Skip to main content
Ceramics student studio space

Artisanry
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC)

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC) in Artisanry is for students who already have earned a baccalaureate degree and who are interested in pursuing further study. This one-year, nine-credit program is for those who want to extend learning by participating within a community of undergraduate and graduate degree-seeking students to focus solely upon studio development.

The Artisanry PBC can assist you as you enter professional practice and/or prepare you to apply to MFA degree programs. Should a PBC student be accepted into the UMass Dartmouth MFA program, the relevant PBC credits can count toward the MFA degree.

In person PBC students:

  • have full use of studio facilities
  • attend visiting artist lectures
  • participate in all media area activities/topic based seminars
  • enroll in technical studio or academic courses at reduced credit load

Regularly scheduled critiques occur, and a comprehensive show of studio work will be presented upon completion. The Artisanry PBC culminates in an exhibition that is planned and executed by PBC students and installed in commercial spaces in a local exhibition venue.

Program curriculum and details

Ceramics Option

Students may choose from media-area support courses, such as Large Scale Ceramics, Technical Mastery, Glaze Calc, Moldmaking, Throwing, Kiln Building, Professional Practices in Ceramics, Papermaking, or any other course of interest such as Technical Mastery of Fibers, Technical Mastery of Painting, Technical Mastery of Sculpture.

Fibers Option 

Students may choose from media-area support courses, such as, Technical Mastery in Fibers - Weaving, Technical Mastery in Fibers - Surface Embellishment, Papermaking, Professional Practices, and any course of interest such as Technical Mastery in Ceramics, Technical Mastery in Painting or Technical Mastery in Sculpture.

Artisanry PBC students take 4.5 credits per semester; a 3 credit course in Portfolio Development for the maturing maker, and a 1.5 credit elective course.

Fall courses:

  • ART 508 (Portfolio Intensive I) - 3 credits
  • Elective - 1.5 credits

Spring courses:

  • ART 509 (Portfolio Intensive II) - 3 credits
  • Elective - 1.5 credits

Course descriptions, schedules and requirements

Recent achievements of PBC students:

  • Adjunct professor, SUNY New Paltz
  • Ceramic residency, University of Tasmania, Australia
  • Exhibition, 2017 National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Emerging Artist Exhibition, Portland, Oregon
  • Group exhibition, Gallery of Visual Arts, University of Montana
  • Massachusetts Cultural Fellowship Grant
  • Group exhibition, Lexington Arts & Crafts Society, Lexington, MA
  • Group exhibition, Allegheny College
  • Group exhibition, Hunter College
  • Owner, Mudflat Studio, Somerville, MA
  • Owner, Studio Touya, featured in Ceramics Monthly
  • Resident artist, Archie Bray Foundation
  • Solo exhibition, M16 Artspace, Canberra, Australia

Admissions requirements

To apply please create an account in our Applicant Portal. You will need to submit:

  • Application form
  • $60 application fee (non-refundable)
  • Statement of Purpose (minimum 300 words)
  • Resume
  • Transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended (regardless of whether a credential is earned or not)
  • English Proficiency test scores:TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or PTE Academic (if applicable)
  • Letter(s) of Recommendation (see program requirements for more information)
  • GRE/GMAT (not required for most programs, see program requirements for more information)

Unofficial transcripts and test scores are accepted for application review but official documents are required for enrollment, please have documents (ie. test scores) sent prior to the expiration. 

Program-specific requirements

Candidates must submit the required application materials, university requirements and program-specific requirements, for consideration.

  • References. Document listing two references and the contact information for each.
  • Portfolio of 10 images representing your artwork, process of thinking, implementation of concepts, and studio production. The portfolio is the equivalent of the entrance examinations which other academic areas often require. See Graduate Portfolio for more information.

Application dates

Back to top of page