OCAD University provides a student-centered learning environment where in first year a common base of art theory and knowledge, skills and processes are acquired, with an emphasis on concept development and investigation rather than specialization.
First-year is a time for exploration and exposure to OCADU's large community of practicing artists and designers. In addition, students benefit from the diversity of talent and wide experience of our faculty. Contacts and friendships established in first year last throughout a student’s years of study at the university and often carry into his/her involvement with the professional world after graduation. The first year of study in the Faculty of Art, combined with each student's developing creativity, commitment and passion for their practice, is important preparation for the advanced work and intense focus that students continue to encounter in their second, third and fourth years of study.
Students complete 5.0 credits in their first-year of study:
| Six studio courses | 3.5 credits |
| Three 0.5 credit Liberal Studies courses | 1.5 credits |
| Total | 5.0 credits |
The studio curriculum for students entering the Faculty of Art consists of four required courses: Drawing (GART 1C00, 1.0 credit), Colour Explorations (GART 1B04, 0.5 credit), Form and Structure (GART 1B05, 0.5 credit), and Time-Based Media (GART 1B06, 0.5 credit). Students also take two elective courses (0.5 credit per course).
Elective courses are concept-driven and provide an opportunity to explore current issues in contemporary art. Each elective approaches the course through the lens of a specific discipline. This year, first-year students may opt to register for one of the targeted 200-level studio courses which will count for one only of the two required Winter semester Studio elective courses.
Liberal Studies courses form an integral part of a student's studies. All incoming first-year students are required to complete Introduction to Visual Studies I: History and Ideas (LBST 1B03, 0.5 credit), Introduction to Visual Studies II: Critical Frameworks (LBST 1B06, 0.5 credit) and one 0.5 credit writing course in The Essay and The Argument: either Mechanics (LBST 1B11), or ESL * (LBST 1B12), or Rhetoric (LBST 1B13). The courses LBST1B03 and LBST1B06 consist of 2 hour lectures and 1 hour tutorials.
*LBST 1B12 will meet two hours per week, over both the Fall and Winter semesters. Students must complete both semesters in order to be granted the 0.5 credit in this course.
Please note:
•All first-year Faculty of Art students must submit a Program Major Request form in February. Spaces in some majors is limited and assigned on a first-come-first-served basis. The program areas consist of Criticism & Curatorial Practice, Drawing & Painting, Integrated Media, Photography, Printmaking and Sculpture/Installation. Information sessions on choice of major will be offered in early winter; please check the OCADU website for updated information.
•Students may register for second-year courses when they have completed 3.0 first-year studio credits and 1.0 first-year Liberal Studies credit (including the Writing course, The Essay and the Argument) with an overall average of 60%.
•The minimum passing grade for the first-year writing course, The Essay and the Argument, is 60%.
•The first-year requirements (3.5 studio credits and 1.5 liberal studies credits) must be successfully completed by May 31 of a student's second year of studies or they will not be permitted to continue in the upper years of their programs.
•Students who attempt 2.0 or more credits in an academic year and earn an average below 60% will be put on probation during their next academic year. To proceed to second year, probationary students must have the approval of the Faculty of Art office.
When selecting courses for the 2010 fall and 2011 winter semesters follow the guide below. Each course code is a link to the course description. Because of the tutorials linked with the Liberal Studies courses it is advised that once students have made a list of all their desired courses, they register for their Liberal Studies courses first, followed by Drawing (GART 1C00) which is scheduled twice a week in the fall semester.
| Course Code (& Credit Value) |
Course Title | |
| FALL SEMESTER | ||
| Studio courses | ||
| GART 1C00 (1.0) | Drawing | |
| Note: GART 1C00 is offered only in the Fall semester and is held twice a week | ||
| Select one or two of the following required courses: | ||
| GART1B04 (0.5) | Colour Explorations | |
| GART 1B05 (0.5) | Form and Structure | |
| GART 1B06 (0.5) | Time-Based Media | |
| Note: Students select one if they are taking The Essay and the Argument in the fall term, two if they are taking the Essay and the Argument in the winter term. | ||
| Liberal Studies courses | ||
| LBST 1B03 (0.5) | Introduction to Visual Studies I: History and Ideas | |
| One of the following three writing courses: | ||
| LBST 1B11 (0.5) or LBST 1B12 (0.5) or LBST 1B13 (0.5) |
The Essay and the Argument: Mechanics(Fall or Winter) The Essay and the Argument: ESL (Fall and Winter *) The Essay and the Argument: Rhetoric (Fall or Winter) | |
| WINTER SEMESTER | ||
| Studio courses | ||
| Select the remaining required course(s) not taken in the Fall: | ||
| GART 1B04 (0.5) | Colour Explorations | |
| GART 1B05 (0.5) | Form and Structure | |
| GART 1B06 (0.5) | Time-Based Media | |
| Select any two electives: | ||
| First-year electives provide students with an opportunity to experiment in the field in which they may specialize or to investigate areas in which they are less familiar. Students are encouraged to choose their electives out of curiosity, for exploration and discovery. | ||
| Creative Process and Research | ||
| The creative process unfolds through research, discovery, and production that combine and form the basis of an art practice. | ||
| GART 1B20 (0.5) | Creative Process & Research: Sculpture and Installation | |
| GART 1B21 (0.5) | Creative Process & Research: Painting | |
| GART 1B22 (0.5) | Creative Process & Research: Drawing | |
| GART 1B23 (0.5) | Creative Process & Research: Printmaking | |
| GART 1B24 (0.5) | Creative Process & Research: Wearable Art | |
| Experimental Production | ||
| Experimentation with non-traditional art materials or methods expands the creative process allowing artists to adapt their artwork to new ideas and possibilities. | ||
| GART 1B30 (0.5) | Experimental Production: Digital Printmaking | |
| GART 1B31 (0.5) | Experimental Production: Material Art and Design | |
| GART 1B32 (0.5) | Experimental Production: Photography | |
| GART 1B33 (0.5) | Experimental Production: 2D Animation | |
| Narrative Strategies | ||
| Narrative is key to contemporary visual practice as the unfolding of stories, the exploration of events, histories, ideas, and memories. | ||
| GART 1B40 (0.5) | Narrative Strategies: Drawing | |
| GART 1B41 (0.5) | Narrative Strategies: Media Arts | |
| GART 1B42 (0.5) | Narrative Strategies: Photography | |
| GART 1B43 (0.5) | Narrative Strategies: Contemporary Aboriginal Sculpture and Installation | |
| GART 1B44 (0.5) | Narrative Strategies: Painting to Film | |
| Nature and Culture | ||
| The intersection of human activity and natural phenomena provides a zone of contention under investigation in contemporary art today. | ||
| GART 1B50 (0.5) | Nature & Culture: Drawing | |
| GART 1B51 (0.5) | Nature & Culture: Contemporary Painting | |
| GART 1B52 (0.5) | Nature & Culture: Curatorial Practices | |
| GART 1B53 (0.5) | Nature & Culture: Material Art and Design | |
| Site & Intervention | ||
| Site & Intervention challenges traditional notions of how space can have an impact on artwork by intervening on public and other spaces. | ||
| GART 1B60 (0.5) | Site & Intervention: Critical Practices | |
| GART 1B61 (0.5) | Site & Intervention: Drawing | |
| GART 1B62 (0.5) | Site & Intervention: New Media | |
| GART 1B63 (0.5) | Site & Intervention: Sculpture and Installation | |
| Special Interest | ||
| GART 1B70 (0.5) | Art & Code | |
| GART 1B71 (0.5) | Musical Instruments as Creative Construction | |
| GART 1B72 (0.5) | Paper Cut-Outs & 3D Pop-Ups | |
| This year, first-year students may opt to register for one of the following targeted 200-level studio courses which will count for one only of the two required Winter semester Studio elective courses. This registration must be done between Monday June 28 at 9am and Monday July 12. Access to course will be on a first-come-first-serve basis. This course will ONLY count toward 100-level program requirements. This course will NOT count toward 200-level program requirements. | ||
| 200 level courses offered as first-year Elective: All 0.5 credit value | ||
| DRPT 2B02 (0.5) | Abstract Painting Section 1, Fr 15:00-18:00 |
|
| DRPT 2B02 (0.5) | Abstract Painting Section 2, Fr 08:30-11:30 |
|
| DRPT 2B05 (0.5) | Alternative Media/Techniques Section 1, Th 11:30-14:30 |
|
| DRPT 2B07 (0.5) | Figurative Drawing Section 1, Mo 18:30-21:30 |
|
| DRPT 2B07 (0.5) | Figurative Drawing Section 2, We 08:30-11:30 |
|
| DRPT 2B19 (0.5) | Figurative Painting Section 1, Mo 08:30-11:30 |
|
| DRPT 2B38 (0.5) | Anatomy for Artists Section 2, Fr 08:30-11:30 |
|
| DRPT 2B38 (0.5) | Anatomy for Artists Section 3, Mo 08:30-11:30 |
|
| FABR 2B01 (0.5) | Introduction to Fabrication: Bronze Section 1, We 15:00-18:00 | |
| FABR 2B03 (0.5) | Introduction to Fabrication: Mouldmaking Section 1, Th 08:30-11:30 |
|
| FABR 2B04 (0.5) | Introduction to Fabrication: Plastics Section 1, Fr 08:30-11:30 |
|
| FABR 2B04 (0.5) | Introduction to Fabrication: Plastics Section 2, Tu 11:30-14:30 |
|
| INTM 2B02 (0.5) | Film Introduction Section 1, Tu 14:30-17:30 |
|
| INTM 2B21 (0.5) | On-line & Website Design Section 1, We 18:30-21:30 |
|
| INTM 2B33 (0.5) | Computer Modeling & Animation Section 1, Th 08:30-11:30 |
|
| INTM 2B34 (0.5) | Hybrid Media Lab Section 1, Fr 11:30-14:30 |
|
| INTM 2B34 (0.5) | Hybrid Media Lab Section 2, 11:30-14:30 |
|
| IMPORTANT: | ||
| Please also note that you will be de-registered from winter elective courses if you have not completed a minimum of 1.0 studio credits in the fall semester. | ||
| Liberal Studies courses | ||
| LBST 1B06 (0.5) | Introduction to Visual Studies II: Critical Frameworks | |
| One of the following three writing courses: | ||
| LBST 1B11 (0.5) or LBST 1B12 (0.5) or LBST 1B13 (0.5) |
The Essay and the Argument: Mechanics(Fall or Winter) The Essay and the Argument: ESL (Fall and Winter *) The Essay and the Argument: Rhetoric (Fall or Winter) | |
| Total Credits | 5.0 | |
*LBST 1B12 course will meet two hours per week: one-hour lecture with 30 students; one-hour tutorial with 10 students over both the Fall and Winter semesters. Students must complete both semesters in order to be granted the 0.5 credit in this course.
Last Modified:1/24/2012 12:57:26 PM