Major in Art (B.F.A.), Pottery Concentration
Program Overview
This B.F.A. in Art (Pottery) program at Colorado State University immerses students in contemporary ceramic art, fostering critical thinking, technical skills, and an artistic voice. The curriculum emphasizes conceptual development, materials-based learning, and experimentation, culminating in a capstone showcasing the student's artistic depth and understanding of ceramics. Students benefit from well-equipped studio facilities and dedicated faculty mentorship.
Program Outline
The program emphasizes the development of critical, technical, and manual skills, encouraging students to explore forming and decorating processes and technology. The curriculum includes issues and debates in contemporary crafts, sculpture, architecture, design, and studio pottery. Faculty mentors guide students in refining their artistic voice through ceramics, encouraging conceptual development and materials-based learning. Students have access to a well-equipped studio facility with materials and tools for experimentation. The capstone experience culminates in a defined body of work demonstrating conceptual rigor and depth of choices connecting the material and the visual.
Outline:
Freshman Year:
- Semester 1:
- ART 105 Issues and Practices in Art (1 credit)
- ART 110 Global Art History I (3 credits)
- ART 135 Foundations - Form and Observation (3 credits)
- ART 160 Foundations - Color and Composition (3 credits)
- CO 150 College Composition (GT-CO2) (3 credits)
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (3 credits)
- Semester 2:
- ART 111 Global Art History II (3 credits)
- ART 120 Foundations--Time and Structure (3 credits)
- ART 170 Foundations - Materials and Space (3 credits)
- Arts and Humanities (3 credits)
- Quantitative Reasoning (3 credits)
Sophomore Year:
- Semester 3:
- ART 212 Global Art History III (3 credits)
- Select two courses from the following:
- ART 230 Photo Image Making I
- ART 235 Drawing Materials and Techniques
- ART 245 Metalsmithing and Jewelry I
- ART 250 Fibers I
- ART 255 Introduction to Graphic Design
- ART 256 Introduction to Electronic Art
- ART 260 Painting I--Fundamentals and Representation
- ART 265 Introduction to Printmaking
- ART 270 Sculpture I
- Biological and Physical Sciences (3 credits)
- Historical Perspectives (3 credits)
- Semester 4:
- ART 240 Pottery I (3 credits)
- Select one course from the following not previously taken:
- ART 230 Photo Image Making I
- ART 235 Drawing Materials and Techniques
- ART 245 Metalsmithing and Jewelry I
- ART 250 Fibers I
- ART 255 Introduction to Graphic Design
- ART 256 Introduction to Electronic Art
- ART 260 Painting I--Fundamentals and Representation
- ART 265 Introduction to Printmaking
- ART 270 Sculpture I
- Upper-Division Art History (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) (3 credits)
- Biological and Physical Sciences (3 credits)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 credits)
Junior Year:
- Semester 5:
- ART 340 Pottery II (4 credits)
- Art Elective (3 credits)
- Upper-Division Art History (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) (3 credits)
- Advanced Writing (3 credits)
- Arts and Humanities (3 credits)
- Semester 6:
- ART 341 Pottery III (4 credits)
- Upper-Division Art Elective (4 credits)
- Upper-Division Non-Art Elective (3 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
Senior Year:
- Semester 7:
- ART 440 Pottery IV (4 credits)
- Upper-Division Non-Art Elective (3 credits)
- Non-Art Electives (any level) (6 credits)
- Semester 8:
- ART 400 BFA Portfolio (1 credit)
- ART 441 Pottery V (4 credits)
- Upper-Division Art Elective (4 credits)
- Upper-Division Non-Art Electives (6 credits)
Upper-Division Art History Courses:
- ART 309 Pre-Columbian Art of the Andes (3 credits)
- ART 310 History of American Art to 1945 (3 credits)
- ART 311 Art of West and Central Africa (3 credits)
- ART 312 Pre-Columbian Art of Mesoamerica (3 credits)
- ART 313 Art of East and Southern Africa (3 credits)
- ART 314 Women in Art History (3 credits)
- ART 315 United States Art 1945-1980 (3 credits)
- ART 316 Art of the Pacific (3 credits)
- ART 317 Native North American Art (3 credits)
- ART 320 Global Encounters in Art (3 credits)
- ART 409 Museum Collections--Storage to Exhibition (3 credits)
- ART 410 Greek Art (3 credits)
- ART 411 History of Medieval Art (3 credits)
- ART 412 History of Renaissance Art (3 credits)
- ART 414 History of Baroque and Rococo Art (3 credits)
- ART 415 History of 19th Century European Art (3 credits)
- ART 416 History of European Art, 1900 to 1945 (3 credits)
- ART 417 Roman Art (3 credits)
- ART 418 Contemporary Artists and Art Critics (3 credits)
- ART 420 Travel Abroad-Art History in Italy (3-5 credits)
- ART 492A Seminar: Art History (3 credits)
- ART 496H Group Study: Art History (3 credits)
Other:
The program requires a minimum grade of C (2.000) or better in ART 340, ART 341, ART 440, and ART 441. Students are encouraged to have their portfolio reviewed by the end of their third semester. The program requires a minimum of 120 credits, with at least 42 being upper-division (300- to 400-level).
