Ceramics
MFA

On-campus Graduate

The MFA in Artisanry is an intensive two-to-three-year course of study that emphasizes exploration and mastery within contemporary art making. This program pursues process and material intelligence in a supportive inter-genre studio environment and a curriculum that supports risk and clarity with rigor.

Ceramics

Ceramics is a 60 credit, two- to three-year program of study. The Ceramics program offers the opportunity for concentrated studio work involving both technical and conceptual exploration. Through questioning and experimentation, students work to consolidate materials and processes while developing strong conceptual and expressive ideas.

Request info

Discover why UMass Dartmouth is the right place to earn an advanced degree or certificate.

Request more info Apply Graduate Studies Tuition and Fees Application dates

Graduate students are encouraged to pursue individual areas of interest which may include fabrication of functional or sculptural forms. Your work in the studio is complemented by courses in clay and glaze formulation, kiln construction, technical mastery within ceramics, and other media supporting your ideas.

You will work closely with a faculty advisor to ensure guided exploration to develop maturity. Individual meetings take place on a weekly basis and critiques as needed. Committee members are comprised of 2/3^rds faculty from UMass Dartmouth and a guest faculty member if requested. Studies culminate with both a visual and written thesis.

To arrange a tour of our facilities please contact Suzanne Schireson, 508-999-9289, or sschireson@umassd.edu.

Ceramics student work

Student success

Katy Rodden Walker, MFA '22, receives Outstanding Student Award from SDA

Graduate ceramics student’s "Enmeshed" (2022) rewarded for innovative work in textile and fiber media by a student artist.

Faculty positions

Adams State University
Arizona State University
Buffalo State University
Colorado Mountain College
MassArt
Northeastern University
Providence College
Rhode Island School of Design
SUNY New Paltz
Texas State University
University of Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
University of Florida
University of Minnesota Morris
University of Nebraska at Kearney
University of West Florida
University of Wisconsin
Utah Tech University

Other employment

Archie Bray Foundation, Educational Coordinator
Artist Assistant, Theaster Gates
Castle Hill Art Center, Ceramics Area Coordinator
James Renwick Alliance, Executive Director
Kennedy Museum of Art, Ohio University, Curator
Montana Art Mobile, Executive Director
Northern Clay Center, Educational Outreach Manager
Sherle Wagner International, Ceramic Production Manager
The Pottery Workshop Jingdezhen China, Director
Toy Museum, Executive Director
Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, Director

Residencies

Anderson Ranch Arts Center
Archie Bray Foundation
Arrowmont for the Arts and Crafts
Coastal Oregon Artist Residency via Recology
Centrum Foundation
Elsewhere Artist Collaborative
Haystack
Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency
Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts
Mudflat Studios
Playa
Pocosin Art Center
Pottery Northwest
Red Lodge
Red Star Studios
Sacatar Institute
Sitka Center for Art and Ecology
Sou'wester Artist Residency
Vermont Studio Center
Volland Foundation
Watershed

Awards

Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation Grant
American Craft Council Emerging Artist Award
Artist Trust Gap Grant
CERF Craft Emergency Relief Fund
Commission – Philadelphia International Airport
Emerging Artist, Fiber Art Now
Fleisher Wind Challenge Grant, Fleisher Art Memorial
ISC Outstanding Student Award
Massachusetts State Fellowship
Meyer Family Award for Contemporary Art, Mainline Art Center
Montana State Fellowship
New York State Fellowship
Surface Design Association's Outstanding Student Award
The Boston Globe's art-school stars to watch 2020–2023
United States Artist Fellow
Visual Arts Grant, The Kunststiftung North Rhine-Westphalia. Schöppingen, Germany

Graduate admissions requirements

University requirements for graduate admissions

Submit an application via the online portal. Be sure to provide your full legal name and to capitalize the first letter of all proper nouns.
Pay non-refundable $60 application fee (American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa) via the online portal. For Nursing applicants, the non-refundable application fee is $75.
Statement of Purpose, minimum 300 words. Unless otherwise indicated in the program requirement details, indicate your graduate study objectives, research interests and experience, and business or industry experience if applicable. If you are applying for a teaching or research assistantship, include any special skills or experience that would assist us in making assistantship decisions.
Resume
Transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended (regardless of whether a credential is earned or not). Unofficial transcripts are accepted for admissions application review, once enrolled a final official transcript is required. International students applying with an transcript evaluation, please submit that document with your unofficial transcripts. International applicants for Data Science must submit semester-by-semester transcripts as well as consolidated transcripts.
Many programs have specific recommendations/requirements, please see the additional program-specific requirements for more information.
English Proficiency Requirement: If you are a Domestic student and English is not your native language or you are an International student, you must provide the university with verification of your proficiency in English. This is required of any applicant who did not earn a bachelor’s degree or higher degree from an accredited academic institution in the U.S. or accepted English-speaking country, see exemptions for more details. The official TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, Pearson PTE or Duolingo (if accepted by program) score meets this requirement. Unofficial scores are accepted for admissions application review, once enrolled official scores are required and must be sent by the testing agency (copies/scans not accepted). We require an overall/total minimum score of 72 on the TOEFL iBT or BAND 6.0 on the IELTS Academic or a 52 on the Pearsons PTE Academic for entrance to any program and a minimum score of 79 on the TOEFL iBT or BAND 6.5 on the IELTS Academic for consideration for a teaching assistantship. Some programs require higher minimum scores (see program-specific requirements). Most programs also accept the Duolingo with a minimum score of 95. The following programs do not accept the Duolingo: Art Education, Biology/Marine Biology, Nursing (MS, DNP, PhD), Psychology: Clinical and Public Policy.
All 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.

Portfolio of 20 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.
2 letters of recommendation. Applicants will be required to provide the recommenders name and email address so we can contact the recommender for the letter of recommendation.

Application dates

Pursue your MFA at UMassD

Assistantships: provide stipends, tuition waivers and fee reductions
Exhibition opportunities: local, regional, and on campus
Facilities: labs, equipment, and tools for artistic exploration and production
Faculty: involved in scholarly, creative, and professional projects
Individualized attention extended to every student
Interdisciplinary projects and committees are encouraged
Location: an hour from Providence, Boston, and Cape Cod
New Bedford: an active downtown arts community
University education: access to faculty in other fields
Visiting artists: enrich your artistic and professional development
Visual Resources Center: more than 150,000 archived images
Workspaces: assigned to each graduate student

A limited number of assistantships are available on a competitive basis. This award is subject to the work needs of the position and department, your satisfactory performance of duties, your academic record, and availability of funds, and may be subject to change.

Learn more about assistantships at UMass Dartmouth