What does this course involve?
As you read this information, please note that this course is going to be re-accredited in the coming future. There will be minor changes to the course information provided here.
If you’re a practising studio ceramicist or workshop craftsperson, this course will give you broad skills in designing, creating and marketing your ceramic goods.
You’ll research and analyse art history, develop drawings and designs, and study decoration, wheel and hand-forming techniques.
You’ll learn how to develop yourself as an artist by with subjects in marketing, sales promotion, exhibiting.
What employment opportunities will I have?
This course may provide you with employment opportunities as:
- a self-employed designer or maker of ceramic goods, catering for a broad market ranging from fine art to studio production
- a teacher or technician in community arts centres or similar organisations.
You may also find employment in established production studios or retail outlets.
As a student, the Institute’s Employment Service is your first port of call for advice on gaining employment in this field, and can be contacted on 1300 BOX HILL (1300 269 445).
Accreditation
Nationally Recognised
What further study options will I have?
You may wish to articulate into the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Contemporary Arts at Deakin University and receive credits for studies already undertaken.
Can I apply?
- You must have successfully completed Year 12 or equivalent, or be a mature age
- You should have a folio containing examples of your previous work including drawings
How do I apply?
- Direct Entry - Beginning of year
- Supplementary application requirements are necessary for this course. Please read the information contained in the selection process.
If you have any queries, please contact the Institute on 1300 BOX HILL (1300 269 445).
How will I be selected for this course?
- Individual Interview
- Assessment of Folio
- Supplementary requirements to the application process apply:
- You will need to contact the Institute in October on (03) 9286 9632 to book your interview.
Length of course
Part time - 4 years
Where will I study?
Whitehorse Campus
What costs and other fees should I expect?
Government Funded
This course attracts Victorian Government funding. For information about Fees and Charges please click here. This qualification may also be provided on a fee for service basis to industry, interstate or international students.
How will I be assessed?
- Written assessment
- Practical assessment
- Project work
Will my previous experience or study count?
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or Recognition of Current Competencies (RCC) takes into account the knowledge and skills you’ve already gained through your previous education and work. This may be through formal or informal training, paid or unpaid work experience, and can earn you credit if relevant to your chosen course.
Unit of Competency Details
Year One 1st Year
CUFSAF01B – Follow health, safety, security procedures - (15 hours)
This unit describes the skills and knowledge which everyone in the workplace must have in order to work safely. It covers a range of industry contexts involving a variety of different conditions and hazards.
VBS638 – Design principles and elements - (54 hours)
The purpose of this module is to provide participants with the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to resolve visual communication problems through the application of design principles and elements.
CUVCOR09A – Select and apply drawing techniques and media to represent and communicate the concept - (80 hours)
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to develop drawings which represent and communicate the concept.
CUVCOR13A – Research and critically analyse history and theory to inform artistic practice - (70 hours)
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to research and analyse history and theory for application to artistic practice. The unit includes the need for critical analysis of information, and the challenging of different points of view to inform personal work.
VBK226 – Clay decoration techniques - (30 hours)
Enable participants to develop skills, knowledge and abilities to produce an aesthetic effect on the surface of an unfired ceramic body.
VBK366 – Firing - (24 hours)
Enable a participant to fire clay and glaze in a kiln suited to that task.
CUVVSP04A – Apply techniques to produce ceramics - (50 hours)
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to use techniques, materials and equipment for the production of ceramic work.
CUVVSP06A – Research and experiment with techniques to produce ceramics - (50 hours)
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to research and experiment with various techniques and media for the realisation of ceramic work. It outlines the way ceramic works are produced through the use of experimentation and ongoing refinement.
CUVVSP07A – Apply techniques in wheel formed ceramics - (50 hours)
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to produce wheel-formed ceramic work through the exploration and application of a range of techniques.
Year One 2nd Year
VBK219 – Design principles and elements-ceramics 1 - (45 hours)
Provide participants with the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to resolve ceramic design problems.
CUVPRP01A – Develop self as an artist - (60 hours)
This is a professional practice unit which describes development of technical and conceptual skills required to work as a practising artist. It also deals with communicating effectively and working strategically to achieve planned outcomes as an artist.
VBK221 – Glazes - (60 hours)
Enable participants to develop the skills knowledge and attitudes to: identity the properties and composition of a number of glazes used from ancient times to the present; to make and use common glazes; to develop glazes for particular purposes.
VBK364 – Wheel forming 2 - (90 hours)
Enable participants to develop and refine the various wheel and finishing skills to produce open, closed, symmetrical and non symmetrical ceramic articles.
VBK230 – Wheel forming 3 - (50 hours)
Enable participants to develop and refine the various wheel and finishing skills to produce sets or families of open, closed, symmetrical and non symmetrical ceramic articles
VBK365 – Clays, slips and engobes - (30 hours)
Enable the participant to select suitable clay bodies to produce a wide range of ceramic ware and to produce slip and engobes as required to add features to ceramic ware.
CUVVSP05A – Produce ceramics - (50 hours)
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to produce ceramic work through the exploration and application of a range of techniques, tools, equipment and materials.
Year Two
All units must be completed
VBK220 – Moulds - (36 hours)
Provide participants with the skills, knowledge and attitudes to produce, from a range of appropriate materials, moulds or forms against which clay can be formed or in which slips can be cast.
VBK224 – Using moulds - (24 hours)
Enable participants to develop the skills knowledge and abilities to produce ceramic ware using plaster moulds.
VBK368 – Mechanical forming - (12 hours)
Enable participants to produce or observe the production of ceramic ware by various mechanical techniques.
VBK223 – Design principles and elements - ceramics 2 - (45 hours)
Provide participants with the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to design ceramic pieces within the restraints imposed by the body characteristics.
CUVPH105A – Use a 35mm camera or digital equivalent - (50 hours)
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to apply a range of techniques to the use of a 35mm SLR camera or digital equivalent.
CUEMAR03B – Undertake marketing activities - (40 hours)
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to co-ordinate a range of marketing and promotional activities with some limited short term planning.
VBK369 – Marketing and sales promotion - (20 hours)
Enable participants to develop and implement effective plans to promote and market their products and/or services.
VBK380 – Decoration for marketing and exhibition - (30 hours)
Enable participants to select and use decoration skills to produce ceramics of marketable or exhibition quality.
CUVDSP01A – Source and apply design industry knowledge - (15 hours)
This unit is combined with others into Ideas Studio 1. This unit enables the student to source, apply and update a general knowledge of the design industry, including industry structure and operation, employment obligations and the impact of new technology.
VBK228 – Glaze decoration techniques - (30 hours)
Enable participants to develop the skills and knowledge to produce an aesthetic effect with glaze and colouring agents on a clay or fired surface of a ceramic body.
VBK225 – Glazes advanced - (90 hours)
Develop the skills, knowledge and abilities to create glazes for a particular application.
VBK367 – Kiln studies - (50 hours)
Enable the participant to build kilns to produce specific firing effects.
VBK372 – Handforming - advanced - (60 hours)
Enable the participant to develop separate and combined skills to produce utilitarian,decorative and sculptural handformed ware incorporating design considerations of form function and aesthetics.
VBK376 – Wheel forming - complex forms - (90 hours)
To further develop and refine the various wheel and finishing skills to produce complex ceramic forms.
VBK377 – Wheel forming - marketing and exhibition - (90 hours)
Enable participants to use throwing and finishing skills to produce ceramics for a marketable and/or exhibition standard.
CUVVSP16A – Research and experiment with techniques to produce drawings - (50 hours)
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to research and experiment with various techniques and media for the realisation of drawings. It outlines the way drawings are produced through the use of experimentation and ongoing refinement.