
    VABE-1290/ARCH1290

    YEAR 2

    Fall
    University of Windsor
    VSAR-1080, GART-1500, MACS-2140

    University of Detroit Mercy (taken at UDM campus)
    VABE-2160/ARCH2160, VABE-2300/ARCH1300, VABE-2330/ARCH2330

    Winter
    University of Windsor
    GART-1510, MACS-2150, MACS-3910

    University of Detroit Mercy (taken at UDM campus)
    VABE-1160/ARCH1160
    VABE-2400/ARCH1400
    VABE-2430/ARCH2430

    YEAR 3

    Fall
    University of Windsor
    VSAR-3850, MACS-4560, PHIL-1100

    1 Social Science Elective

    University of Detroit Mercy (taken at UDM campus)
    VABE-3100/ARCH2100, VABE-3000/CEC-300* Co-op Training Prep. or VSAR-3800 Visual Arts Internship.

    NOTE: * VABE-3000 is only needed if a student is planning to enter the UDM B.Sc. Architectural Program after their 3rd year. Students who do not complete the co-op preparation course will need to substitute this requirement with VSAR-3800 Visual Arts Internship.

    Winter
    University of Windsor
    2 Arts courses, excluding Visual Arts courses, 1 Social Sciences courses, 1 Science course

    University of Detroit Mercy (taken at UDM campus)
    VABE-3200/ARCH2200

    YEAR 4

    Fall
    University of Windsor
    VSAR-3XXX Studio course, VSAR-4800, VSAR-4910, MACS-XXXX Art History course

    Winter
    University of Windsor
    VSAR-3XXX Studio course, VSAR-3830 or VSAR-3840, VSAR-4810, MACS-4XXX