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First-Year Art

Return to Faculty of Art Program Guides

First-Year, Faculty of 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 their 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 encounter in their second-, third- and fourth-year of study.

The studio curriculum for students entering the Faculty of Art consists of four common required courses: Drawing, Colour & Composition, Form and Structure and Time-Based Media. Art stream students complete their studio curriculum requirements by taking two elective courses in the winter. 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, Nature & Culture might have several sections; one exploring the course content through printmaking, and another through sculpture/installation.

Download a list of First-year art electives here (PDF)

Liberal Studies courses form an integral part of your studies. All incoming first-year students are required to complete 1.5 Liberal Studies credits at the 100 level. In 2006/2007 there are two options for fulfilling these requirements:

Option One:

LBST 1A40:     The Essay and the Argument 
                     (Must also register for one Workshop 
                     LBST 1A41, LBST1A42 or LBST 1A43,
                     Fall and Winter semester)
0.5 credit
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

The three small-group workshops (LBST 1A41, LBST 1A42 or LBST 1A43 see descriptions for more information) are designed to supplement the material covered in the main course LBST 1A40 across both the Fall and Winter semesters (1.5 hours per week for 26 weeks). Additionally you will take LBST 1B03 and LBST 1B06 in the Fall and Winter, respectively (3 hours per week for 13 weeks and 1 week of exams for a total of 14 weeks per semester).

Option Two:

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


Some degree students will complete LBST 1D01 instead of LBST 1A40 (and Workshop), LBST 1B03 and LBST 1B06LBST 1D01 meets 4.5 hours per week over the Fall and Winter semesters. Students must complete both semesters in order to be granted the 1.5 credit in this course.

In the second semester of study, first year students must declare a program major for their three upper years of study in the Faculty of Art. 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 web site for updated information.

Students complete 5.0 credits in their first-year of study:
Six studio courses 3.5 credits
Three liberal studies courses 1.5 credits
Total 5.0 credits

Students must achieve an overall average of 60% and may begin second year studies with 3.0 of the 3.5 studio credits and 1.0 of the 1.5 liberal studies credits. The first-year requirements (3.5 studio credits and 1.5 liberal studies credits) must be successfully completed by May 31 of the following year or students will not be permitted to continue in the upper years of their programs.
First-Year Course Guide
COURSE CODE COURSE NAME CREDIT
 

FALL SEMESTER

Studio courses
GART 1C00 Drawing 1.0

Select two of the following required courses:

GART 1B04 Colour & Composition
GART 1B05 Form and Structure
GART 1B06 Time-Based Media 1.0
   

Liberal Studies courses

LBST 1B03
Introduction to Visual Studies I: History, 
Culture and Ideas   
0.5      
LBST 1A40 The Essay and the Argument *
Plus one of the following Workshops:
LBST 1A41, LBST 1A42 or LBST 1A43 
0 (see winter)
Or in place of the above take:
LBST 1D01 Liberal Studies One **
(Continued in the Winter)
 
 

WINTER SEMESTER

Studio courses

Select the remaining required course not taken in the Fall:

GART 1B04 Colour & Composition
GART 1B05 Form and Structure
GART 1B06 Time-Based Media 0.5
Select any two electives:
(Please note: students will be deregistered from the winter electives if they have not completed a minimum of 1.0 studio credits in the fall semester.)
 
GART 1B07



Creative Process and Research
Offered in the following disciplines:
Printmaking, Sculpture/Installation and Material Art & Design
 
GART 1B08



Experimental Production
Offered in the following disciplines:
Printmaking / Digital, Photography and Sculpture/Installation
 
GART 1B09


Narrative, Series and Sequences
Offered in the following disciplines:
Photography, Integrated Media and Drawing
 

GART 1B14


Nature and Culture
Offered in the following disciplines:
Drawing, Painting, Integrated Media and Material Art & Design
 

GART 1B15



Site and Intervention
Offered in the following disciplines:
Integrated Media, Sculpture/Installation, Drawing and Criticism & Curatorial Practice
 
 
GART 1B16
       
Art & Design in the Social Sphere
Offered to both Art & Design students

1.0
 
Download a list of First-year art electives here. (PDF)
 
Liberal Studies courses
LBST 1B06 Introduction to Visual Studies II: Critical Frameworks 0.5   
LBST 1A40 The Essay and the Argument * 0.5
Or continue with:
LBST 1D01 Liberal Studies One **
(Continued from Fall for a credit value of 1.5)
Total Credits 5.0


*The LBST 1A40 course meets for 1.5 hours once a week, over the Fall and Winter semesters. Students must complete both semesters in order to be granted the 0.5 credit in this course. Students take LBST 1A40 plus one of three small-group workshops (LBST 1A41, LBST 1A42 or LBST 1A43 see descriptions for more information) designed to supplement the material covered in the main course across both the Fall and Winter semesters (1.5 hours per week for 26 weeks).

**Some degree students will complete LBST 1D01 instead of LBST 1A40 (and Workshop), LBST 1B03 and LBST 1B06LBST 1D01 meets 4.5 hours once a week, over the Fall and Winter semesters. Students must complete both semesters in order to be granted the 1.5 credit in this course.




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    Last Modified:7/30/2007 3:54:08 PM