Our Mission
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Program Learning Outcomes
- Communicate ideas in a coherent, logical, and compelling way for different purposes and audiences.
- Identify issues clearly, synthesize and contextualize relevant sources, and make connections across experiences and disciplinary perspectives to create well-reasoned and imaginative approaches to issues, problems, and challenges.
- Develop skills to locate, evaluate, and use information resources from both traditional and emerging technologies appropriately, effectively, and ethically.
- Develop collaborative skills to construct knowledge, negotiate effective outcomes, and generate new insights.
- Forge interdisciplinary connections among the liberal arts and sciences, studio, and community.
- Develop cultural awareness in a global context
Degree Requirements
Liberal Arts and Sciences Courses and Credits for the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree make up one-third of the credits required for graduation with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. The three credit courses are distributed among the following: Liberal Arts and Sciences course designations and abbreviated as follows:
- Art History (AHCS)
- English (ENGL)
- Liberal Studies (LIBS)
- Social Science Critical Studies (SSCI)
- Natural Sciences Critical Studies (NSCI)
- Mathematics (MATH)
Your studio major determines the overall number of LAS credits you need to complete. owever, students in all majors are required to fulfill the courses listed below in their Foundation (FNDT) or first year:
- AHCS120 Introduction to Visual Culture (3)
- AHCS121 Birth of the Modern (3)
- ENGL107 Writing in the Digital Age (3)
- LIBS114 Ways of Knowing (3)
Transfer students may be able to receive credit for these courses. If you have any questions about specific classes on your transcript, contact Academic Advising.
Required Foundation Liberal Arts and Sciences Courses
Your studio major determines the overall number of LAS credits you need to complete. However, students in all majors are required to fulfill the courses listed below in their Foundation (first) year:
- AHCS120 Introduction to Visual Culture (3)
- AHCS121 Birth of the Modern (3)
- ENGL107 Writing in the Digital Age (3)
- LIBS114 Ways of Knowing (3)
Transfer students may be able to receive credit for these courses. If you have any questions about specific classes on your transcript, contact Academic Advising.
Otis Honors Program
Honors students are regarded as both academic and community leaders. During their Foundation year. Honors students participate in a core curriculum that addresses the intersections between art, design, ideology, social responsibility, and sustainability. As sophomores, Honors students will experience an immersive Los Angeles art and culture experience through their Art History requirement. During their junior year, students dive deeper into the Liberal Arts and Sciences departmental themes including identity, diversity, creativity, social responsibility, and sustainability to satisfy their upper division LAS elective. The program culminates with an Honors Capstone course in the senior year, as well as a final retreat.
In order to remain in the Honors Program, students must satisfy two criteria:
- Students must pass their Honors courses with a grade of C or better
- Students must retain a GPA of 3.0 or higher
Qualified students may apply into the Honors Program between semesters prior to their junior year. Transfer students or students that join the program after their Foundation year will be required to complete a minimum of three classes in order to graduate from the Honors Program.
To graduate from the Honor’s Program, entering Foundation students will complete seven Honor’s Level courses at Otis barring exceptional circumstances. Students with Advanced Placement credit or who are hoping to pursue a minor may be approved to have some Honors courses applied toward other requirements, or required Minor courses approved for Honors credit.
Learning Management System—the Nest
The Learning Management System (LMS), known as “The Nest” is a digital platform that organizes and stores all LAS course content like assignments, supplemental materials, tests, and student work.
E-Learning Classes
Blended (BL) classes replace at least 1/3 of traditional face-to-face instructional "seat time" with online learning activities. Online (OL) classes are conducted 100% in a virtual learning environment. The overall amount of work and learning outcomes remain the same as does the time required, but flexibility is increased. E-Learning course offerings change each semester and will be designated on the course schedule at the time of Registration. See the Liberal Arts and Sciences Department course listings for more information.
Senior Liberal Studies Capstone LIBS440
The Liberal Studies Capstone experience is a required senior-level course designated
to facilitate students’ critical reflection on a topic that intersects with their
own studio practice, discipline, and/or identity. As the signature course and culminating
expression of the Liberal Studies Program, the class design allows for independent
research and private mentoring through Blended classes that meet both in-person and
online. This asynchronous format encourages students to apply the skills they’ve accrued
during their time at Otis College to a project that can advance their understanding
of their career path and chosen industry.
A minimum grade of C- or better on the Capstone paper and course is required to pass.
Students who earn a D will automatically be enrolled in the 1-unit Spring semester
Continuation class to raise their
Note: Creative Writing, Art History, Sustainability minors, and Fine Arts majors take
specific
Capstones. Please see department for courses.
All Liberal Arts and Sciences Classes Are 3 Credits Unless Otherwise Noted.
Liberal Arts and Sciences Course Offerings
Students may take Natural Science, Social Science, and Math courses off campus, unless a specific course at Otis is required by their major. Students may not take Art History, English, Creative Action Integrated Learning or Capstone courses off campus without the written permission of the Chair of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Please review the 2021 Catalog for specific degree requirements.
Addendum #1: Academic Calendar
Addendum #2: Student Code of Conduct, Title IX & Sexual Harassment
Addendum #3: Toy Design Requirements Grid