Updated April 11, 2012

This page is intended to help Costume Studies students who want to register for the two required courses at  NSCAD. It is intended to be clear and easy to understand. If it isn’t, please let me know by contacting me at David.Nicol@Dal.Ca

Who are you?

I’m David Nicol, and I’m the academic adviser for the Department of Theatre. Here are my contact details:

Office: rm 526, 5th floor of the Dal Arts Centre

Tel: 494-1491

Email: david.nicol@dal.ca

Introduction

What are these classes?

If you’re studying in the Dept. of Theatre’s Costume Studies programmes (either the 4-year BA or the 2-year Diploma), you are required to take two classes at NSCAD. The classes are:

• TEXL 3320 (Fabrics Laboratory), usually offered in the Fall term on Thursday mornings.
• TEXL 2100 (Introduction to Resist Dyeing), usually offered in the Winter term on Thursday mornings.

Should I be doing these classes?

These classes ONLY need to be taken by students committed to completing the Costume Studies BA or the Diploma.

You should NOT take them if you are merely taking Costume Studies classes as electives, or if you’re unsure about whether you’re committed to the programme.

When should I do the classes?

The short version

• Space in the classes is limited this year. Your professors do not mind in which year you do the NSCAD courses.
• Priority goes to students who are graduating next year, and to first year Diploma students due to their tight schedules.
• For everyone else, registration is on a first come, first served basis. You should not be worried if you don’t get in this year. It’s not essential that you do the classes early, your time will come, and registration is guaranteed once you’re close to graduation.
• You therefore do not need to request a place in the classes next year unless you’re especially keen to do them next year for some reason.

A longer explanation

Recently, the Costume Studies BA programme was reorganized: the suggested time for doing the classes was moved NSCAD classes were moved from the 4th year of the BA to the 1st year. This means we’re currently in a transitional phase, and there will be a backlog of students waiting to take these classes. The Costume Studies teachers do not mind in which year you take the classes, so you should not be worried if you don’t do them in exactly the year specified in the calendar. Each year, we will prioritize students who are planning to graduate that year, because only they need to take the classes with urgency.

Are they offered in the summer?

In summer 2012, the Resist Dyeing class will be offered from May 7 to June 22, on Mondays and Thursdays 8.30am-12.30pm. If you are interested in taking this summer class, get in touch with me at david.nicol@dal.ca Advice on how to apply is here: http://drnicolsblog.wordpress.com/how-to-apply-for-the-summer-nscad-classes/

Times in Fall and Winter 2012-13

NSCAD’s timetables are available by clicking here. Please use them to double-check the information given below, to be on the safe side.

NSCAD has created 12-person sections of 3320 and 2100 at convenient times for Dalhousie students.

• THEA 3320 (Fabrics Lab) in the Fall Term, 8.30-12.30 on Thursdays.
• THEA 2100 (Intro to Resist Dyeing) is in the Winter Term, 8.30-12.30 on Thursdays.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE FALL AND WINTER COURSES, 3320 and 2100

Stage 1: Complete Dalhousie’s “Letter of Permission” form

You must complete Dalhousie’s Letter of Permission form, which permits you to take a class at another university. Click here to download the form.

Most of the form is self-explanatory, but here are some complicated bits:

• Under “Reason for taking class at another institution”, tick “Other”, and write “Class is required for Dalhousie Costume Studies programme”
• Under “Degree Programme”, write “BA Hons in Theatre (Costume Studies)” or “Diploma in Costume Studies”, whichever is appropriate
• Under “Will you be enroled in classes at Dalhousie…” tick “Yes”
• In the boxes underneath, enter the class(es) you’re taking. Write “NSCAD” for “University”, “TEXL” for “Subject”, “3320″ and “2100″ for the numbers and tick the Fall term for 3320 and Winter for 2100.
• Don’t forget to sign it!!

When you’ve completed it, take it to the Registrar’s Office to get it signed. They should be able to do it then and there. If not, they’ll mail it to you when it’s done.

Stage 2: Complete NSCAD’s ‘Course Selection Forms’

Next, you need to complete one of NSCAD’s ‘Course Selection Forms’ for each course you’re taking. Click here to download the form.

Remember, if you’re taking both courses, you need TWO forms. Again, most of this is easy, but some bits are tricky:

• Under ‘Semester’, write ‘Fall’ for 3320 and ‘Winter’ for 2100.
• Under ‘NSCAD ID number’ state that you’re a visiting student (unless you’ve studied at NSCAD before and have an ID number.
• In the ‘Add’ table, you enter the details of the class. Under ‘Code’ write ‘TEXL 2100′ or ‘TEXL 3320′. Leave ‘section’ blank. ‘Titles’ are ‘Introduction to Resist Dyeing’ (2100) and ‘Fabrics Laboratory’ (3320). ‘Credits’ is 3. Leave the others blank.
• Ignore the rest of the forms, but don’t forget to sign it!

Stage 3: Complete NSCAD’s ‘Non-Degree or Visiting Application for Admission’ Form

Finally, you need to complete the ‘Non-Degree or Visiting Application for Admission’ form. Remember that you are a “Visiting Student”, not “Non-Degree”. You only need to do this form once, so if you’ve studied at NSCAD before you won’t need it (instead, add your NSCAD ID no. to the Course Selection Forms. Click here to download the form. The scary warnings on the front page needn’t concern you if you follow my instructions.

The only difficult bit is the following:

• Section 4.1. Tick “Visiting student” and the term(s) in which you will be doing your classes.
• Don’t forget to sign it!!

Stage 4: Send or Take the Forms to NSCAD

You must give the NSCAD forms and the Dal Letter of Permission to NSCAD.

If you want to mail the forms, the address is 5163 Duke Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 3J6

If you prefer to submit them in person, take them to the NSCAD campus on the corner of Duke and Granville. Click here for a map. Go into the small Duke Street entrance. Go up the weird, windy stairs to the 2nd floor. Find the “Office of Student and Academic Services”. Give them the paperwork and your $100!

When must I do all this by?

The first course begins in September, but the NSCAD website says “Visiting Students should submit their documentation several weeks prior to being permitted to register, as all applications must be reviewed and this may take some time.”