Course Outline of Record

Item	Value
Eff Term	Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	11/18/2025
Top Code	100230 - Ceramics
Units	3 Total Units (Lecture Units 1.5;  Lab/Other Units 1.5)
Hours	108 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 27; Lab Hours 81)
Total Outside of Class Hours	54
Total Student Learning Hours	162
Course Credit Status	Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable	No
Open Entry/Open Exit	No
Grading Policy	Standard Letter (S),  Pass/No Pass (B)
Local General Education (GE)	Area 3 Arts and Humanities (GC)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)	CSU C1 Arts (C1)

Course Description

This course introduces ceramics 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. Apply pinch pot, hard slab, soft slab, and coil building methods to create finished work.
2. Apply centering to create a cylinder on the potters wheel.
3. Use a broad range of vocabulary and terminology used in ceramics.

Course Objectives

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

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Lecture Content

1. Historical context
   1. History of ceramics
   2. Contemporary ceramics
2. Creative development
   1. Design
   2. Shape
   3. Function
   4. Aesthetics
   5. Personal interpretation
3. Basic ceramic terminology
4. Firing processes
   1. Loading and unloading kilns
   2. Bisque firing
   3. Glaze firing
5. Museum and gallery visits
   1. Local museums with ceramic collections
   2. How to look at ceramic art

Lab Content

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

Method(s) of Instruction

• Lecture (02)
• Lab (04)

Instructional Techniques

-

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.

Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended

54

Methods of Student Evaluation

• Short Quizzes
• Written Assignments
• Essay Examinations
• Report
• Projects (Individual/Group)
• Oral Presentations
• Skills Demonstration

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.

Resources Subscreen

• Textbook: Charlotte F. Speight and John Toki. Hands in Clay: An Introduction to Ceramics. McGraw Hill (2003 (Classic)).
• Textbook: Susan Peterson. The Craft and Art of Clay. Overlock (2012 (Classic)).
• Textbook: Kendyl Arden. Centered: A Beginner's Guide to Pottery Wheel and Ceramic Techniques. Independently Published (2024).

Eligible Discipline(s)

• Art: Master’s degree in fine arts, art, or art history OR bachelor’s degree in any of the above AND master’s degree in humanities OR the equivalent. NOTE: “Master’s in fine arts” as used here refers to any master’s 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, creative writing or other non plastic arts.