Degree Title: Master of Fine Arts

Program Name and Number: Ceramics - MF5172

Department/Unit: School of Art + Design

Delivery Mode: Athens Campus

Terms of Entry: Fall

Program Mission: The Ceramics program emphasizes the realization of individual goals. By encouraging the exploration of ideas and materials and developing individuals who challenge contemporary standards while producing work of exceptional craftsmanship, the program prepares artists for competition in the complex, professional art world of ceramics and beyond.

Program Learning Objectives: Students will

• Demonstrate mastery in skills, techniques and material germane to the student’s research focus, evidenced through a mature body of creative work
• Identify key figures, works and sources, both historical and contemporary, as evidence to support a clearly stated thesis contextualizing the student’s work
• Generate documents appropriate to professional practice in the student’s field of focus, and be prepared for participation in the professional world of Art
• Execute a public exhibit of the student’s creative work

Program Overview: Nationally recognized for its professional excellence, the Ceramics graduate program at Ohio University is one of the highest ranked ceramic programs in the country. Reflecting the contemporary field of ceramics, the program encourages a multitude of approaches and viewpoints; traditional, contemporary and expanded, and offers students an exciting and challenging environment in which to concentrate on their individual development as a ceramic artist within an Art School that is interdisciplinary and inclusive in it’s philosophy.

The Master of Fine Art in Ceramics is an intensive three-year program. The first and second years are primarily devoted to studio, seminar, art history, and elective coursework. During the third year, the emphasis is an intensive commitment to studio time in preparation for the thesis exhibition. As part of this 3-year studio experience, the student will have individual and group meetings with faculty, interaction with peers in and outside of the ceramics area, and will participate in graduate critiques. A normal full-time academic load is 15 credit-hours per semester, and progress toward the degree is guided by the student’s graduate review committee members to the successful completion of 90 credit hours.

Opportunities for Graduates:  Ohio University Ceramic graduates are successful professional artists, secure positions as directors of arts programs and residencies, and are university educators, running and teaching in some of the top programs in the country in Ceramics, Sculpture and New Media. Ninety percent will remain working in fields related to Ceramics throughout their careers.

Link to Program: http://www.ohio.edu/finearts/art/academics/programs/ceramics.cfm

Link to Program Handbook: contact artgrad@ohio.edu

Graduation Requirements:

1. Credit-Hour Requirements Summary: 90 minimum credit hours
   • 40 studio (28 in major area(ceramics) and 12 in studio elective hours)
   • 12 art history/academic studies
   • 6 seminars
   • 25 thesis credits
2. Thesis review requirements:
   • Students will have a series of formal reviews throughout the 3 years for the program with the members of their thesis committee.
   • The First-Year Progress Review Occurs toward the end of fall semester and constitutes a progress assessment of the student’s work by his/her committee members.
   • The First-Year M.F.A. Candidacy Review occurs toward the end of spring semester and admits the student to full candidacy for the degree by the student’s committee members.
   • The Thesis Proposal Review occurs during spring semester of the second year and establishes the goals and guidelines of the student’s thesis exhibition.
   • The Oral defense occurs before the public presentation of the Thesis work at the end of the 3^rd year of study.
3. A thesis exhibition and oral thesis is required at the conclusion of the program. A written thesis is not required.
4. Expected time to degree if studying full time is 3 years.

Culminating Experience: Thesis Exhibition and Oral Thesis Defense. 
An oral thesis defense and a thesis exhibition are required at the conclusion of the program.  The exhibition is a public presentation of thesis work, typically held in one of the School’s formal exhibition spaces.

Admission Requirements: Admission to the MFA program requires a bachelors degree or equivalent, and the submission of a portfolio of 20 images through slideroom, a CV, artist statement, letter of intent, and three letters of recommendation (through the online request service). You must also submit an application to Ohio University online.