Artwork by Anna Wagner
The ceramics curriculum offers students the opportunity to explore a variety of building techniques, with an emphasis on idea-based making and thoughtful integration of form and surface. Students develop a strong technical understanding of the material by mixing their own clays and glazes and firing a variety of kilns. They develop skills in all major forming methods, including hand-building, throwing on the potter鈥檚 wheel, and slip casting. The curriculum builds on this foundation, guiding students toward an increasingly independent and self-directed studio practice.
Artwork by Wes Hart
The studio atmosphere is one of exploration, excitement, hard work, and fun. Idea-based projects encourage students to think deeply and creatively about their reasons for making and the aesthetic choices that inform their work. The ceramics studio is a vibrant community space filled with creative energy and students committed to exploring and developing their artistic identities.
The Department of Art and Design’s Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts has a fully equipped 3,750 sq ceramics studio with materials and facilities that support the making and firing of a wide range of clay bodies, and glazes in both electric and gas kilns.
Artwork by Sylvia Hardin
The program hosts nationally and internationally recognized visiting artists through a rotating schedule of potters, sculptors, and slip casters. These visits are often connected to exhibitions of the artists鈥� work in the Baum Gallery. Past visiting artists have included Jonathan Christensen-Caballero, Chase Earls, Joe Page, Justin Novak, Lisa Orr, Jeff Oestrich, Tony Hepburn, Tomio Fujita, Gina Bobrowski, Heather Alexander, Curt LaCrosse, and Mike Jabbur.
Artwork by Tim Daulong
Degree Requirements
BFA Major in Studio Art (83 hours of Art)
The degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) requires successful completion of 120 hours, whose required components include (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements (see UCA Core requirements and note that ART 2325, 2335, or 2336鈥攔equired for Art majors and minors鈥攆ulfills the LD UCA Core requirement in Critical Analysis, Fine Arts/Humanities) and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated courses (again, see UCA Core requirements); (2) 83 hours of art and design courses in an approved BFA major in Studio Art and emphasis degree plan as described below; (3) and electives to bring total credit hours to 120. Art and design courses must follow a prerequisite structure. A minor is not required. This degree may require more than the normal eight semesters to complete. Students with a 2.5 cumulative GPA and a 3.25 major GPA on a minimum of 24 hours of art may apply for acceptance to the BFA program after completing the Major Advancement Portfolio Review (MAP). Students are strongly encouraged to follow the semester-by-semester structure in the published BFA Academic Map. As such, this document is to be used as a checksheet to evaluate the student鈥檚 progress through the degree in a course-by-course manner.
In order to complete the state-mandated minimum number of hours for core requirements in general education, art majors are required to complete a Humanities course in either the Diversity category or in the Responsible Living category.
Links to Degree Planning聽
For additional information, including Sample Degree Plans and Check sheets for this and other of our degrees, please see聽Degree Check Sheets聽& Advising Tools
