Programs and Courses

Topics/Series Courses

A topics course is one that is not regularly offered at the University of Lethbridge. Departments may use topics courses to try out a new course that they are considering regularizing, or for faculty to offer courses related to their research. Series courses are a group of courses within a certain genre and the offering changes every semester. You may take multiple topics and series courses for credit as long as each offering is distinct (i.e. having significantly different titles).

If you have any questions about topics courses, please contact the Fine Arts Advising Office (W660).

2025-2026 | Topics/Series Courses

DRAMA

Shakespeare for the Intimidated

DRAM 3850 A (Calgary Campus)
3.0 Credit Hours

A performance-based approach to the study of Shakespeare. We will engage in a variety of activities and presentations to make the text relevant and bring it to life. We will view and analyze stage and film productions of the plays as well as study their historical context.

Prerequisites: Completion of 15 University courses (a minimum of 45.0 credit hours) or admission to the Post Diploma program.

 

Theatre Production for Scientific Purposes

DRAM 4850 A 
3.0 Credit Hours

The intention of this course is to create and present a series of short scenes for the purposes of scientific study. Working with Dave Smith from Drama, and Chelsea Ekstrand from Neuroscience, the goal is to create a walking tour with various stops locations to watch scenes take place. 

 

Prerequisites: One of Drama 2825, Drama 3310, Drama 3420, Drama 3740, or New Media 2030 AND Third-year standing (a minimum of 60.0 credit hours) AND permission of instructor.

Note: Students planning on enrolling in Drama 4850 - Theatre for Scientific Purposes are advised to contact the course instructor for additional details about this course offering.

ART

Introduction to Art Making

ART 1850 A
3.0 Credit Hours

Introduction to Art Making is designed to support non-art majors develop an appreciation for contemporary art. It is open to those with no previous art-making experience but will also allow those with some experience to grow their skills. Through weekly hands-on assignments, students will explore significant movements and techniques in contemporary art including in drawing, painting, sculpture, and media art.

 

Textile Art Studio I & II (Embodied Textiles)

ART 3015 B/4015 A
3.0 Credit Hours

Embodied Textiles will provide experience in a wide range of fibre material practices through hands-on workshops. Students will a series of thematic projects in textile art with a focus on the embodied, performative and communicative aspects of textiles.

 

Senior Studio I & II

ART 4048 & 4049
6.0 Credit Hours
The following instructors will be available as supervising faculty members for the above mentioned classes in Fall 2025:
  • Annie Martin
Students who register for these courses will interview with each of the supervising faculty members to determine which faculty member will be their instructor of record. Students must ensure they are registered in the correct section of the course with their assigned instructor by the end of the add/drop period.
 

History of Photography

ARHI 3151 A
3.0 Credit Hours

This is a historical thematic introduction to the history of photography. We will discuss a wide variety of approaches to the medium so as to consider how and why photography has become such a fundamental visual communicative medium over the past 160 years. Art-related photography will be central, but the class will also deal with photography situated in the broader culture. Photography is a constant in our everyday life, and this course will concentrate on deciphering the significance of these images that surround us.

 
Prerequisite(s): Art History 1002 or Third-year standing (a minimum of 60.0 credit hours)
 

Critical Issues in Contemporary Indigenous Art

ARHI 3152 A
3.0 Credit Hours

This course examines current critical issues in contemporary Indigenous art and visual culture from across the settler-colonial areas of North American, as well as Australia and New Zealand. We will explore how Indigenous arts are understood in the communities in which they are made, how indigenous artworks have been understood in Western art historical discourse and museum exhibitions, as well as the relationship between “historic” and “contemporary” indigenous arts. This course will investigate the recent role of indigenous art in the questioning of identity and self-representation, decolonization, sovereignty, self-determination, and anti-colonial resistance. The course will rely heavily on course readings and class participation, structured like a seminar it is organized both thematically and geographically in order to address the specific concerns of the land, visual culture, survivance, and Indigeneity.

Prerequisite(s): One of Art History 1001, Art History 1002, or Third-year standing (a minimum of 60.0 credit hours)

 

MUSIC

Song as Cultural Heartbeat

MUSI 3060 A
3.0 Credit Hours

This is an exploratory course designed to introduce students to the concept of song study in historical, cultural and experiential context. The course will offer students the opportunity listen, discuss, and respond to a wide variety of song from many styles and eras, including popular styles, classical song, folk song, and traditional song. Students will be actively involved in the course, writing their own musical auto-ethnography, building playlists, meeting songwriters, having a karaoke evening, and investigating and presenting in class on a style of song that particularly interests them. Music reading skills are not required. Students are encouraged to bring their own skills, strengths and song interests into the course.

 

Gender and Sexuality in Pop Music

MUSI 3080 A
3.0 Credit Hours

Can you hear gender? How are ideals of masculinity and femininity expressed in pop song and how have these changed over time? In what ways do musicians and songwriters communicate sexuality in sound or in performance? This interdisciplinary seminar explores these questions from a variety of analytic perspectives including music studies, media studies, women and gender studies, and queer theory. Throughout the semester we’ll listen to a range of genres within pop music—from blues and country to bubblegum and emo.

 

History of Rock and Roll to 1970

MUSI 3200 A
3.0 Credit Hours
This course is designed to give the student a historical overview of the development of rock ‘n roll from its roots up until the end of the 60’s. This will be presented in a chronological manner, beginning with a brief overview of rock ‘n roll’s ancestors and influences. It will go on to study the musical and cultural melting pot of the 1950’s, followed by the effects of the British Invasion of the 60’s. A discussion of developments occurring in North America following the British Invasion will be the culminating point of this class.
 
Prerequisite(s): 15 university-level courses (a minimum of 45.0 credit hours) - as per calendar
Equivalent: Music 3200 – History of Rock and Roll: 1948-1970
NOTE: Not counted in the 16-course Arts & Science major or the core courses in the B.Mus. degree.
NOTE: Students with credit in Music 2850 (History of Rock ‘n Roll), 2850 (3850) (Popular Music in the 20th Century) or 3010 cannot receive credit for the same offering in the Music 3200 series.
NOTE: Credit is not allowed for MUSI 3200 - History of Rock & Roll to 1970 and MUSI 3200 History of Rock and Roll: 1948-1970 or MUSI 3200 – History of Rock and Roll
 

Punk: Histories and Subcultures

MUSI 3200 B
3.0 Credit Hours

This course provides an introduction to punk music and culture in historical and contemporary manifestations. Students will analyze and discuss topics ranging from political and social change, racism, and riot grrrl to DIY, scenes, and zines. We will read in subcultural, feminist, and queer theory, and we will listen to the genre as an international and ongoing phenomenon, providing a counterbalance to New York and UK-centric, straightwhiteboy narratives of punk.

 

Prerequisite: 15 university-level courses (a minimum of 45.0 credit hours) - as per calendar

Equivalent: Music 3200 – History of Rock and Roll: 1948-1970

NOTE: Not counted in the 16-course Arts & Science major or the core courses in the B.Mus. degree.

 

Planning and Delivering Group Instrumental Instruction

MUSI 3850 A
3.0 Credit Hours
This course provides hands-on training for teaching instrumentalists of any level in small group sessions including sectionals, clinics, workshops, or classroom settings. It will include a lecture portion on classroom management, time management, pedagogical techniques, adaptive teaching methods, and teaching strategies, as well as controlled classroom settings and real-world settings with high school-aged students.
 
Prerequisite(s): Third-year standing (a minimum of 60.0 credit hours) AND permission from the instructor.
 

Aesthetic Noise: Philosophy, Noise, Music, and Art

MUSI 3850 B
3.0 Credit Hours

Disruptive, disturbing, dangerous, and unwanted are all adjectives that are commonly attributed to the word noise. Though generally interpreted as negative, the artist can reveal additional possibilities of noise by using it as an artistic material. When used aesthetically, it is possible for noise to communicate the ineffable. However, to gain an understanding of noise in this context, it will need to be filtered through multiple philosophies. In this course, we will explore the works of various artists who use noise as an anesthetic material and then filter the works through classical and continental philosophies to better understand noise’s potential. In doing so, we find that in the hands of an artist, noise can become a call for justice, symbolize trauma and be a mechanism for its discharge. It can also be a means of emotional and spiritual expansion. Noise presents nearly limitless possibilities when used aesthetically. In addition to exploring works and philosophies of noise, the student will create a work of noise drawing inspiration from the materials covered in class.

 

Prerequisite: Completion of 15 university-level courses (45.0 credit hours) with a major offered by the Faculty of Fine Arts.

Recommended Background: Experience with a digital audio workstation would be an asset. 

Substantially Similar: Music 4850 – Aesthetic Noise: Noise in Audio Art Making prior to 2025-2026.

NOTE: Students with credit for Music 4850 - Aesthetic Noise: Noise in Audio Art Making cannot receive credit for Music 3850 – Aesthetic Noise: Philosophy, Noise, Music, and Art. 

 

Play Time: The Theory and Practice of Free Improvisation

MUSI 3850 N
3.0 Credit Hours

In this course, we examine improvisation, musicality, and play as a means of building musical and listening skills. Participants explore various musical concepts for improvisation that, while not attached to any one style of music, are applicable to all types of creative play, including play in the music classroom. We apply improvisation activities directly to our primary instruments, which may include the singing voice and virtual instruments played with digital controllers. Through their primary instruments, participants engage in improvisation exercises and creative projects aimed at discovering one's natural musical voice.

 

Prerequisite: 15 university-level courses (a minimum of 45.0 credit hours) 

 
 

NEW MEDIA

Invitation to Design

NMED 1850 A
3.0 Credit Hours

This introductory course provides a broad survey of design for undergraduate students of all majors. It explores the evolution, practices, industries, cultural contexts, societal implications, technological intersections, and human-centered aspects of design. Students will examine how design shapes and is shaped by society, technology, and emerging innovations (such as artificial intelligence).

 

New Media Soundscapes

NMED 2850 A
3.0 Credit Hours
This course explores the theory, practice and history of sound and sound-based media. A primary aim is to analyze historical contingencies and contemporary complexities of sound and sound-based media as social and cultural phenomena. Emphasis is placed on understanding the often-overlooked role sonic media plays in current and emergent digital technologies and practices, including social media, advertising, music and podcasting. We will also develop and practice basic tools and techniques of digital sound production for various genres, including podcasting, sound for film and games, and sound art.
 
 

Media and Environment

NMED 3850 A
3.0 Credit Hours

This studies course examines the relationship between new media and the environment from multiple perspectives. It explores how media shape communication about environment and climate change, how ecological art transforms environmental perception, and the material impacts of new media technologies, such as the carbon footprint of digital forms and processes like bitcoin mining, AI, and data storage. 

 

Prerequisites: NMED 2150 OR Third-year standing (a minimum of 60.0 credit hours) 

 

 

Enhancing Human Creativity with AI

NMED 3850 B
3.0 Credit Hours

This course explores how to harness creative thinking by blending traditional methods—such as sketching, brainstorming, and iterative prototyping—with cutting-edge AI tools and techniques. Students will examine the interplay between human creativity and machine-generated insights, learn the fundamentals of AI-driven generative processes, and develop tangible projects that demonstrate an integrated approach to problem-solving and expression. 

 

Prerequisite: 15 university-level courses (a minimum of 45.0 credit hours) 

Note: Intended for Non-New Media Majors

 

ART

Artists' Books and Printed Matter

ART 3015 A
3.0 Credit Hours
This studio course invites students to explore the artist book and printed matter as dynamic art forms. Open to all media, students will engage with the international contexts and networks of artists’ publishing as a vital aspect of creative practice. Students will conceive, design, produce, and present their own artists’ books and related artworks, deepening their understanding of this unique medium.
 

Senior Studio I & II

ART 4048 & 4049
6.0 Credit Hours
The following instructors will be available as supervising faculty members for the above mentioned classes in Winter 2025:
  • Katie Bruce
Students who register for these courses will interview with each of the supervising faculty members to determine which faculty member will be their instructor of record. Students must ensure they are registered in the correct section of the course with their assigned instructor by the end of the add/drop period.
 
 

FINE ARTS

Introduction to Visual and Cultural Studies

FA 2850 A/LBED 2850 CL
3.0 Credit Hours
Introduction to Visual and Cultural Studies: Visual images shape our worlds. From our sense of self to our politics, our relation to the world is negotiated through visual images. This interdisciplinary course will introduce various theoretical frameworks for interpreting visual and material culture. It will introduce key thinkers and theories about cultural studies to provide students skills for the critical analysis of the world around us. Topics may include construction of identities, visuality and power, activism and protest in various medias including art, popular culture, social media, news, etc.
 
 

MUSIC

Music in Performance and Practice

MUSI 3000 A
3.0 Credit Hours
An exploration of the art of the performer. Course units include:
  1. the philosophy of music performance from the standpoint of formalism, music and emotion, musical works, music and representation, music and politics.
  2. Knowing the score. Understanding Historical performance practices and changing notational meaning in music; tempo, dynamics, articulation, etc.
  3. Perfect practice makes perfect; Knowing the state of pedagogy for your instrument/voice, structuring practice to optimize learning
  4. Music performance anxiety; what it is and what it isn’t, strategies to mitigate.
  5. Lecture performance
The first two units will employ readings for class discussions. Students will be asked to consider the topic of the unit in the context of particular musical examples. The remaining units are designed to give opportunity for students to discuss and perform their repertoire in terms of the class material.
 
Prerequisite: Music Studio 3348
 

History of Rock and Roll Since 1970

MUSI 3200 A
3.0 Credit Hours
This course is meant to be a follow‑up course to the History of Rock and Roll to 1970. It will cover the fragmentation of rock 'n' roll styles through the seventies and eighties and nineties, beginning with the trends of the late sixties, through the mass marketing of the early seventies, moving to the technological boom that characterized much of eighties rock and roll, and ending with rock alternatives and Alternative rock and roll from the nineties.
 
Equivalent: Music 3200 – History of Rock and Roll: 1968-1990
Prerequisite: 15 university-level courses (a minimum of 45.0 credit hours) - as per calendar
NOTE: Not counted in the 16-course Arts & Science major or the core courses in the B.Mus. degree
NOTE: Students with credit in Music 2850 (History of Rock ‘n Roll), 2850 (3850) (Popular Music in the 20th Century) or 3010 cannot receive credit for the same offering in the Music 3200 series.
NOTE: Credit is not allowed for MUSI 3200 – History of Rock and Roll, and either of MUSI 3200 - History of Rock and Roll: 1948-1970 or MUSI 3200 – History of Rock and Roll: 1968-1990.
 

World Instruments for Audio Engineers

MUSI 3850 N
3.0 Credit Hours
This course will introduce international musicians from countries like Brazil, Colombia, Kenya, Philippines, India, Israel, Spain, and Peru. These guest speakers will present an instrument and music style that is native to their country. Students will learn about how these instruments are used to celebrate and preserve ceremonies, oral history, and other life events. Additionally, students will learn techniques to record instruments that are not commonly found in a recording studio. These instruments may include cuatro, cajon, qanun, djembe, surdo, repique, berimbau, and loud.
 
Prerequisite: Music 2550
 

Electronic and Popular Music Production

MUSI 3850 NA
3.0 Credit Hours
This course is designed for students who have little to no knowledge of electronic music production but who have experience using a Digital Audio Workstation. It introduces the necessary tools and techniques to produce electronic music in various styles including House, Techno, Synthwave, Trance, and Drum and Bass. These genres will be contrasted with styles of electroacoustic music to challenge conventional popular approaches. This will be covered along with a concentrated focus on listening. Students will research and present on the history and important cultural and technological aspects of these music styles. The class will explore traditional studio techniques and production in Logic Pro leading to students creating productions of their own.
 
Prerequisite: Music 2550
 

NEW MEDIA

Interactive Technologies: Web Essentials

NMED 2000 A
3.0 Credit Hours
An introduction to website authorship using open-source content management systems.
 

New Media Aesthetics

NMED 3850 A
3.0 Credit Hours
This course explores the intersection of new media art, aesthetic theory and emerging technologies, examining how digital, interactive, and networked forms build on and transform notions of art, design, beauty, and sensory experience. Engaging with new media artworks, aesthetic theory, and creative practices, the course examines how new media forms and technologies impact artistic creation, cultural production and consumption, and the ways in which we perceive and relate to the world around us. Additionally, this course will help students frame their own creative work in terms of ongoing debates in new media.
 

Prerequisites: New Media 2150 OR Third-year standing (a minimum of 60.0 credit hours)

 

Typography

NMED 3850 C
3.0 Credit Hours
An introduction to typography through a range of materials and practices, both digital and physical. Students will make work in response the study of type histories, contemporary issues, cultural contexts, and digital innovations.
 
Prerequisites: 15 university-level courses (a minimum of 45.0 credit hours)
 

Documentary Video Production

NMED 3850 D
3.0 Credit Hours
An introduction to the art and craft of documentary video creation. Students will explore the techniques and strategies used in making compelling documentary video including research, storytelling, videography and post-production. Through studio practice, students will gain an understanding of documentary and its complicated role in contemporary media.
 
Prerequisites: New Media 2030
 

Social Issues in Games

NMED 3850 E
3.0 Credit Hours
Video games carry tremendous social and cultural power, but are often cast as simple, value-free forms of mass entertainment. In this course, we will unpack the ways that video games affect our social and cultural world and explore a variety of areas that game creators have attempted to address with their work. Topics covered in the course include, representation, gender, environmentalism, and labor.
 
Prerequisites: 15 university-level courses (a minimum of 45.0 credit hours)