In First Year Studies (FYS), students explore a wide range of ideas in a challenging cross-section of studio and Liberal Studies courses.
All students take Drawing as a means of developing a vocabulary specific to the visual and design arts. Students also choose four introductory studio courses in their first year at ACAD, two each semester, selected from ten studio areas: Ceramics, Fibre, Glass, Jewellery + Metals, Media Arts + Digital Technologies, Painting, Photography, Print Media, Sculpture, and Visual Communications Design.
Visual Arts Surveys I and II and Critical Practice: Interpretive Research provide students with a broader cultural understanding and lead to a wide range of future Liberal Studies courses. As well, FYS students take Art + Design Now, exploring current issues and practice in contemporary craft, fine art, design, and media technologies through visiting artists, research, readings, and discussions.
FYS students engage in an environment of critical enquiry and are encouraged to take responsibility for the development and direction of the ideas and concepts they encounter during their studies. Through a broad variety of studio and theory-based courses, students experience a diversity of visual languages that prepare them for future study in fine arts, design and media arts.
First Year Studies may be completed on a full- or part-time basis.
ACAD’s First Year Studies classes are taught by inspiring instructors from all areas of the College. They include:
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