Ceramics

Graduate school is meant to be the transition from academic, institutional learning to self-disciplined, self-motivated learning. It is a time to prepare oneself for the relatively solitary demands of professional studio life. Each student is given an advisor at the beginning of their graduate study, to assist in choosing courses and discussing the development of his or her work in the studio. There is also a Graduate Seminar for Ceramics - which typically includes students from other diciplines - which provides a weekly forum for readings, discussion, and group critiques. These structures provide a structure for development of work and ideas, while allowing the student self-direction as to the nature of his or her work.

Since this is an interdisciplinary Department of Fine Arts, cross-fertilization between art making disciplines occurs primarily because all graduate students in the varying disciplines have studios in one building. The academic structure of the program fosters critical dialogue between peers in every area. With this in mind, graduate students are free to seek teaching instructorships and assistantships in all areas depending on their knowledge, experience, and skills. It is common for ceramic graduate students to teach in other areas of the department; recent graduate students have had assistantships in drawing, sculpture, the Visiting Artist program, the Visual Resource Center, and the CU Galleries, as well as in ceramics.

The ceramic area awards two or three teaching jobs and technical assistantships to graduate students each semester. These jobs and assistantships throughout the department are competitive and awarded according to the merit of the candidate's work. For prospective students, it is strongly encouraged you come for a visit and see the school firsthand. The opportunity to speak with the ceramic faculty, see the facility and studio spaces, and speak to other graduate students is extremely helpful in your decision making process.