Semester Requirements
Richard Hirsch, Professor
Jane Shellenbarger, Assistant Professor
(585) 475-6114, sac@rit.edu
http://cias.rit.edu/schools/american-crafts/undergraduate-ceramics
Program overview
The ceramics major has a deep focus on intellectual development, technical skill, and practical knowledge. The ultimate goal is to create an environment where intellectual discourse and craftsmanship can thrive. The studio supports a range of fundamental topics within ceramics, such as throwing, glazing, and firing, and emphasizes personal development with individual critiques and group discussions.
The major emphasizes practical training and education in preparation for ceramics-related employment. Students will learn how to operate a studio business and maintain equipment, manage galleries, teach, and interface with community projects. Studetns will also be exposed to a wide scope of visual arts and study their cultural relevance, through weekly seminars, visiting artists, trips to museums, and attendance at the National Ceramics Conference every spring.
Curriculum
Ceramics, BFA degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| LAS Foundation1: First-Year Seminar (SMTL) | 3 | |
| CIAS Studio Elective† | 3 | |
| FDTN-111 | Drawing I | 3 |
| FDTN-121 | 2D Design I | 3 |
| FDTN-131 | 3D Design I | 3 |
| ENGL-150 | LAS Foundation 2: Writing Seminar | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| FDTN-112 | Drawing II | 3 |
| FDTN-141 | 4D Design | 3 |
| FDTN-132 | 3D Design II | 3 |
| Wellness Education* | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| LAS Perspective 1, 3 | 6 | |
| ARTH-135 | LAS Perspective 2: Survey of Western Art and Architecture I | 3 |
| CCER-201 | Ceramics Sophomore I | 6 |
| CGEN-201 | Crafts Drawing Practice | 3 |
| ARTH-136 | LAS Perspective 4: Survey of Western Art and Architecture II | 3 |
| CCER-202 | Ceramics Sophomore II | 6 |
| CGEN-202 | Crafts CADD Drawing | 3 |
| Third Year | ||
| LAS Elective (SMTL) | 3 | |
| CCER-301 | Ceramics Junior I | 6 |
| Art History Electives‡ | 6 | |
| CIAS Studio Elective† | 3 | |
| LAS Immersion 1 | 3 | |
| CCER-302 | Ceramics Junior II | 6 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| LAS Immersion 2, 3 | 6 | |
| CCER-501 | Ceramics Senior I | 6 |
| CGEN-501 | Crafts Promotional Materials (WI) | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| CCER-502 | Ceramics Senior II | 6 |
| CGEN-502 | Crafts Business Practice | 3 |
| CIAS Studio Elective† | 3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.
(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
(SMTL) Refers to science, math, technical literacy requirement.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.
† CIAS Studio Electives are courses designated by lab or studio contact hours in the course description.
‡ Art History electives are non-studio courses offered in the colleges of Imaging Arts and Sciences or Liberal Arts that examine the historical aspects of art, design, crafts, photography, or film.
Art history electives
Students are required to select three art history electives to broaden their understanding of the historical development of the arts. Art history electives include:
ARTH-135 Survey of Western Art and Architecture I*
ARTH-136 Survey of Western Art and Architecture II*
ARTH-221 Contemporary Design Issues
ARTH-345 History to Architecture Interior and Furniture I†
ARTH-346 History to Architecture Interior and Furniture II†
ARTH-366 18th and 19th Century Art
ARTH-368 20th Century Art: 1900-1950
ARTH-369 20th Century Art: Since 1950
ARTH-373 Art of the Last Decade
ARTH-392 Theory and Criticism of 20th Century
ARTH-457 Art and Activism
ARTH-511 Art of Italy: 1250-1400
ARTH-512 Art of Italy: 1600-1750
ARTH-517 Art Florence and Rome: 15th Century
ARTH-518 Art Florence and Rome: 16th Century
ARTH-521 The Image
ARTH-541 Art and Architecture of Ancient Rome
ARTH-544 Illuminated Manuscripts
ARTH-554 Late Medieval Art
ARTH-558 The Gothic Revival
ARTH-561 Latin American Art
ARTH-566 Early Medieval Art
ARTH-568 Art and Technology: Machine Aesthetic Cyborg
ARTH-572 Art of the Americas
ARTH-573 Conceptual Art
ARTH-574 Dada and Surrealism
ARTH-576 Modernism and Realism
ARTH-577 Displaying Gender
ARTH-578 Edvard Munch
ARTH-582 Medieval Craft
ARTH-583 Installation Art
ARTH-584 Scandinavian Modernism
ARTH-586 Studies in Material Culture
ARTH-587 The Gothic Cathedral
ARTH-588 Symbols and Symbol-Making
* This course is required for students in majors in the schools of American Crafts, Art, Design, and Photographic Arts & Sciences (BFA programs only).
† This course is reauired for student majoring in interior design and furniture design.
Additional information
Studio Residency program
The School for American Crafts offers a Studio Residency program for students in ceramics, glass, metals and jewelry design, and furniture design. Residence positions are limited and are awarded after the review of all applicants’ portfolios, transcripts, and references. An interview is required. Accepted residents are required to register for one independent study credit during each semester of residence.
Accepted residents are expected to be present in their assigned studio during class hours and to contribute up to 10 hours of work per week in the main studio. These work hours are coordinated and overseen by the faculty in the resident's discipline. In exchange, the school will provide workspace, access to facilities, and supportive instruction. The resident is invited to participate in the full range of studio activities.
Participants may be those seeking additional studio experience prior to undergraduate or graduate study, early career professionals, or teachers on leave who wish to work again in an academic studio environment. The faculty in each discipline will make decisions concerning appropriate candidates.
Inquiries should be made to the Studio Residency Program, School for American Crafts, College of Imaging Arts and Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, 73 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623-5603.
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Click to view program requirements in the Quarter Calendar
Quarter Curriculum - For Reference Only
Effective fall 2013, RIT will convert its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. The following content has been made available as reference only. Currently matriculated students who began their academic programs in quarters should consult their academic adviser for guidance and course selection.
Program overview
As an internationally recognized school that merges art with craft, the School for American Crafts is a leader in crafts education. Our programs provide an educational experience that balances technical expertise with aesthetic expression in the creative and practical understanding of wood, metal, clay, and glass.
Our educational objectives seek to stimulate creative imagination and technical invention, develop knowledge of process and command of skills, and foster appreciation not only of the crafts but also the related arts. The programs strive to inspire the student to seek continual improvement through analysis and self-evaluation.
Curriculum
Semester conversion
Effective fall 2013, RIT will convert its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. Each program and its associated courses have been sent to the New York State Department of Education for approval of the semester plan. For reference, the following charts illustrate the typical course sequence for this program in both quarters and semesters. Students should consult their academic advisers with questions regarding planning and course selection.
Ceramics and Ceramic Sculpture, BFA degree, typical course sequence (quarters)
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| Freshman Elective | 6 | |
| 2013-211, 212, 213 | Drawing I, II, III | 9 |
| 2013-231, 232, 233 | 2D Design I, II, III | 9 |
| 2013-241, 242, 243 | 3D Design I, II, III | 9 |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| 1720-050, 052 | First-Year Enrichment | 2 |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| Second Year‡ | ||
| 2039-225, 226, 227 | Survey of Western Art and Architecture I, II, III | 9 |
| 2040-301, 302, 303 | Materials and Processes Ceramics, Sophomore | 18 |
| 2045-311 | Concept Drawing | 3 |
| 2045-312 | Craft Technical Drawing | 3 |
| 2045-xxx | Design Processes | 3 |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| 2040-401, 402, 403 | Materials and Processes Ceramics, Junior | 18 |
| Art History Electives§ | 9 | |
| Open Electives | 9 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| 2040-501, 502, 503 | Materials and Processes Ceramics, Senior | 18 |
| 2045-511 | Planning a Career in the Crafts | 3 |
| 2045-512 | Crafts Promotional Package | 3 |
| 2045-513 | Operating a Business in the Crafts | 3 |
| Open Electives | 9-12 | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 182-188 | |
* Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information.
† Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.
‡ Upon completion of second year, the associate in applied science degree is awarded.
§ Please refer to the list of art history electives.
Program title change
Effective fall 2013, the BFA program in ceramics and ceramic sculpture will be renamed ceramics. This change will not affect currently matriculated students.
Ceramics, BFA degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| LAS Foundation1: First-Year Seminar (SMTL) | 3 | |
| CIAS Studio Elective† | 3 | |
| FDTN-111 | Drawing I | 3 |
| FDTN-121 | 2D Design I | 3 |
| FDTN-131 | 3D Design I | 3 |
| ENGL-150 | LAS Foundation 2: Writing Seminar | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| FDTN-112 | Drawing II | 3 |
| FDTN-141 | 4D Design | 3 |
| FDTN-132 | 3D Design II | 3 |
| Wellness Education* | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| LAS Perspective 1, 3 | 6 | |
| ARTH-135 | LAS Perspective 2: Survey of Western Art and Architecture I | 3 |
| CCER-201 | Ceramics Sophomore I | 6 |
| CGEN-201 | Crafts Drawing Practice | 3 |
| ARTH-136 | LAS Perspective 4: Survey of Western Art and Architecture II | 3 |
| CCER-202 | Ceramics Sophomore II | 6 |
| CGEN-202 | Crafts CADD Drawing | 3 |
| Third Year | ||
| LAS Elective (SMTL) | 3 | |
| CCER-301 | Ceramics Junior I | 6 |
| Art History Electives‡ | 6 | |
| CIAS Studio Elective† | 3 | |
| LAS Immersion 1 | 3 | |
| CCER-302 | Ceramics Junior II | 6 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| LAS Immersion 2, 3 | 6 | |
| CCER-501 | Ceramics Senior I | 6 |
| CGEN-501 | Crafts Promotional Materials (WI) | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| CCER-502 | Ceramics Senior II | 6 |
| CGEN-502 | Crafts Business Practice | 3 |
| CIAS Studio Elective† | 3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.
(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
(SMTL) Refers to science, math, technical literacy requirement.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.
† CIAS Studio Electives are courses designated by lab or studio contact hours in the course description.
‡ Art History electives are non-studio courses offered in the colleges of Imaging Arts and Sciences or Liberal Arts that examine the historical aspects of art, design, crafts, photography, or film.
Art history electives
Students are required to select three art history electives to broaden their understanding of the historical development of the arts. Art history electives include:
2039-300 History of Design
2039-306 Architecture Interior and Furniture Design I
2039-307 Architecture Interior and Furniture Design II
2039-308 Architecture Interior and Furniture Design III
2039-310 History of Crafts
2039-315 Pre-Columbian Art
2039-316 Florence and Rome 1400-1470
2039-317 Florence and Rome 1470-1520
2039-318 Florence and Rome 1520-1590
2039-320 History of Art Criticism
2039-330 Philosophy in Art
2039-340 Symbols and Symbol Making
2039-355 Latin American Art
2039-360 18th and 19th Century Art
2039-368 Scandinavian Modernism
2039-375 20th Century Art Since 1950
2039-376 Renaissance Painting in Flanders
2039-385 Installation Art
2039-390 Native American Art and Culture
2039-395 Theory and Criticism of 20th Century Art
2039-410 The Art of Art History
2039-415 Thinking About Making
2039-425 Public Art/Public Spaces
2039-430 Dada and Surrealism
2039-433 What Is Post Modernism?
2039-435 Art of the Last Decade
2039-438 Body in Art
2039-440 Conceptual Art
2039-443 Art and Technology: From the Machine Aesthetic to the Cyborg Age
2039-452 Art and Activism
2039-459 Art Central Italy 1250-1400
2039-469 Baroque Rome
Additional information
Crafts residency program
The School for American Crafts offers a crafts residence program for participants accepted in the ceramics and ceramic sculpture, glass, metalcrafts and jewelry, and woodworking and furniture design disciplines. Residence positions are limited and awarded based on the review of an application, which consists of a portfolio, transcripts, and references. An interview is required. Accepted studio residents are required to register for at least two credits of independent study during every quarter of residence. These two credits can be taken as an audit, thus reducing the tuition cost to the resident.
Accepted residents are expected to attend their major studio courses during class hours and to contribute up to 10 hours of work per week in the major studio. These work hours will be coordinated and overseen by the faculty in the program area. In exchange, the school will provide workspace, access to facilities, and supportive instruction. The residents are invited to participate in the full range of studio activities.
Residence program participants may be individuals seeking additional studio experience prior to undergraduate or graduate study, early career professionals, or teachers on leave who wish to work in an academic studio environment. The faculty in each program area will make decisions concerning appropriate candidates.