Minors

This cross-disciplinary minor focuses on issues of art in public space: from public sculpture, murals and monuments to temporary outdoor interventions such as screen-based art, projection mapping, sonic art and performance-driven manifestations.

This minor provides a platform for the development of a shared critical language for students whose creative interests involve the production of work that requires engagement in public spaces through the study of works made for distribution in the form of books, posters and editions, data visualization, ephemeral and event-based actions, site-specific interventions, walks and situations.

A minor in Art & Social Change offers students the opportunity to explore some of the most pressing social, political and ethical issues of our time. With the tenets of equality, diversity and social and environmental justice at the heart of this minor, and an investigation of the role that art and artists have and can play as catalysts of change, students pursuing this minor stand to expand the liberating powers of dialogue, dissent and collaboration as cultural practitioners engaged in local, national and global contexts.

This minor guides students across disciplinary boundaries and through broad university curriculum with key courses that examine important social movements, real-world issues and activism. Course will emphasize approaches for self-examination, critical thinking, anti-oppression politics, community building, experiential learning, field experience and pedagogy. These will respect each student’s unique experience, facilitate their emerging vision and enable professional networking opportunities. This minor provides our graduates with a critical companion to their major area of study, encouraging their capacities as leaders for positive social change and innovation through informed, inspired and transformative cultural engagement.
 

A minor in Art History is ideal for students planning to pursue Art or Design studio career practices. It is an important addition for students who wish to pursue graduate studies either in art history and theory, arts administration, or teaching. The Art History minor includes a wide range of historical and contemporary art history courses. Students may choose to focus on specific areas such contemporary art history (20th century), European art history, global art history (non-Western) or on issues in criticism and theory.

This minor will offer a multidisciplinary suite of courses in Black design and art practices, culture, history and critical theory that will enrich the exploration of decolonized futures by bringing in the voices of Black designers and artists. OCAD U is the first Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD) school in Canada to offer this new minor.

A minor in Creative Writing provides a unique and valuable opportunity for students to supplement their studio-based Art and Design programs. This additional creative focus facilitates their studio practice and develops their ability to write and present their own work. The Creative Writing minor draws on faculty who are professionals in the field of Creative Writing and are actively engaged in publishing their own creative work.

A minor in Criticism and Curating engages students interested in adding writing and curating to their toolbox of creative skills. In today's ever-changing cultural scene, where artists and designers often adopt the roles of critics and curators, being versatile increases one's agency and career opportunities. Courses in CRCP cover the history and practice of writing criticism and publishing, as well as the many varieties of experimental, independent and institutional curating. Students gain hands-on experience in writing, curating, and exhibition-making, developing practical skills that complement their studio practice. This minor also helps artists and designers understand the varied ways they can exhibit and circulate their work, both within and beyond traditional gallery settings. For students planning for graduate study, this minor provides preparation for informed writing and innovative exhibition making that applies to both studio and academic masters' programs.

A minor in Design Studies caters to students who want to delve more deeply into the history and theory of design. This minor is perfect for studio students seeking to enhance their knowledge of a wide range of design practices. For students planning to pursue graduate studies, the Design Studies minor will develop their skills in research and writing, as well as provide an inroad to a growing academic discipline with extensive potential. Students can specialize in topic areas such as architecture, material arts or graphic design, or can explore timely issues such as sustainability and activism.

A minor in Drawing & Painting allows students to develop a range of skills in the context of ongoing dialogues with the traditions and histories of drawing and painting, and with contemporary art. Students will gain skills in observational drawing and painting, digital applications to drawing and painting, and acquire a knowledge of materials and processes needed for creative problem solving.

A minor in English Language/Literature is useful as a second teachable subject for students choosing to pursue a career in teaching at either the elementary or the secondary level, or for students wishing to undertake graduate studies. More generally, an English minor provides students with valuable tools to hone their reading and writing skills as they seek to position themselves in their Art and Design studio practices and enrich their studies at OCAD University.

The Minor in Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation is a distinctive, interdisciplinary, course of study for those seeking to develop business expertise that is applicable to the creative industries. The aim of the Minor is to develop the capabilities of those working in the creative industries so that they can engage with the world of business in an informed manner. The program is open to all students from across the University.

Unlike a traditional business program or series of courses, this Minor gives art and design students the opportunity to grasp the broader context of economics, management, socio-cultural, and environmental issues, social and technological trends changing the global economic landscape and to apply these perspectives to their creative practice. Students will develop a range of transferable skills and the confidence to apply their skills to real business challenges in creative environments. Students are able to tailor their learning so that it enriches their scholarship in their Major Program of study.

The Experimental Animation minor offers students the chance to develop skills in animation as a creative practice. With a focus on innovation, imagination, and experimentation, the minor emphasizes the moving image as a space for artistic exploration and technical growth. Students gain hands-on experience with contemporary approaches to animation, building the creative and critical tools to bring ideas to life through motion.

The Games and Play minor creates an interdisciplinary specialization in independent, DIY and alternative game making. Students build expertise focused on experimental and expanded game form as well as for interactive media creation more generally. Taking this minor will develop a student’s capacity to critically engage with contemporary game making and to build innovative games,as well as build expertise central to the art, design and development of independent video games across a broad range of contexts, whether as entertainment or beyond.

The interdisciplinary minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies provides students with an informed understanding of gender and sexuality constructions and an appreciation for diversity under neoliberal, patriarchal conditions and contexts. It helps students to develop creative strategies of critique and intersectional analysis of heteronormative, oppressive and exploitative social and economic forces impacting individuals and groups in complex ways. Courses included in the minor have significant course content devoted to feminist and/or queer theories and histories, or topics otherwise related to gender and sexuality studies.

A minor in Illustration provides a general introduction to Illustration, and is intended for students with intermediate to advanced drawing competencies from the following major programs: Advertising; Graphic Design; Drawing & Painting; Drawing & Painting: Digital Painting and Expanded Animation, and Printmaking. 

An interdisciplinary minor in Indigenous Visual Culture focuses on contemporary practice, theory and expression in First Nations, Métis and Inuit art and design in Canadian and international contexts. This minor integrates Indigenous perspectives into course syllabi and places Indigenous faculty in studios and classrooms.

A minor in Integrated Media provides students with an overview of the impact of digital and time-based media practices. Students learn to evaluate and work with technologies for research and studio projects. Interdisciplinary exploration is encouraged. Integrated Media addresses film, video, robotics/electronics, performance, installation, animation, audio, web and hybrid media. In a context of critical thinking and relevant examples, students develop individual and collaborative projects.

A minor in Life Studies provides students with the opportunity to engage with urgent and global issues like climate change, social justice, and consider the opportunities and challenges of scientific advancements. Combine hands-on studio work in any medium with courses about nature, anatomy, technology, biology, ecology, and sustainability.

A minor in Media Studies offers an exciting opportunity for students to improve their critical writing and analytical skills by taking additional courses beyond their studio based Art and Design programs. The Media Studies minor focuses on contemporary history and theory, and enables students to integrate new technologies and digital practices into their work as a natural progression of their learning. This minor provides students with the critical background and breadth necessary to broaden their understanding of film and media technology, as they prepare for studio or academic graduate studies programs. 

A minor in Printmaking & Publications provides the opportunity for students to engage, through a hands-on approach, in both analog and digital forms of image making. Courses are designed to augment a student's visual vocabulary, add technical and conceptual skills, and explore new and alternative ways for designing and presenting visual artifacts. Printmaking & Publications, which is sequential by nature, can also improve a student's approach to problem solving and time management in support of the curriculum offered in other major programs.

The photographic image is central to contemporary visual culture and current art practices in all mediums. A minor in photography provides students with the opportunity to integrate a broad range of photographic concepts and processes into their studies. Students gain basic skills selecting courses pertinent to their own trajectories. With this minor students are able to blend their use of photography with the visual forms they are exploring in their major area of study. 

The Science minor introduces students to the intersections of science, technology, art, and design. Through courses ranging from biology and anatomy to coding and climate change, students explore both scientific concepts and their broader societal impacts. Critical perspectives on topics such as ethics, ecology, computing, and health equip students with the knowledge and skills to integrate scientific inquiry into creative and interdisciplinary practice.

A minor in Sculpture/Installation provides students with a strong foundation in the practical skills and theoretical knowledge necessary to produce sculpture and installation work. Sculpture/Installation courses are structured upon rigorous critique opportunities that are thought provoking and challenging. This minor is designed for students seeking to add the multiple dimensions and material practices embodied by sculpture/installation in order to expand and diversify their chosen area of study.

A minor in Social Sciences enables students to master a second teachable subject they can combine with their Art or Design major if they intend to pursue a teaching career at the secondary or primary levels. Students may also find that adding Social Sciences as a second area of expertise will further prepare them for graduate studies. The Social Sciences are increasingly important to design practice. Social Science subjects have emerged as a key addition to practice-based studio degrees as they open new career opportunities in design ethnography, marketing and other design-based consultancy applications that rely on Social Science methodologies and practices.

The Sustainability Minor draws on the existing courses and expertise at OCAD University to develop a nexus of courses that develop a student's capacity to engage with the broad environmental and social aspects of sustainability.

Students will grapple with issues of sustainability and develop creative responses to the pressing need for socially and ecologically responsible practices in local and global contexts. This interdisciplinary minor allows students to create a pathway focused on environmental and social sustainability.

A minor in Wearable Technology draws together an understanding of sensory and wireless technologies, and fabrication skills in electronics and material arts. It also develops an understanding of the sociology of the body and how it enables possibilities for artists and designers to create new experiences with technology. This program takes a holistic, experimental and concept-led approach to the subject matter. It integrates science, art, design, craft, technology, fashion and philosophy enabling the student to conceive, design, develop and fabricate basic working prototypes and art works.