Combine hands-on studio work in any medium with courses about nature, anatomy, technology, biology, ecology, and sustainability. Through your creative media practice you'll engage with urgent and global issues like climate change, social justice, and consider the opportunities and challenges of scientific advancements.
Program Highlights
At the End of this Program...
At the end of this four-year program, you will earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree.
Admissions Requirements
- For Ontario high school students, a minimum overall average of 70%
- Portfolio
- Statement of Intent
- Official transcripts
- See detailed academic requirements here
Jobs You Can Get
Graduates of the program may work in the following fields:
- Medical illustration
- Natural science research
- Arts administration and education
- Artistic practice
Internships & Experiential Learning
OCAD U offers so much more than co-ops because creative careers take many forms. Our career services help you build a professional community, valuable experience and skills you need for a meaningful career. Get access to:
- Short experiential learning placements from among hundreds of organizations
- Creative in-class projects with real-world industry partners
- Exclusive summer internships
- Gallery exhibitions of your work
- Freelance creative opportunities
- Jobs after graduation
What you'll do in the program...
Your first year at OCAD University will be in our first year art program. You will have a choice of different kind of classes to get a good base for future years. A few are mandatory, such as art history and drawing, but the rest of your classes could include:
- Sculpture concepts
- Wearable art
- Photography
- Painting
- Animation
- Body and technology
- Printmaking
- Art and code
- Indigenous sculpture strategies
- Nature and culture
In second year, you will take Life Studies studio and can choose from other studio classes as well as a range of courses in anatomy, technology, biology, ecology, and sustainability, such as:
- Anatomy: structure and movement
- Introduction to biology
- Human form and function: anatomy
- Life Study for sculpture
- Nature, culture and environment
- Materials and the Anthropocene
Third year will feature a focused Life Studies studio course, with opportunities for collaboration and group work. You’ll choose studio art courses based on your interest, as well as courses in art history, science, humanities, and social science.
In fourth year, all students will have the opportunity to do a culminating thesis or advanced studio class. You’ll gain knowledge through lectures, creating art, gallery visits and panel discussions.
Students will also have the option to showcase work at GradEx, OCAD U’s Graduate Exhibition, the biggest free art and design exhibition in Toronto with over 40,000 visitors.
Minors
In all undergraduate programs you can choose to take a minor alongside your major to explore and expand your practice. Minors give you the opportunity to pursue a focused secondary field of study in addition to or sometimes instead of taking electives in your program and can help you look better for employers or in grants or grad school applications. You don’t need to choose a minor on your application – rather once you start at OCAD U, you’ll be able to choose from over 90 electives that can build towards one of our 25 focused minors. Learn more about Minor Programs here.