Interdisciplinary Master's in Art, Media and Design (MA, MDes and MFA) OCAD University

Interdisciplinary Master's in Art, Media, and Design (MA, MDes, and MFA)

Drawing experienced artists and designers from around the world, encouraging them to investigate and produce works that combine art, design, writing, and interdisciplinary academic study to create new forms of visual and social research and creative production.

The Interdisciplinary Master’s in Art, Media, and Design (IAMD) draws experienced artists and designers from around the world, encouraging them to investigate and produce works that combine art, design, writing, and interdisciplinary academic study to create new forms of visual and social research and creative production.

Each student’s primary discipline and chosen emphasis among art, design, or media practice and theoretical inquiry will determine whether the degree earned is an MFA, MDes, or MA.

Students thrive in a creative environment led by an accomplished faculty. Matchless opportunities for innovative learning are offered through visiting experts, internships, independent studies, and the Annual First-Year Graduate Student Exhibition.

Upon entering the IAMD program, students will already have strong disciplinary expertise in art, design, media, art history, visual culture, or a related discipline, plus an appropriate undergraduate degree and practical experience. They will be interested in augmenting their skills through a program that relies on research, collaboration, and practice models to reframe contemporary issues through hybrid and interdisciplinary forms. Importantly, participants will rise to the challenge of working in an experimental environment where the outcome of their interdisciplinary efforts is not crystal clear at the outset and where the path of discovery may take them to unexpected places. This will entail rigorous academic study and the creation of a significant body of studio-based work and critical/theoretical writing.

The IAMD program aims to achieve these objectives through a course of study that includes:

• Intensive graduate-level directed study in the student’s studio practice
• Seminars in critical theory and research methods
• Elective courses that supplement the core curriculum by allowing each student to explore his or her individual interests in studio, theory or research
• Either a major studio project supported by a written critical analysis (leading to the MFA or MDes degree) or an academic master’s thesis accompanied by a creative project (leading to the MA degree).

Key features

• The opportunity for students to undertake coursework, directed studies, lectures and workshops with OCAD U faculty and with visiting faculty from other institutions and visiting experts in a wide range of disciplines
• The option of an independent study, internship, elective and/or residency during the summer term between the first and second years of the program
• Annual First-Year Graduate Student Exhibition
• Graduate Thesis Exhibition

What You’ll Do in the Program

First Year

• Contemporary Research Methods
• Critical Theory Seminar
• Directed Interdisciplinary Studio/Academic Study I
• Directed Interdisciplinary Studio/Academic Study II
• Issues in Critical Theory OR
• MFA/MDes Individual Studio I
• MA Individual Academic Study
• Thesis Proposal

Choose from among the following options (1.0 credit)

• Residency
• Independent Study
• Placement
• Elective

Second Year

• Thesis Seminar I
• Research-Creation and Colloquia
• Advanced Interdisciplinary Studio/Research
• Thesis Seminar II OR
• Thesis: MFA/MDes
• Thesis: MA

• Provide a flexibly structured, advanced studio-based learning environment that enables students to integrate art, media, and design production, in combination with other disciplines, through processes that remix theory, methodology, and practice.
• Ensure that students acquire advanced research skills for visual and academic investigations in the areas of art, media and design practice, and critical theory.
• Foster the development of individuals who can think, create, and practice in interdisciplinary ways.
• Contribute to new knowledge in the areas of interdisciplinary art, media and design methods, discourses, and creative practices.
• Promote the development of practices that facilitate sustainability, social responsibility, and diverse social and cultural perspectives.

Each cohort will be carefully selected to maximize opportunities for interaction among art, media, design, and non-studio subject areas. Students will work with an Advisory Committee that includes leading scholars/practitioners in each of their disciplines who will guide the students' individual studies and contribute to the development of their master's thesis work.