Studying for a Ceramics MFA can be a very rewarding endeavor. It is not a light decision to decide on what to study for your Masters. But once that is settled, you must decide on where to study. There are many programs available at many institutions; in order to have the best experience, you must decide what is important to you and compare that with what is being offered.
Interdisciplinary Studies
The study of ceramics is very interdisciplinary; it stretches across history, culture, and technology. You would want a program that embraces all the different angles and aspects of the field of ceramics. As you begin your Masters research, you do not want to limit yourself to one aspect of ceramics; instead, you want to explore the breadth of the field, tackle a research topic that you are excited about, and know that your chosen school can give you the necessary research support, even if it involves other departments.
Well-Resourced
If you are looking at going beyond theory, and you want to get your hands dirty, you want to know that your department is well-resourced to allow you to do this. In practice, this would be seen through many different practical courses, a variety of different materials and tools, many labs and studios to work in, and state-of-the-art equipment to use such as mixers, kilns and other related equipment.
In order to select the very best program for you, also look at the faculty list for the department, the location, and the different opportunities to utilize and interact with various resources on and off campus such as libraries, collections, museums, galleries, and exhibitions.
If you are looking for a Ceramics MFA, contact the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. You can visit them online at http://www.saic.edu/.
