Name: Foundation in Entertainment Arts
Brand: Foundation in Entertainment Arts

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Foundation in Entertainment Arts

The Foundation in Entertainment Arts certificate program is a full-time, one-year Centre for Entertainment Arts (CEA) program to prepare you for advanced studies in animation, modelling, visual effects, or game development. Students who are interested in a career in entertainment arts will be taught how to observe, represent, and ultimately development fundamental visual decision making skills in a variety of formats.

With classes such as figure drawing, colour and design, sculpting, and more, the students will be able to create increasingly expressive, dynamic, and consistent artistic works, while establishing a well-rounded technical base. Graduates of this program will be well-positioned to pursue intermediate or advanced programs of study in line with their specific professional goals in the industry.

You will receive foundational, hands-on training in the industry software and workflows. Students will also work to develop a strong personal portfolio which will help graduates gain entry into the advanced diploma programs at Centre for Entertainment Arts.

Software and hardware taught in this program:

Adobe Creative Cloud
Adobe Photoshop
Confluence
Nuke
Maya
Blender
Microsoft Office
Substance Painter
Unreal
zBrushCore

Available intakes

Starts in

Registration opens in

Domestic

International

September 2026

Transcripts due:

Domestic

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Open

Applications closes:

Application Opens:

Transcripts due within two weeks of application submission.

Transcripts due:

International

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Open

Starts in

Registration opens in

March 9, 2026 for May 2026 course start dates

July 6, 2026 for September 2026 course start dates

To register in an Open Studies course, find the course in the list below and click on the course code. Select the offering of the course that you would like to take, add it to the cart, proceed to checkout, and pay with a credit card.
‍Registration for all courses opens at 9:00 A.M. Calgary time.

Program availability and start dates are subject to change. Admission is based on first applied, first qualified.

Admission requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent

English 30-1, English 30-2 or equivalent

Satisfactory results on the Bow Valley College Admission and Placement Test

and

Portfolio submission of 5 to 10 pieces (8+ pieces are recommended) of artistic work (for example: sketches, renderings, design variations) in digital format. Successful portfolios reflect a broad range of techniques, influences, styles, and subject matter. Submissions must represent the original work of the applicant. If an item is a collaborative piece, list all contributors and describe your contribution.

If you have questions or would like an informal pre-assessment of your portfolio, please email ceaportfolio@bowvalleycollege.ca. Watch this video for more information.
‍

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English proficiency

If English is not your first language, please review the English language proficiency requirements.

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Academic upgrading

Missing a required admission criteria? Complete academic upgrading before applying.

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Provincial equivalencies

If you studied outside of Alberta, you can see which of your courses is equivalent to an admission requirement.

International Students:
‍Check whether your previous studies completed outside Canada meet the admission requirements using our country-specific document list.

Tuition and fees

Term

Tuition fees

Additional fees

Total fees*

Term 1

$6,768

$605

$7,373

Term 2

$6,768

$564

$7,332

Term 3

$7,946

$564

$8,510

Estimated total tuition:

total cost

Term

Tuition fees

Additional fees

Total fees*

Term 1

$6,768

$605

$7,373

Term 2

$6,768

$564

$7,332

Term 3

$8,176

$564

$8,740

Estimated total tuition:

total cost

*All tuition and fees are subject to change. Program tuitions are estimates only. Your actual tuition and fees are calculated on actual course registrations and can be viewed under "Statement of Account" in MyBVC or by requesting a Statement of Account from Registrar Services.

Courses

Legend:

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Zero Textbook Cost

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Course is eligible for PLAR

Not all delivery modes are available for all courses or programs, and not all courses are available each term. Students should follow up on their individual program areas or their MyBVC for information for courses delivery types and availability.

‍Delivery modes, descriptions, and availability of courses each term are subject to change.

Term 1

Complete the following courses:

Code	Course	Credits	PDF
ARTF1101	Sketching for Communication	3	picture_as_pdf
ARTF1301	Digital Photography	3	picture_as_pdf
ARTF1102	Figure Drawing	3	picture_as_pdf
ARTF1201	Figure Sculpting	3	picture_as_pdf

Term 2

Complete the following courses:

Code	Course	Credits	PDF
ARTF1302	Colour and Design	3	picture_as_pdf
ARTF1401	Head Sculpting	3	picture_as_pdf
ARTF1303	Head Drawing	3	picture_as_pdf
ARTF1103	Traditional Painting	3	picture_as_pdf

Term 3

Complete the following courses:

Code	Course	Credits	PDF
ARTF1999	Foundations in Entertainment Arts Capstone Project: Creature Sculpting	5	picture_as_pdf
ANMO1101	3D Pipeline Fundamentals	3	picture_as_pdf
GAME1101	Game Design	3	picture_as_pdf
FIPR1102	The Departments: Roles and Responsibilities	3	picture_as_pdf

Frequently asked questions

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Foundation in Entertainment Arts

This Centre for Entertainment Arts (CEA) certificate program prepares you for advanced studies in animation, modelling, visual effects, or game development.