Liberal Arts and Sciences
The department of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Otis College of Art and Design provides diverse students of art and design with an intellectually stimulating environment that cultivates the habits of mind and critical tools for students to become informed, creative, well-rounded artists and designers.
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"You will be entering an art and design world that demands good reading, writing and reasoning skills to be successful. Additionally, language competence and communication skills are generally the second skill that employers list as a desirable potential employee characteristic and critical to future success."
- Debra Ballard, Chair of Liberal Arts and Sciences |
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| Liberal Arts & Sciences > | Course/Credit Breakdown Course Information First Year Curriculum Honors Program |
Integrated Learning Interdisciplinary Concentration Otis Student Writers |
In Liberal Arts and Sciences courses, students cultivate the critical tools they need to become well-informed, well-rounded artists and designers. The intellectually stimulating curriculum develops conscientious use of language, collaborative problem solving, and independent critical thinking skills. Students acquire the ability to locate, evaluate, and use print and online resources for research, and gain an understanding of and respect for the cultural and geographic diversity of people and ideas. The interdisciplinary nature of learning is the point of departure for developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes students need to lead creative, literate, fulfilling lives as artists and citizens.
| Department Heads | Department Chair, Debra Ballard |
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| Art History Director, Parme Giuntini | ||
| Staff | Academic Advisor, Marsha Hopkins | |
| Office Manager, Jean-Marie Venturini | ||
English Placement Assessment
The English Placement Assessment is a three part two hour test designed to assess your English reading and writing proficiency. The three parts are:
- Grammar and Usage
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
The assessment is used to place you in an English class appropriate to your language abilities.
FAQs
Who has to take this assessment?
All incoming first year students and transfer students.
What are the classes I can place into?
The classes are ENGL 020 English as a Second or Other Language, ENGL 050 Developmental English I, ENGL 090 Developmental English II, and ENGL 104 Critical Analysis & Semiotics.
Can I use a dictionary?
Yes.
What is a good strategy for taking this assessment?
A proctor will call time on the first two sections which are multiple choice. It is important to spend the entire hour on the last part, writing, which is the most important.
For the writing component a good approach is to spend 5-10 minutes outlining how you want to approach the question, 40-45 minutes actually writing your essay, and 5-15 minutes proofreading.
What if I do not think my results are really representative of my writing abilities?
You may appeal your assessment by following the appeal process (PDF).
Do you expect my essay to be perfect?
No. We know it is a timed exam and that you will have areas that given the time, you would revise.
What are the assessment criteria do the faculty use in determining placement?
EPA Scoring Guide (PDF)
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las@otis.edu
phone: (310) 665-6920
fax: (310) 665-6998
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9045 Lincoln Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90045
Telephone 310 665 6800