Ceramics

The short version

A studio with 14 wheels, a glaze lab, and kilns.
ART 309 Ceramics I: Handbuilding and ART 409 Ceramics II: Intro to Wheel Throwing have no prerequisites. Take them in either order.

Ceramics students work in clay, making both sculptural and functional pieces by hand and on the wheel. The studio has 14 wheels, a glaze lab, and kilns. You start with handbuilding and wheel throwing, which can be taken in either order, then move into more independent work in Ceramics III and IV.

Required course flowWhat opens what, from freshman year to the BFA Seminar

Each course below opens the next one. Arrows follow the prerequisites listed in the JSU catalog.

START HERE · FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE YEARSArt foundations

ART 134 Drawing I
ART 233 Design I
ART 234 Drawing II
ART 240 Design II
ART 111 Survey of Art I and ART 112 Survey of Art II
ART 335 Figure Drawing
ART 341 Digital Literacy for Artists/Designers or ART 302 Introduction to Graphic Design

NO PREREQUISITEART 309 Ceramics I: Handbuilding

NO PREREQUISITEART 409 Ceramics II: Intro to Wheel ThrowingTake these two in either order.

FALL OF SOPHOMORE YEARART 298 Portfolio ReviewZero credit hours, pass/fail, offered each fall. Take it once you have finished Drawing I and II (ART 134, 234), Design I and II (ART 233, 240), and ART 111 or 112, and while you’re taking or have finished ART 309. Passing it gets you into the BFA program and is required before any 400-level studio.

ART 410 Ceramics IIIPrerequisite: ART 409.

ART 413 Advanced Ceramics IVPrerequisite: ART 410 Ceramics III.

Six hours of ceramics electivesFrom the list below.

SENIOR YEARART 488 BFA SeminarRequires acceptance into the BFA program and senior standing. Includes portfolio presentation, the BFA exhibition, and a senior paper.

Ceramics electivesWhich courses count, and their prerequisites

Course	Prerequisite
ART 312 Special Topics in Ceramics	ART 309 Ceramics I: Handbuilding and/or permission of instructor
ART 491 Advanced Independent Study (repeatable)	Completion of studio emphasis and approval of department head and instructor

Choose six hours.

The rest of the majorArt history, studio electives and the hours breakdown

Requirement	Hours
Art foundation core courses	24
Ceramics concentration	18
Upper division art history: three courses from the approved list	9
Upper division studio electives: nine courses in at least two other studio areas	27
ART 488 BFA Seminar	3
Major total	81
Jax MIX general education	41
Degree total	122

Getting into the BFA program

Pass Portfolio Review in the fall of your sophomore year, with at least a 2.50 GPA overall and a 3.00 in the major. You also need a C or better in every major course. Foundations covers what to take first.

Source: JSU Catalog 2026-2027, Ceramics (Bachelor of Fine Arts). Meet with your advisor every semester, and check the catalog year that applies to you.