This course will focus on the technical requirements needed for beginning students to progress to intermediate or advanced projects in ceramics. In this course students will gain a fundamental understanding of the basic ceramic materials and their uses in the formulation of clay recipes and slip surfaces. Through a combination of lecture and hands-on experimentation students will investigate the raw materials that serve as components of clay and the role each plays in the formulation of this plastic material. Establishing specific criteria such as clay color, firing temperature, and surface quality, each student will develop unique clay bodies and slip surfaces that respond to individual artistic goals.