Kent State University Catalog 2010 - 2011

Crafts - B.F.A.

COLLEGE:	College of the Arts
DEPARTMENT:	School of Art Ceramics Lab E-mail: msmerce1@kent.edu Tel: 330-672-9728 Fax: 330-672-4729 Web: http://dept.kent.edu/art/

Resources:

DESCRIPTION:	The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Crafts requires concentration in one of the following areas: ceramics, glass, jewelry and metals or textile arts. Ceramics affords students an intensive, pre-professional experience in the study of ceramic arts. This program explores the range of techniques, as well as design, pottery forms, sculptural ceramics, glazes and firing methods. The history of ceramics is the history of humankind, so both historical uses of clay and contemporary expression are studied. The degree prepares students for further study in graduate school as well as practical applications in the field and for the challenges of a creative professional practice. Glass offers intensive, pre-professional experience in glass-blowing and casting techniques, history and design concepts, and use of specialized materials, equipment and processes. The degree prepares students for further (graduate) study in the field and for the challenges of a professional practice. Jewelry/metals affords intensive, pre-professional experience in jewelry, metalsmithing and enameling techniques, including development of sophisticated design concepts, mastery of skills and technologies, and critical analysis of historical and contemporary issues in the disciplines. The degree prepares students for further (graduate) study in the field and for the challenges of a professional practice. Textile Arts offers intensive, pre-professional experience in concepts, materials and techniques in the textile media. Two- and three-dimensional processes, including digital designing and weaving, historical perspectives, and critical analysis of design and concept, are developed in the course of the program. The degree prepares students for further (graduate) study in the field and for the challenges of a professional practice.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:	Artists held about 221,900 jobs in 2008. About 60 percent were self-employed. Employment was distributed as follows: Art directors 84,200 Multimedia artists and animators 79,000 Fine artists, including painters, sculptors and illustrators 23,600 Craft artists 13,600 Artists and related workers, all other 21,500 Of the artists who were not self-employed, many worked for advertising and related services; newspaper, periodical, book, and software publishers; motion picture and video industries; specialized design services; and computer systems design and related services. Some self-employed artists offered their services to advertising agencies, design firms, publishing houses, and other businesses. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers held about 52,100 jobs in 2008. About 21 percent of salaried jobs for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers were in retail trade, primarily in jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores. Another 15 percent of jobs were in jewelry and silverware manufacturing. A small number of jobs were with merchant wholesalers of miscellaneous durable goods and in repair shops providing repair and maintenance of personal and household goods. Although jewelry stores and repair shops were found in every city and in many small towns, most jobs were in larger metropolitan areas. Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers held 787,500 jobs in 2008. Many manufacturing jobs can be found in California, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Jobs in reupholstering, shoe repair and custom leatherwork, and laundry and dry-cleaning establishments are found in cities and towns throughout the Nation. Overall, about 11 percent of all workers in textile, apparel, and furnishings occupations were self-employed; however, about 43 percent of all tailors, dressmakers, and sewers and about 29 percent of all upholsterers were self-employed. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:	General Admission for Freshman Students: Students most likely to be admitted and succeed at the Kent Campus are those who have graduated with at least 16 units of the recommended college preparatory curriculum in high school, who have achieved a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), and whose composite ACT score is 21 or better (980 combined critical reading and math SAT score). For more information on admissions, visit the Admissions website for new freshmen. Transfer Student: Applicants meeting the general transfer requirement for admission (2.0 cumulative GPA) will receive an art application from the School of Art. A portfolio must be submitted for review.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:	Minimum 126 total credit hours, minimum 39 upper-division hours. Minimum 2.50 GPA in the major and 2.50 GPA overall required for graduation. Minimum 2.50 GPA overall required for internship. Courses with an FDM prefix must be passed with minimum C (2.00) grade. Students are deregistered from FDM classes when minimum C (2.00) grade has not been attained in the course prerequisite.
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT:	None
STUDY ABROAD/AWAY OPPORTUNITIES:	Travel to: New York, London and Paris, and Tunisia Study Abroad in Florence, Italy; Semester in Italy or the Summer Art and Culture trip
PROGRAM FEE:	$100/semester
ACCREDITATION:	National Association of Schools of Art and Design
GRADUATE PROGRAMS:	M.F.A in Crafts M.F.A in Theatre Studies: Costume Design, Design Technology M.B.A in Business Administration