Glass is taught to degree level at a number of American universities and art schools. Most of these programmes are built around hot glass, kiln-formed glass and sculpture, and stained glass is usually one strand of a wider glass or craft curriculum rather than a course of its own. Studying in the United Kingdom is covered on the page Studying Glass in the UK, and the two are worth comparing, since British courses are often closer to architectural and conservation work.
Degree and postgraduate courses
| Institution | Course | Level | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island School of Design | Glass (BFA and MFA) | Undergraduate; MFA 2 years full-time, with a post-baccalaureate route | Providence, Rhode Island |
| Rochester Institute of Technology, School for American Crafts | MFA Glass | Master’s, 2 years full-time | Rochester, New York |
| Kent State University, School of Art | MFA with a glass concentration | Master’s | Kent, Ohio |
| Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University | BFA Glass (126 credits) and MFA Glass | Undergraduate; MFA 2 years, 60 credits | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design | BFA Glass | Undergraduate, 4 years | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Alfred University, School of Art and Design | Glass within Sculpture/Dimensional Studies | Undergraduate and graduate | Alfred, New York |
What a degree covers
An American glass degree normally begins with a broad art foundation, followed by studio work in blowing, casting, fusing, cold working and, in some schools, flat glass and architectural work. The final year or two is spent on a personal body of work, ending with an exhibition. Anyone whose main aim is leaded glass for buildings should look closely at what a programme offers in flat glass and in drawing for windows.
Choosing between courses
- Look at the work of recent graduates, not only the prospectus.
- Ask how much of the course is flat glass, and whether studio access is shared with other departments.
- Check the accreditation of the institution and the credit and residency requirements for overseas students.