Crafts Studio Certificate Program
A Post-Baccalaureate Portfolio Development Program
The University’s 30-credit certificate program offers an intensely focused education in crafts. The program is designed for those students with bachelor’s degrees who wish to become proficient artists in one or more of the following areas: ceramics, fibers, jewelry, metal-smithing, or wood. Courses dealing with technique, philosophy, and contemporary issues are aimed to develop an individual’s portfolio for further graduate study or a career as an independent studio artist or design professional.
The Crafts Studio Program offers the studio component of the University’s undergraduate crafts program in a focused one-and-one-half or two-year period. Students accepted to the program take a minimum of six credits to a maximum of 12 credits per semester.
Certificate students must take a minimum of 12 media-specific credits at the 300 level. The prerequisite for 300-level courses is two 200-level courses in that same medium. However, if an applicant’s portfolio indicates enough experience in a particular medium, 200-level prerequisites may be waived at the time of acceptance. See the preceding section for a listing of media-specific courses.
Certificate students benefit from taking courses with degree candidates in a quality undergraduate program. In addition to technically oriented, media-specific courses, students take core courses involving design/theory issues, criticism, and professional/career practices.
Admission is by portfolio and interview. Students with little or no formal art training will be required to take Foundation courses. The program advisor (in consultation with the student) will set the number of required prerequisites. These credits must be taken in addition to the 30 required credits and can be completed in advance of or concurrently with the certificate program.