Jake Kerr Faculty of Graduate Studies
The Faculty of Graduate Studies is home to ECU’s advanced degrees in art and design. Our Master of Fine Arts and Master of Design programs support rigorous studio practice, critical research and sustained mentorship.
Graduate students work closely with faculty and peers across disciplines, developing projects that address cultural, social and environmental questions. With dedicated studios, research centres and professional networks, they graduate ready to contribute as artists, designers, researchers and cultural leaders on a global stage.
Graduate Degrees
Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts (Full Residency)
The full-residency MFA is an intensive two-year program rooted in studio practice and critique. Students work closely with faculty mentors and peers to develop research-driven projects within ECU’s facilities in Vancouver.
Master of Fine Arts (Low Residency)
The low-residency MFA combines online learning with annual summer residencies on campus. This flexible format supports sustained studio practice while allowing students to remain embedded in their own communities.
Master of Fine Arts (Low Residency): Critical Ecological Practices
This new MFA stream focuses on ecological inquiry and artistic research. Students examine sustainability, decolonization and more-than-human relationships through collaborative projects and summer residencies.
Master of Design
Master of Design (Interdisciplinary)
The Interdisciplinary MDes brings together design, media and visual arts in a flexible, studio-based curriculum. Students explore critical design research through seminars, collaborative projects and independent thesis work.
Master of Design (Interaction)
The Interaction MDes emphasizes human-centred design in digital and physical contexts. Students investigate emerging technologies, systems and services while developing innovative approaches to interaction design.
Faculty Members
The Jake Kerr Faculty of Graduate Studies is led by Justin Langlois, Associate Vice-President, Research and Dean of Graduate Studies, appointed in June 2024.
Langlois guides ECU’s graduate programs and research agenda, advancing studio-based inquiry, industry partnerships and institutional research initiatives.
Shops + Studios
Our 20+ purpose-built shops and studios give students space to create, experiment and collaborate across disciplines. They are maintained by expert staff who support students through instruction and guidance.
From ceramics and print media to digital fabrication and wood shops, these facilities support both traditional techniques and emerging technologies.
Research + Creative Practices
Research in the Jake Kerr Faculty of Graduate Studies is driven by studio practice, interdisciplinary inquiry and mentorship. Graduate students contribute to projects that explore cultural, social, ecological and technological questions, often in collaboration with ECU’s research centres and Canada Research Chairs.
This work connects critical reflection with material exploration, supporting innovation and public dialogue across art, design and media.
