Course Syllabus

Fall 2025 | ART-1231-VU01 - Ceramics I

In Person Class

Standard courses meet in person at CCV centers, typically once each week for the duration of the semester.

Faculty

Harold Kaplan
View Faculty Credentials

Hiring Coordinator for this course: Dana Lee

General Education Requirements

Arts and Aesthetics

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course is an introduction to ceramic arts. Students develop working knowledge of ceramic materials, tools, and techniques. Students explore concept and design and develop an understanding of and appreciation for traditional, historical, and contemporary ceramic objects. Hand building is emphasized.

Essential Objectives

1. Discuss the nature of ceramic materials, their history, and their uses in different cultures.
2. Incorporate visual considerations such as form, texture, and color to the design of utilitarian and non-utilitarian ceramic forms.
3. Design and construct hand-built ceramic forms using pinch, coil, and slab construction techniques.
4. Demonstrate basic wheel-throwing techniques.
5. Discuss types of glazes and other surface decoration and apply basic glazing techniques.
6. Describe and employ low-fire and stoneware firing techniques.
7. Discuss and apply ceramic studio safety practices.
8. Examine, discuss, and critique artwork that includes the art/design historical, social, and cultural context with emphasis on the impact of global and/or cultural diversity on the development of ceramics as an art form.
9. Design and complete individual projects.
10. Create a portfolio of clay projects.
11. Display finished works in a professional manner.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV computer recommendations Support page.

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

ART-1231-VU01 Link to Textbooks/Resources Information for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

Students are expected to attend all classes on time.

If a student is late three times it will count as an absence. If a students misses four classes they will not be able to pass the course.

During the course of this semester we will conduct group critiques. You will be expected to offer constructive criticism during these sessions.

You are encouraged to ask questions in this class. This is an intoductory class so many of the ideas, terms and content will be new to you. If something doesn't make sense, ask the question. If you need help with a technique ask for assistance, that is why I am teaching this course.

Food can be eaten in the classroom only during break.

The use of music or videos in a private format is unacceptable during class-time, as information to the group comes in many froms and possible at all times and the use of computers or phones is highly distracting to the learning process.

Missing & Late Work Policy

Students are expected to finish assignments when they are due. For each week an assignment is late it will lose a full letter grade. If a student wishes to entirely resubmit an assignment it will then be given the full scope of credit it can get.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity

Apply Now for this semester.