Ontario College of Art & Design

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FIRST-YEAR ART

OCAD provides a student-centered learning environment in first-year where 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 OCAD'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 or one 1.5 credit Liberal Studies course 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 in the winter (0.5 credit / course). Elective courses are concept-driven and provide an opportunity to explore current issues in contemporary art. Each elective course has multiple sections. Individual sections approach the course through the lens of a specific discipline. For example, the course Nature & Culture (GART 1B14, 0.5 credit) will have several sections: one exploring the course content through painting, another through integrated media, etc. See the PDF below and the list under the First-Year Course Guide further down this page.

PDF List of First-Year Art electives

Liberal Studies courses form an integral part of a student's studies. All incoming first-year students are required to complete 1.5 Liberal Studies credits at the 100 level. Please refer to FIRST-YEAR LIBERAL STUDIES REQUIREMENTS for more details.

In 2008/2009 there are two options for fulfilling these requirements:

Option One:

Select one of the three writing courses, The Essay and the Argument 0.5 credit
 LSBT 1B11 The Essay and the Argument: Mechanics (Fall or Winter)
 LBST 1B12 The Essay and the Argument: ESL (English as a Second Language Fall and Winter semesters *)
 LBST 1B13 The Essay and the Argument: Rhetoric (Fall or Winter)
And both Visual Studies courses
 LBST 1B03 Introduction to Visual Studies I: History and Ideas (Fall semester) 0.5 credit
 LBST 1B06 Introduction to Visual Studies II: Critical Frameworks (Winter semester) 0.5 credit

LBST 1B11 and LBST 1B13 course will meet three hours per week: two-hour lecture with 30 students; one-hour tutorial with 15 students. LBST 1B12 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.  LBST 1B03 and LBST 1B06 courses, in the Fall and Winter, respectively, will meet three hours per week: two-hour lecture of 150 to 200 students; one-hour tutorial of 30 students.

*Students must complete both semesters in order to be granted the 0.5 credit in this course.

Option Two:

 LBST 1D01 Liberal Studies One (Fall and Winter semesters) 1.5 credits

Some degree students will complete Liberal Studies One  (LBST 1D01) instead of The Essay and the Argument (LBST 1B11, LBST 1B12 or LBST 1B13), Introduction to Visual Studies I (LBST 1B03) and Introduction to Visual Studies II (LBST 1B06). Liberal Studies One (LBST 1D01) will meet 4.5 hours per week over the Fall and Winter semesters: two-hour lecture of 150 to 180 students; 1.5 hour seminar of 30 students, one-hour tutorial of six students. Students must complete both semesters in order to be granted the 1.5 credit in this course.

Please note:
•In the second semester of study, first-year students must submit an application to major. 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 OCAD 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 credits (including the Writing course) with an overall average of 60%.
•The minimum passing grade or the first-year writing course 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 on probation during their next academic year. To proceed to second year probationary students must have the approval of the Faculty of Art office.

First-Year Course Guide

When selecting courses for the 2008 fall and 2009 winter terms 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 chosen courses, they register for their Liberal studies courses before registering for their studio courses.

Course Code & Credit Value
FALL SEMESTER
Studio courses
GART 1C00  (1.0) Drawing
Note: GART 1C00 is offered only in the Fall semester
Select one or two of the following required courses:
GART 1B04  (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, Culture 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 & Winter *)

The Essay and the Argument: Rhetoric (Fall or Winter)
Or in place of the above Liberal Studies courses take:
LBST 1D01  (1.5) Liberal Studies One **
(Continued in the 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:  PDF List of First-Year Art electives First-Year electives provide students with an opportunity to experiment in the field in which they may specialize as well as explore areas in which they're less familiar. Students may take them simply out of curiosity, exploration and discovery. Do remember that the section number you choose will be taught in a specific discipline. When choosing your electives, have a copy of the elective offerings – PDF file – on hand. Please also note that you will be de-registered from the winter electives if you have not completed a minimum of 1.0 studio credits in the fall semester.
 
GART 1B07  (0.5) Creative Process and Research
Offered in the following disciplines:
Drawing; Painting; Printmaking; Sculpture/Installation   
GART 1B08  (0.5) Experimental Production
Offered in the following disciplines:
Printmaking - Digital; Material Art & Design; Sculpture/Installation; Photography; Integrated Media; Paper Cut-Outs & 3D Pop-ups
GART 1B09  (0.5) Narrative, Series and Sequences
Offered in the following disciplines:
Photography; Integrated Media; Drawing 
GART 1B14 (0.5) Nature and Culture
Offered in the following disciplines:
Material Art & Design; Integrated Media; Sculpture/Installation; Drawing; Painting 
GART 1B15  (0.5) Site and Intervention
Offered in the following disciplines:
Integrated Media; Criticism & Curatorial Practice; Sculpture/Installation; Drawing  
GART 1B16  (0.5) Art & Design in the Social Sphere
Offered in the discipline of Interdisciplinary Thinking, this course is offered to both Art & Design students. First year Design students may take GART 1B16 in lieu of GDES 1B26 Principles and Experience Design.
 
 
PDF List of First-Year Art electives
 
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 & Winter *)

The Essay and the Argument: Rhetoric (Fall or Winter)
Or continue with:
LBST 1D01  (1.5)  Liberal Studies One **
(Continued from Fall for a credit value of 1.5)
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.

**Some degree students will complete Liberal Studies One  (LBST 1D01) instead of The Essay and the Argument (LBST 1B11, LBST 1B12 or LBST 1B13), Introduction to Visual Studies I (LBST 1B03) and Introduction to Visual Studies II (LBST 1B06). Liberal Studies One (LBST 1D01) will meet 4.5 hours per week over the Fall and Winter semesters: two-hour lecture of 150 to 180 students; 1.5 hour seminar of 30 students, one-hour tutorial of six students. Students must complete both semesters in order to be granted the 1.5 credit in this course.

Last Modified:1/24/2012 12:57:04 PM