Through lectures and critiques, students explore the history of ceramics and the issues and ideas that underpin contemporary work.
The program emphasizes universal design principles and development of technical proficiency. Faculty who are themselves accomplished ceramic artists teach techniques, treatments and properties associated with clay, as well as forming, texture, color, surface decoration, glazing, firing and more. Outstanding facilities include a kiln pavilion that has five atmospheric kilns: exploratory research, production soda, large-scale sculpture, hybrid gas/soda/wood and a Sanderson ECO wood train.Through study and studio work, and hands-on experience with these kilns, students produce a comprehensive body of work.
Secondary art teachers find the program ideal for obtaining continuing education credits or adding a ceramic arts focus to their teaching. Working artists and those considering a career in the field — perhaps in a gallery, production, a supply house or as an independent artist — benefit from courses in art management and marketing. The capstone project makes further career connections as students explore and define how their personal aesthetics communicate and connect with people in a way that is professionally viable.
Courses are concentrated in a series of intensive weekends throughout the year or in rigorous one-week and two-week sessions during the summer, allowing students to complete the program in as little as a year if they wish. Credits may be applied toward Hood’s M.A. or MFA in Ceramic Arts.
The Hood College Graduate School also offers workshops, studio courses and events designed to allow ceramic artists, both experienced and aspiring, to gain specialized knowledge in the field.
Please note that graduate certificate programs are now eligible for loans.
The certificate includes 14 credits of required coursework and a minimum of 4 credits of electives for a total of at least 18 credits.
| ARTS 501 | Glaze Application | 1.0 |
| ARTS 502 | East Asian Wedged Coil Technique | 1.0 |
| ARTS 505 | Ceramic Wheel: Masters' Throwing Concepts | 2.0 |
| ARTS 508 | Ceramic Sculpture | 3.0 |
| ARTS 523 | Ceramic Materials | 3.0 |
| ARTS 569 | Survival Skills for Visual Artists | 1.0 |
| ARTS 570 | Seminar in Personal Studio Research | 3.0 |
| ARTS 500 | Ceramics:Sculpture/Handbuilding | 3.0 |
| ARTS 503 | Ceramic Wheel: Intensive Throwing | 3.0 |
| ARTS 504 | Ceramic Decoration | 3.0 |
| ARTS 506 | Ceramic Wheel: Masters' Throwing II | 2.0 |
| ARTS 507 | Plates and Platters | 1.0 |
| ARTS 509 | Throwing Large Forms | 3.0 |
| ARTS 510 | Brush Making | 1.0 |
| ARTS 512 | Eastern & Western Tech in Trimming | 1.0 |
| ARTS 517 | Dynamic and Asymmetrical Wheel | 3.0 |
| ARTS 520 | Photographing Ceramics | 1.0 |
| ARTS 525 | Electric Kilns | 1.0 |
| ARTS 530 | Kiln Technology & Firing Theory | 2.0 |
| ARTS 531 | Wood Firing Theory | 2.0 |
| ARTS 532 | Firing Large Scale Wood Kiln | 2.0 |
| ARTS 540 | Clay/Glaze Chemistry Theory & Practice | 3.0 |
| ARTS 542 | Modeling the Figure | 3.0 |
| ARTS 543 | History of Ceramic Arts | 3.0 |
| ARTS 545 | Large Scale and Composite Sculpture | 3.0 |
| ARTS 547 | Creating with Porcelain | 3.0 |
| ARTS 564 | Aesthetics and Criticism | 3.0 |
| ARTS 575 | Independent Study | 1.0 - 3.0 |
| ARTS 590 | Teaching Assistant in Ceramic Arts | 1.0 - 4.0 |
| ARTS 599 | Special Topics in Ceramic Arts | 1.0 - 3.0 |
The 18 credits required to earn the Graduate Certificate in Ceramic Arts can be completed in one year.
Candidates for the certificate program must have obtained a prior baccalaureate degree as a studio arts major, art education major or equivalent training in the arts. Students with an undergraduate degree in an area other than ceramics who provide evidence of life experience, skill and drive in the arts may be accepted at the discretion of the program director.
To be considered for admission to the certificate program, students must meet the following admission requirements:
To register for any of the below workshops, enter our secure registration site.
ARTS 599 CN Creating Narrative - Instructor: Brian McNamara - Workshop Price $225
ARTS 502 East Asian Coil - Instructor: Ray Chen - Workshop Price $225
ARTS 599 PP Shigaraki Clay - Instructor: Jason Laney- Workshop Price $225
ARTS 599 JJ - Tea Bowl Carving - Instructor: Jason Laney- Workshop Price $450
ARTS 508 Ceramic Sculpture - Instructor: Jenny Reed- Workshop Price $675
ARTS 533 Soda Firing - Instructor: Jenna Gianni- Workshop Price $450
To register for any of the below workshops, enter our secure registration site.
ARTS 547 Creating with Porcelain - Instructor: Natalia Kormeluk- Workshop Price $675
ARTS 569 Survival Skills for the Artist - Instructor: Chaz Martinsen- Workshop Price $675
ARTS 542 Modeling the Figure - Instructor: Toby Mendez- Workshop Price $675
ARTS 517 Dynamic and Asymmetric Wheel - Instructor: Yoshi Fujii- Workshop Price $675
ARTS 520 Photographing Ceramics - Instructor: Tim Jacobsen- Workshop Price $450
ARTS 525 Electric Kilns - Instructor: Chaz Martinsen- Workshop Price $450
Program Director
Assistant Director of Graduate Admission
Lillian Ding graduated from Hood College with an MFA in Ceramic Arts in September 2020. She received First Prize in 2018 and the President’s Choice Award in 2019 at Hood’s Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition Awards Ceremony.
Chaz Martinsen, MFA, joins the Ceramic Arts program this fall as its new program director.
"Hood College’s ceramics program is so unique as it offers a robust spectrum of classes that teach graduate students everything from the most basic to the more advanced aspects of ceramics."