I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Ceramics: Beginning Hand Building

2. Course Prefix & Number:
ARTS 1487

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 2

Lab Hours: 2

4. Course Description:

This course focuses on creative three-dimensional design in clay emphasizing hand construction methods. Further emphasis is on surface treatment, the nature of clay and glaze, bisque and glaze firing. Study of aesthetics through the student's work as well as historical and contemporary masters of various cultures. This course is recommended for art majors and minors and fulfills liberal arts requirements for non-art majors. MnTC Goal 6

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

Next Gen Reading

Score:

237

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

8. Prerequisite (Entry) Skills:
Must have the basic ability to manipulate clay and use art tools such as brushes and modeling tools.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

III. Course Purpose

2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:
Goal 6 – Humanities and Fine Arts

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Analyze and follow a sequence of operations	Follow the multiple step process involved in making ceramic art
Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations	Fabricate unique objects responding to a specific visual problem

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

Expected Outcome	MnTC Goal Area
Basic understanding of ceramic terms, technology and materials	6
Use various hand building methods to create objects	6
Critique work, one’s own and that of peers, in progress and finished	6

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Clay Preparation:

a) Wedging
b) Wetting Clay
c) Drying Clay

2. Construction Methods

a) Pinch
b) Coil
c) Slab: Soft and Hard Slab Construction

3. Non Glaze Surface

a) Clay
b) Engobe/Slip/Underglaze

4. Decorating

a) Brush Work
b) Sgraffitto
c) Paper Resist
d) Wax Resist/Line Inlay
e) Mishma

5. Glaze Application

a) Pouring
b) Dipping and
c) Brushing

6. Technical

a) Glaze Theory
b) Clay Theory
c) Ceramic Safety Issues
d) Kilns and Equipment: loading, firing and unloading

Projects are introduced through slides of contemporary and historical example with discussion of expression and aesthetics

Major projects include individual or full class critiques addressing expressive, aesthetic and technical issues

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions

1. Various Projects Exploring Construction Methods Including:

a) Pinch
b) Coil
c) Slab

2. Surfaces Development Through the Use of:

a) Engobe/Slip methods
b) Glaze, dipping and pouring
c) Oxide/Colorant wash
d) Glaze methods
e) Non-traditional glaze

3. Kilns

a) Loading
b) Firing
c) Unloading