Academic Catalogs

ART G121: Ceramics 1

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 04/19/2022
Top Code 100230 - Ceramics
Units 3 Total Units 
Hours 108 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 27; Lab Hours 81)
Total Outside of Class Hours 0
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee Yes
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S), 
  • Pass/No Pass (B)
Local General Education (GE)
  • GWC Arts, Lit, Phil, Lang (GC)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)
  • CSU C1 Arts (C1)

Course Description

This is an introductory ceramics course in which students learn basic design, creative development, hand-building, throwing, glaze techniques, firing and ceramic terminology. The course covers aesthetics and creative development of clay objects examining historical and personal modes of expression. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Course Outcomes
  2. Integrate and apply pinch pot, hard slab, soft slab, and coil building methods to create finished work.
  3. Integrate and apply centering to create a cylinder on the potters wheel.
  4. Identify and choose appropriate vocabulary used in Ceramics.

Course Objectives

  • 1. Use elements and organizing principles to produce beginning level hand built pieces such as pinch pots, coil pots, soft slabs and hard slab pieces.
  • 2. Produce beginning level pieces such as cylinders, bowls, pitchers, mugs and goblets utilizing the potters wheel.
  • 3. Use glaze to finish a bisqued piece.
  • 4. Utilize studio equipment and materials safely.
  • 5. Compare contemporary and historical pieces of ceramic artwork.

Lecture Content

Historical contexta. History of ceramicsb. Contemporary ceramics Creative developmenta. Designb. Shapec. Functiond. Aestheticse. Personal interpretation Basic ceramic terminology Firing processesa. Loading and unloading kilnsb. Bisque firingc. Glaze firing Museum and gallery visits Local museums with ceramic collections How to look at ceramic art

Lab Content

Attaching two pieces of clay together  Scoring and slipping Mixing slip with deflocculated water Glazing Waxing Dipping Painting Basic wheel forming  Wedging Centering Opening Pulling up Shaping Finishing the lip Making lids Making teapots Trimming Surface decoration  Sgraffito Stamps Glazes Stains Firing techniques Electric Gas Raku Pit fire Wood fire

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • Lab (04)

Reading Assignments

Instructor prepared materials.

Writing Assignments

Students will visit art galleries and museums, and prepare a written report of each visit.

Out-of-class Assignments

Field trips to art galleries and art museums to view ceramic works of art.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Given a set of criteria, students must complete projects that meet requirements.  Group critiques demonstrate the ability to apply design standards.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Students will visit art galleries and museums, and prepare a written report of each visit. Students will demonstrate and use building techniques including pinch, hard slab, soft slab and coil.

Eligible Disciplines

Art: Masters degree in fine arts, art, or art history OR bachelors degree in any of the above AND masters degree in humanities OR the equivalent. Note: “masters degree in fine arts” as used here refers to any masters degree in the subject matter of fine arts, which is defined to include visual studio arts such as drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, textiles, and metal and jewelry art; and also, art education and art therapy. It does not refer to the “Master of Fine Arts” (MFA) degree when that degree is based on specialization in performing arts or dance, film, video, photography, creative writing, or other non-plastic arts. Masters degree required.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Speight, C. and Toki, J.. Hands in Clay: An Introduction to Ceramics, 5th (latest) ed. McGraw Hill, 2003 Rationale: CLASSIC TEXT 2. Required Peterson, Susan. The Craft and Art of Clay, 5th (latest) ed. Overlock Hardcover, 2012 Rationale: This is the most current version of this textbook. It is a standard textbook used in ceramics classes. CLASSIC TEXT

Other Resources

1. Work clothesTowelShoes- (required) rubber soled. Tennis shoes suggestedTie for long hairNotebook with pen or pencilSpray bottleLarge clean up spongeSpoonMetal forkContainer with lid1 gallon plastic bucketElephant ear spongeFettling knifeCut off wireNeedle toolLarge brushSteel ribBox wood modeling toolRibbon trimming toolPlastic bags (garbage bags or dry cleaning bags)Combination lock