Graduate Studies

Master of Arts in Contemporary Art, Design

and New Media Art Histories

The MA program in Contemporary Art, Design and New Media Art Histories prepares students to investigate the breadth and complexity of today's creative cultural activity. Artists and designers in the 21st century often employ unconventional and hybrid strategies that can challenge traditional forms of analysis. Examinations of contemporary art, new media and design therefore require flexible and creative conceptual approaches. Through historical contextualization, scholarly rigour, and cross-disciplinary methods, this program supports the production of pioneering research into newly emerging art and design practices.

Program Guide



This unique and innovative academic program offers students three fields of specialization:

Because they all draw from the discipline of art history and share analytical techniques, theory and terminology, these three fields form a complementary affiliation. Yet they also bear their own distinctiveness, which will be emphasized in field-specific seminars and independent study. While students may take courses in any of the specializations, one field will be selected as the focus for the degree.

The MA in Contemporary Art, Design and New Media Art Histories is a full-time, 45-credit program that is normally completed within two years (five semesters). Some part-time students may be admitted (with the Program Director’s approval) with a more flexible completion schedule.

The program is comprised of the following:

Students entering the program will have an honours-equivalent, four-year bachelor’s degree in art history, visual culture or a related discipline. They will be interested in augmenting their existing knowledge through a program of study that facilitates exploration and analysis of contemporary art, design or new media art.

Objectives:

  1. To cultivate original research into the analysis of contemporary art, design and new media art
  2. To provide students with advanced writing and research skills for historical, critical and theoretical investigations
  3. To prepare students for employment by galleries, museums and other art institutions
  4. To prepare students for continuing research in PhD programs

Key Features:
  1. While art history programs are common across North America, Contemporary Art History at OCADU is one of only a few that concentrate solely upon contemporary artists and issues.
  2. OCADU is the first university in Ontario and second in Canada to offer a specialization in Design History at the graduate level.
  3. New Media Art History is a pioneering specialization since most graduate programs focusing on new media are practice-based or housed in communication studies. OCADU's New Media Art History joins a select handful in the world examining technological work in an art historical context.
  4. With an extensive core faculty, this program offers students an impressive array of perspectives with which to explore the ever-shifting worlds of contemporary art, design and new media art. Faculty not only specialize in the histories of these areas of production, they also engage a range of critical and interdisciplinary theories.
  5. The moderate size of the program (approximately 16 students per year) ensures that each student receives personalized attention.
  6. OCADU's community of student programs provides an active hub of experimentation in all types of media and design. Students will be situated in a context of ongoing artistic activity, a vibrant research culture, and an expanding slate of graduate programs.
  7. Located in downtown Toronto, students will be immersed in an energetic centre of production, exhibition, collection and research. Major institutions such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Power Plant, and the Design Exchange, as well as numerous independent galleries and artist-run spaces showcase an abundant variety of contemporary art. Other public institutions, such as the Royal Ontario Museum, contain libraries, archives and collections that greatly expand the possibilities for research.

Last Modified:1/24/2012 12:57:31 PM


HEADLINES

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

MA in Contemporary Art, Design and New Media Art Histories

MFA in Criticism & Curatorial Practice

Digital Futures (MA, MFA, MDes, Graduate Diploma)

Inclusive Design (MDes)

Interdisciplinary Master's in Art Media and Design

MDes in Strategic Foresight and Innovation

Ontario College of Art & Design 100 McCaul Street Toronto, Ontario M5T 1W1 Canada Tel. 416.977.6000 Fax. 416.977.6000 © OCAD 2007