Overview
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics with Entrepreneurial Studies, offered by the Department of Art, welcomes students into a diverse community of thinkers and makers who challenge traditional processes in a forward-looking way.
Led by a faculty of practicing artists in state-of-the-art facilities, Ceramics majors work in a close-knit environment, side-by-side with graduate students, as they explore traditional and experimental clay techniques. The program draws on the energy and resources of the urban landscape of Philadelphia—a city with a longstanding clay culture and vibrant visual art scene—to forge community partnerships that lead to broader, inclusive perspectives, conversations and exchanges of ideas.
Students learn product design and production, studio management and gallery installation, as well as critical thinking and problem solving—transferable skills that help prepare them for success in any artistic discipline or profession, including as educators, gallery operators, architectural designers, curators and more. Students also have opportunities for internships in Philadelphia's densely networked clay community.
Designed to complement the studio experience with tools to support a studio practice or pursue graduate studies, the Entrepreneurship coursework enhances students' career options. Graduates of this degree program will possess requisite business skills to support themselves as visual artists or entrepreneurs in art and related fields.
Each student moves from a common foundation curriculum that introduces materials and processes and prepares them for success in a range of fields of study. Those who select Art as their major will work side-by-side with majors in Visual Studies, Art Education and Art Therapy. The dynamic exchange of ideas that result from these interdisciplinary conversations spur intellectual risk and drive research-based creative concepts.
Upon graduation, students have the practical skill sets and honed aesthetic for successful careers in studio art, art education and design, as well as attend top-tier graduate programs.
Campus Location: Main
Program Code: TA-CREN-BFA
Admissions
Admission to Tyler's BFA in studio art majors is based on a review of academic credentials and portfolio review. For detailed information on how to apply, please visit Tyler's Studio Art admissions page.
Study Abroad
Students who plan to study abroad should arrange to meet with their academic advisor and the Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses office as early as possible, preferably during the freshman year, in order to explore options and plan the sequence of courses that would be most appropriate.
Accreditation
Temple University is a non-profit accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). NASAD establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for art and design and art/design-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational, and other art/design-related endeavors.
Contact Information
Lauren Sandler, Program Head
Tyler School of Art Building, Room 150M
lauren.sandler@temple.edu
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
Summary of Requirements
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics with Entrepreneurial Studies may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 126 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. All Ceramics with Entrepreneurial Studies majors must complete the General Education requirements.
- Students must earn a C- or better in ART 2101 and ART 2102 to enter the Ceramics with Entrepreneurial Studies major.
-
The eight required Junior/Senior studio courses and ART 4096 (capstone) must be completed with a C- or better to fulfill major requirements.
Major Requirements for the BFA in Ceramics with Entrepreneurial Studies
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Sophomore Prerequisites | ||
| ART 2101 | Beginning Ceramics | 3 |
| ART 2102 | Intermediate Ceramics | 3 |
| Junior Requirements | ||
| ART 3101 | Advanced Ceramics (This course is repeatable and should be taken once in the fall and once in the spring) | 6 |
| Two additional specialized Ceramics courses (see list below) | 6 | |
| Senior Requirements | ||
| ART 4101 | Advanced Ceramics (This course is repeatable and should be taken once in the fall and once in the spring) | 6 |
| Two additional specialized Ceramics courses (see list below) | 6 | |
| ART 4096 | Professional Practices in Art (Capstone, WI) | 3 |
Specialized Ceramics Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ART 3103 | Two-Dimensional Ceramics | 3 |
| ART 3104 | Ceramic Materials | 3 |
| ART 3105 | Porcelain | 3 |
| ART 3106 | Advanced Throwing and Wheel Work | 3 |
| ART 3107 | Ceramic Mold Making | 3 |
| ART 3110 | Ceramic Workshop | 3 |
Entrepreneurship Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Planning to Start Your Own Business | ||
| Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking | ||
| Lean Startup: Fast and Inexpensive Ways to Test and Launch Your Ideas | ||
| Launch a New Venture in 100 Days | ||
| Doing Well by Doing Good: Where Innovation and Entrepreneurship Meet Social Impact | ||
| Pitching and Funding Entrepreneurial Ventures | ||
| Special Topics - Strategic Management | ||
| Social Impact Internship - Work with Benefit/B-corps, Non-profits, or Multi-bottom-line Ventures | ||
or SGM 3685 | New Venture Internship: Learning to be a High-Value Employee, Manager, or Founder | |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Field Internship | ||
| Art Careers Promotion | ||
| The Business of Design (WI) | ||
| Field Internship | ||
| Art Career Workshop (WI) | ||
| Creative Cottage Industrialist | ||
| Rome Internship | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
- 1
These courses cannot fulfill both a requirement for the major and for this category.
Suggested Academic Plan
Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics with Entrepreneurial Studies
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| FDPR 1511 | Foundation Drawing 1 | 3 |
| FDPR 1521 | 2D Foundation Principles | 3 |
| FDPR 1531 | 3D Foundation Principles/W | 3 |
| FDPR 1503 | Woodshop Fundamentals | 1 |
| ARTH 1155 or ARTH 1955 | Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 or Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | 3 |
| ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW] or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| FDPR 1512 | Foundation Drawing | 3 |
| FDPR 1522 | 2D Foundation Principles | 3 |
| FDPR 1532 | 3D Foundation Principles/C | 3 |
| FDPR 1502 | Investigations of Art and Design | 1 |
| ARTH 1156 or ARTH 1956 | Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century 1 or Honors Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | 3 |
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 2101 | Beginning Ceramics | 3 |
| ART or GAD 2000-2999 Sophomore Studio Elective | 3 | |
| ART or GAD 2000-2999 Sophomore Studio Elective | 3 | |
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 2102 | Intermediate Ceramics | 3 |
| ART or GAD 2000-2999 Sophomore Studio Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Planning to Start Your Own Business | ||
| Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking | ||
| Lean Startup: Fast and Inexpensive Ways to Test and Launch Your Ideas | ||
| Launch a New Venture in 100 Days | ||
| Doing Well by Doing Good: Where Innovation and Entrepreneurship Meet Social Impact | ||
| Pitching and Funding Entrepreneurial Ventures | ||
| Special Topics - Strategic Management | ||
| Social Impact Internship - Work with Benefit/B-corps, Non-profits, or Multi-bottom-line Ventures | ||
| New Venture Internship: Learning to be a High-Value Employee, Manager, or Founder | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 3101 | Advanced Ceramics | 3 |
| ART 31xx (Specialized Ceramics Course) | 3 | |
| Select one of the following (not previously chosen): | 3 | |
| Planning to Start Your Own Business | ||
| Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking | ||
| Lean Startup: Fast and Inexpensive Ways to Test and Launch Your Ideas | ||
| Launch a New Venture in 100 Days | ||
| Doing Well by Doing Good: Where Innovation and Entrepreneurship Meet Social Impact | ||
| Pitching and Funding Entrepreneurial Ventures | ||
| Special Topics - Strategic Management | ||
| Social Impact Internship - Work with Benefit/B-corps, Non-profits, or Multi-bottom-line Ventures | ||
| New Venture Internship: Learning to be a High-Value Employee, Manager, or Founder | ||
| Art History Elective 3 | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 3101 | Advanced Ceramics | 3 |
| ART 31xx (Specialized Ceramics Course) | 3 | |
| Select one of the following (not previously chosen): | 3 | |
| Planning to Start Your Own Business | ||
| Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking | ||
| Lean Startup: Fast and Inexpensive Ways to Test and Launch Your Ideas | ||
| Launch a New Venture in 100 Days | ||
| Doing Well by Doing Good: Where Innovation and Entrepreneurship Meet Social Impact | ||
| Pitching and Funding Entrepreneurial Ventures | ||
| Special Topics - Strategic Management | ||
| Social Impact Internship - Work with Benefit/B-corps, Non-profits, or Multi-bottom-line Ventures | ||
| New Venture Internship: Learning to be a High-Value Employee, Manager, or Founder | ||
| Art History Elective WI 3,5 | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 4101 | Advanced Ceramics | 3 |
| ART 31xx (Specialized Ceramics Course) | 3 | |
| ART 4096 | Professional Practices in Art [WI] | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Open Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 4101 | Advanced Ceramics | 3 |
| ART 31xx (Specialized Ceramics Course) | 3 | |
| ART or GAD 2000+ Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 4 | 3 | |
| Field Internship | ||
| Art Careers Promotion | ||
| The Business of Design [WI] | ||
| Field Internship | ||
| Art Career Workshop [WI] | ||
| Creative Cottage Industrialist | ||
| Rome Internship | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 126 | |
- 1
These 2 courses constitute the waiver for the GenEd Arts category if the courses are completed with a C- or better.
- 2
Only three 2xxx level courses can be taken in any one subject area in order to count for sophomore studio credit.
- 3
Students completing a 3-credit Art History 2000+ elective must select a 4-credit open elective to reach the minimum 126 credits to earn the BFA degree.
- 4
These courses cannot fulfill both a requirement for the major and a requirement for this category.
- 5
Students who select a WI from the Tyler entrepreneurship courses may elect to take a non-WI 4-credit Art History course.
Please Note: An approved study abroad program waives the GenEd Global/World Society (GG) requirement; however, these credits must be made up with academic coursework taken outside of Tyler departments to be in compliance with BFA accreditation. Ceramics majors interested in studying abroad should consult with an academic advisor to determine if a semester (generally spring semester of second year) or a summer program would be the best option to remain on track for graduation. If a student is spending a traditional semester abroad, ART 2101 must be completed prior to studying abroad. To remain on track for graduation, permission may be granted to substitute an additional specialized ceramics course in lieu of an advanced ceramics course.