Programs   >  Programs in the College of Art, Media, & Design 
Contacts     Description     Program Objectives     Program Requirements
 

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Contacts

Rod McCormick / rmccormick@uarts.edu / 215.717.6107
Program Director

Description

Students major in Craft and Material Studies with a concentration in one of the following areas: Ceramics, Fibers and Textile Studies, Glass, Jewelry/Metals or Wood/Furniture. Students use elective credits for deeper study within a discipline, to combine multiple Craft disciplines or to sample the many courses offered across the University. A student who pursues a B.F.A. in Craft and Material Studies will work closely with an advisor to determine the curricular path that best matches his or her artistic goals.

At the heart of the major is thinking through making. Craft students are passionate about working with their hands. By engaging with material and process they discover the ideas and concepts that underlie their art. Some students are interested in functional formats: pottery, blown glass, jewelry, wearables, furniture, etc. Others make work addressing other areas of contemporary art and design practice. Craft artists experience personal control of all aspects of making, from initial design to final finished piece.

Craft graduates are flexible and well-prepared for creative careers. Some enter the profession as independent studio artists or entrepreneurs. Others find positions as designers, work in related industries or go on to pursue advanced degrees.

Program Objectives

• To support, encourage and challenge students to develop a high level of proficiency in the production of visual art, critical thinking, analytical problem-solving and exploration while promoting flexibility, adaptability and creative cross-pollination.
• To provide a broad education. A broad education is a more pragmatic preparation for a successful future than narrow technical training can be.
• To promote individual creativity and aesthetic sophistication in order to equip students with the professional knowledge, collaborative skills and technical expertise needed to succeed in the contemporary marketplace.
• To equip students with a thorough understanding of technique and a deep familiarity with materials and process.
• To instill in students both an appreciation for the traditions of making and an appetite for questioning tradition and for exploring new ideas.
• To help the individual student develop a distinct and personal approach to art-making.
• To prepare students to enter the profession as artists, designers for industry, and entrepreneurs, or to prepare the student for further study at the graduate level.

Program Requirements (126 credits)