BFA.CER.120 - BFA in Ceramics
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2025 - 2026 | Curriculum | 4-year program
Sophomores are introduced to sculpture and pottery through the processes of throwing, hand-building, mold-making, glazing and firing. Technique is integrated with ideas, aesthetics and personal expression in the context of contemporary and historical ceramic practice. Juniors move beyond the studio and into the world through commissions and community-engaged projects. Digital technology is central in the Materials Research class for clay, glaze and advanced kiln firing approaches.
Learning outcomes
Graduates of the BFA program are prepared to:
demonstrate proficiency in ceramic construction skills (hand-building, slip-casting, mold-making, and wheel-throwing) along with clay and glaze composition and effects of the firing sequence.
develop work for different contexts, including indoor and outdoor installation, tile-work and tableware for restaurants.
articulate the effects of ceramics in various environments (gallery, home, restaurant, architectural), including consideration of visual, functional, environmental and political aspects.
understand the effects of new technologies on the field.
identify and commit to focused study of a particular field in ceramics, such as sculpture, environmental arts, architecture, pottery or design.
First year | |||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | |||||
15 | studio elective | 3 | 12 | ||||
Sophomore | |||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | |||||
CER 4103 - Moldmaking and Slipcasting | 3 | optional | CER 4108 - Pottery | 6 | |||
CER 4121 - Object as Idea in Clay | 3 | CER 4132 - Figure Modeling | 3 | ||||
CER 4115 - Ceramics: Global Perspectives | 3 | Liberal Arts | 3 | ||||
Liberal Arts | 6 | Liberal Arts or non-major studio elective | 3 | ||||
total credits | 15 | total credits | 15 | ||||
Junior | |||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | |||||
CER 4114 - Topics in Ceramic Material Science | 3 | optional | CER 4129 - Ceramic Sculpture | 6 | |||
major studio elective | 3 | major studio elective | 3 | ||||
Liberal Arts | 6 | Liberal Arts | 6 | ||||
non-major studio elective | 3 | ||||||
total credits | 15 | total credits | 15 | ||||
Senior | |||||||
FALL | WINTERSESSION | SPRING | |||||
CER 4116 - Senior Tutorial Studio | 3 | optional | CER 4198 - Senior Thesis | 9 | |||
major studio elective | 3 | Ceramics directed elective | 3 | ||||
Liberal Arts | 6 | Liberal Arts or non-major studio elective | 3 | ||||
non-major studio elective | 3 | ||||||
total credits | 15 | total credits | 15 | ||||
notes:
LIBERAL ARTS - 39 TOTAL CREDITS, 30 TAKEN AFTER THE FIRST YEAR including HPSS S301. See Liberal Arts Division for specific requirements.
MAJOR ELECTIVES - 9 CREDITS in Ceramics taken during the junior and senior year; students will work with a faculty advisor to determine their course of study. Courses that satisfy this requirement include CER 3208 Ceramics & Print, CER 4175 Advanced Pottery & Ceramic Production, CER 4106 Clay in Context and CER 3311 - Digital Ceramics.
CERAMICS DIRECTED ELECTIVE - 3 CREDITS chosen in consultation with faculty advisor.
NON-MAJOR ELECTIVES - 12 CREDITS from studio subjects outside of Ceramics.