Program Overview

Introduction to Ceramics Program

The Ceramics program at the College of Art & Design offers a comprehensive investigation of the ceramic material, its historical precedent, and its contemporary application for visual art. The program provides tracks in ceramics for both the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio Art and the Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art, as well as an undergraduate minor and a special student/post-baccalaureate program.

Program Curriculum

The ceramics curriculum includes:

• Wheel-throwing
• Hand-building
• Slip-casting
• Tile-making
• Raw material study
• Studio practice
• Methodology development
• Special topics classes
• Seminars that enhance critical thinking through writing, presentations, and critiques
  • Elective courses in art history and other studio arts supplement learning and insist on the integration of ideas across disciplines

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Ceramics

The undergraduate curriculum begins by giving each student a broad-based introduction to the many possibilities of ceramics. Intermediate courses provide specific instruction in process and technique as well as development of individual aesthetic direction. Ceramics students are given a semi-private studio and begin to matriculate through a series of advanced courses that build technical and critical skills both in ceramics and the field of visual arts. Advanced courses are focused on developing personal style and the creation of a body of work.

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Ceramics

Graduate-level students receive their own private work areas and are expected to work as maturing artists motivated by independent ideas. The program's success is reflected in the current rankings by US News & World Report, which places LSU as the seventh best MFA ceramics program in the nation.

Faculty and Resources

The Ceramics program is led by experienced faculty, including Michaelene Walsh, Associate Professor & Area Coordinator. Students have access to over 10,000 sq. feet of workspace, housing private MFA and semi-private BFA studios, as well as a kiln room and kiln pad featuring numerous electric kilns, 3 gas kilns, and one soda kiln. The facility also includes a full glaze mixing studio, a large walk-in spray booth, a ball mill, and a clay mixing room.

Beyond the Studio

The Ceramic Arts Student Association provides opportunities for students to foster strong interpersonal relationships among departmental members and acquire leadership traits. Visiting artists, scholars, and guest lecturers offer further opportunities for students to extend their creative interests and establish connections with artists from a variety of disciplines.

Facilities and Equipment

Students have access to a traditional wood-working shop, digital fabrication, photography, and lighting equipment, large-scale printers and scanners, an arboretum, a foundry, a motion capture studio, high-end work stations, and more. The School of Art hosts exhibitions throughout the year at its on- and off-campus galleries, providing students with abundant opportunities to see and experience innovative work from a wide range of perspectives and social themes.