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Study Ceramics

Our ceramics minor encourages students to create and explore through clay. Craft decorative or functional objects to reflect your voice and vision.

Program Snapshot

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Major

15

4 Years

PNCA Campus

Person working on ceramic mugs in a pottery studio with large windows and pottery kilns in the background.

Our Ceramics Minor

Work in our ceramics studio to deepen your practice or expand your entrepreneurial strategies. Delve into glazing techniques, learn about kiln methods, and explore texture design. By minoring in ceramics, students will also learn wheel throwing, slab building, and free-form sculpting. Explore art and design through clay creations.

Why choose a ceramics minor at PNCA:

  • We offer ceramic studios equipped with everything you need. Our sculpture studio houses our ceramic studio with glass kilns for fusing and slumping. Students can experiment with all of PNCA's labs and facilities to connect ceramics with other disciplines.
  • Opportunities to showcase your craft. Display your work in on-campus and off-campus galleries. Senior Thesis provides another opportunity to discuss and exhibit your craft.
  • Support for an artistic career. Combine your ceramics minor with any major. No matter your interests, our Office of Career Design will help you navigate your career path after graduation.

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Our Faculty
Our faculty members are working artists and ceramicists. They understand the trends of the industry, and will help guide you along your journey within a small classroom environment. Students can also learn from visiting artists, workshops, gallery walks, and First Thursdays.
Dylan Beck standing next to his sculptures.

Curriculum

Our ceramics program emphasizes clay as a sculptural medium and a material for fabricating wares and objects. Learn about the science of clay, experiment with mold making, and even explore materials within the ceramics space.

  • SC291/391/491 Ceramics I/II/III

    Develop a personal artistic language that expresses your unique vision in form and surface. Learn wheel and hand-building techniques, clay bodies, kiln firing, and glazing strategies to master the art of ceramics.

  • SC291/391 Moldmaking I/II

    Explore the primary tools, materials, and processes used in mold making technologies. Experiment with rigid and flexible molds as well as solid and hollow shell casting techniques and materials.

Requirements & Admission

To meet the Ceramics minor requirements, you need to take a variety of 3-credit courses that add up to 15 credits. You can work with your Academic Advisor to make a personalized plan that shows how this minor fits into your studies and makes sure your course choices match your goals and interests.

Close-up of hands shaping clay on a spinning pottery wheel.

FAQs

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Connect With PNCA

  • Glass Building

    Address

    2139 N Kerby Ave
    Portland Oregon 97227 U.S.A.

    Contact

    503-226-4391

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