The ceramics department offers students the opportunity to explore a variety of building techniques from hand-built sculptural construction and throwing on a potter's wheel to making plaster molds and slip casting. The students achieve a technical understanding of the material by mixing their own clays and glazes and firing a variety of kilns. Students are simultaneously encouraged to experiment and to develop their visual and conceptual skills.

The art department has a fully equipped ceramics studio with materials that allow for making and firing every type of clay body from earthenware to porcelain.  There are multiple electric kilns plus two gas kilns, one large enough for single pieces up to 4 feet tall, and a recently built wood kiln.  There is at least one nationally or internationally known visiting artist per year on a rotating schedule of potters, sculptors and slip casters, often these are linked to an exhibition of the artists work in the UCA Baum Gallery.  Recent visitors include Joe Page, Justin Novak, Lisa Orr, Jeff Oestrich, Tony Hepburn, Tomio Fujita, Heather Alexander, Jeannie Hulan, Adam Posnak, Edie Tsong, and Gina Bobroski.

The studio atmosphere is one of exploration, excitement, hard work and fun. Many topics are covered, from the technical;  mixing our own clays and glazes and firing a range of kilns at a variety of temperatures, to the conceptual; idea based projects that push students to think deeply and creatively about their reasons for making and their aesthetic choices.  There is an active Clay Club which students who have taken ceramics are encouraged to join.

BFA Major in Studio Art (80 hours of Art)

This degree requires a minimum of 127 hours, including 80 hours of art and art history, 44 hours of general education (see BFA Model Plan of Study and General Education Program check sheet), 3 hours of foreign language at the 2000 level, and 40 hours upper division credit. No minor is required. Art courses must follow a prerequisite structure. This degree may require more than the normal eight semesters to complete.

Students must complete the 38 hours of core courses, area studies and art history, 21 hours in an approved studio emphasis, and 21 hours in BFA required courses to complete 80 hours of art classes  Acceptance to the BFA degree program requires faculty approval of the BFA application which includes the application form declaring emphasis being pursued, a typewritten statement, slides or digital images of at least 12 works, and a copy of a current UCA transcript.  Applications may be submitted each fall and spring semester. A minimum of 23 hours in art is required after acceptance to the BFA program, including ART 4300, 4301, 4675, 4150,  4160, 4372, and 6 hours of art in a special degree plan.

Core Courses (12 hours)

These four classes are required:

ART  1310     2-D Design      Offered fall, spring, summer

ART  1321     Drawing I         Offered fall, spring, summer

ART  2312     3-D  Design      Offered fall, spring

ART 2322      Drawing II, Life     Offered fall, spring

Area Studies (14 hours)

These three classes are required:

ART 3324     Drawing III, Advanced Life Drawing     Offered spring
                        Prerequisites:  Art 1310, 1321, and 2322                     

ART 2140     Portfolio Assessment     Offered fall
                       Prerequisites: ART 1310, 1321, 2312, 2322;
                       3 hours from 2325, 2335, 2336           

ART 3140      Portfolio Assessment II     Offered spring
                        Prerequisite: ART 2140                    

Select one from Category A and one from Category B

Category A:

            ART 3361     Sculpture I     Offered fall
                                   Prerequisites:  ART 2312 and 3 hours drawing

            ART 3379     Ceramics I     Offered fall, spring
                                   Prerequisites: ART 2312 and 3 hours drawing      
                     

            ART 3350      Fibers     Offered spring, even years
                                   Prerequisites: ART 2312 and 3 hours drawing    

            ART 3315     Contemporary Media in 3D    Offered spring
                                   Prerequisites: ART 2140 and 3 hours 3000-level studio classes    

Category B:

            ART 3318     Photography I     Offered fall, spring
                                   Prerequisites: ART 1310 and 3 hours drawing                           
          
           ART 3330     Illustration I     Offered fall
                                 Prerequisites: ART 1310 and 3 hours drawing
          
            ART 3332     Painting I         Offered fall
                                  Prerequisites: ART 1310 and 3 hours drawing                           

            ART 3334     Watercolor I     Offered fall
                                   Prerequisites: ART 1310 and 3 hours drawing                          

            ART 3353     Graphic Design I   Offered fall, spring
                                   Prerequisites: ART 1310 and 3 hours drawing                            

            ART 3343     Printmaking I         Offered spring
                                  Prerequisites: ART 1310 and 3 hours drawing

Select one additional class from category A or category B, OR
        ART 3304      Introduction to Art Education    Offered spring
                                Prerequisites: ART 1310 or 2312, 1321

Art History (12 hours)

These two classes are required:

        ART 2335     Art History, Prehistoric-Medieval   Offered fall, spring

        ART 2336     Art History, Renaissance-Modern         Offered fall, spring

Select two of the following:

        ART 3301     Modern Art     Offered fall

        ART 3302     History of American Art     Offered spring

        ART 3303     Nineteenth Century Art History   Offered spring

        ART 3307     Arts of Africa    Offered spring, odd years

        ART 3311     Ancient South American Art     Offered spring

        ART 3329     Ancient Mesoamerican Art    Offered spring, even years

        ART 3365     Women in Art     Offered fall

        ART 3385     Art of India    Offered on demand

        ART 3395     Art of Japan     Offered on demand

ART 3150     BFA Folio        Offered fall, spring
                        Prerequisite: Acceptance to the BFA program

ART 4150     BFA Professional Orientation        Offered fall, spring
                       Prerequisite: Departmental approval

ART 4325     Drawing IV, Experimental        Offered fall
                       Prerequisites: ART 2140, 3324

ART 4372     Senior Seminar        Offered fall
                       Prerequisites: Senior standing and 9 hours of art history

ART 4675     BFA Intership        Offered fall, spring, summer
                        Prerequisites: Written proposal and departmental approval
                        semester prior to enrollment   
                        Note: A maximum of 12 hours of variable credit courses in art may
                        be applied to the BFA degree

         
ART 4300     BFA Studio Practicum            Offered fall, spring
                        Prerequisites: Written proposal and departmental approval
                        semester prior to enrollment  

ART 4301     BFA Studio Practicum       Offered fall, spring
                        Prerequisite: ART 4300

ART 4160     BFA Exhibit        Offered fall, spring
                        Prerequisite: Departmental approval

ART 3343      Printmaking I        Offered spring
                        Prerequisites: ART 1310 and 3 hours drawing

ART 3350      Fibers            Offered fall
                        Prerequisites: ART 2312 and 3 hours drawing

ART 3353      Graphic Design I        Offered fall, spring
                        Prerequisites: ART 1310 and 3 hours drawing

ART 3315      Contemporary Media in 3-D        Offered spring
                        Prerequisites: ART 2140, 3 hours 3000-level studio

ART 4371      Directed Studio Problem        Offered fall, spring
                        Prerequisites: 3 hours  ART 4388, written proposal and
                        departmental approval semester prior to enrollment
                        Note: A maximum of 12 hours of variable credit courses in art may
                         be applied to the BFA degree


*For more information see the Undergraduate Bulletin

   For detailed course information and descriptions, see Courses in Art

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To download BFA/Ceramic Emphasis Checklist, click here: Ceramics Checklist

To download pdf of the General Education Checklist, click here:
General Education Checklist. 

To download BFA Studio Program Completion Plan, click here: BFA Studio

To download BFA application, click here: BFA Application

To download BFA Studo Practicum Guidlines, click here: BFA Studio Practicum

To download Individual Study Guidelines, click here: Individual Study

To download Directed Study Guidelines (ART 4102, 4202, 4302), click here:
Directed Study

To download Art Internship Guidelines (ART 4375, 4675), click here: Art Internship 

Note: Program information updated on July 2012.