B.A. in Art – Concentration in Photography

About the Program

The B.A. in Art with a Concentration in Photography provides a comprehensive look at the medium of photography and prepares students for a career in photography as well as the arts in general. The curriculum encourages cultivation of a distinctive visual narrative through the development of artistic and technical skills, as well as a broad understanding of the role photography plays in contemporary culture. Students may also pursue a Photography minor, which features core photography courses and establishes a firm grounding in the skills of photographic seeing, production, and presentation while exploring and incorporating a visual direction.

The B.A. in Art with a Concentration in Photography allows students to immerse themselves in a focused and intense study while refining and expanding on the skills integral to the discipline of photography, including historical contexts. In addition, the concentration offers insight to careers in both fine art and applied/design (commercial) photography. The curriculum includes both photography and design courses in order to best prepare you for the contemporary world of photography. It also includes studio electives, allowing you to incorporate the elements of photographic practices with other non-photographic media in an interdisciplinary approach to art-making.

Marketable Skills

At the completion of this degree, students will have gained the ability to:

• Creatively solve problems and develop concepts
• Adapt techniques, tools, and materials to meet project, portfolio, and budgetary needs
• Articulate ideas whether in writing or verbally presented
• Criticize, evaluate, and explain works of art
• Visualize and evaluate finished imagery before their completion
• Verbally communicate principles, skills, and art appreciation
• Work under the pressure of deadlines
• Display strong design and conceptual skills relevant to many photographic and art-related applications
• Originate new ideas and communicate them photographically
• Interpret verbal instructions to produce creative photographic imagery
• Work with web, design and video technology
• Understand the history and critical study of photographic imagery
• Display strong technical skills and knowledge of multiple digital and film-format cameras
• Use current technology and software used in print and screen-based photographic imagery
• Strong technical skills and knowledge of multiple analog photographic processes
• Use and manipulate studio lighting and the equipment found in a lighting studio
• Apply principles of photography to fields including documentary, commercial, and fine art
• Originate new ideas and communicate them photographically
• Interpret verbal instructions to produce creative photographic imagery

Core Courses

• Digital Photography I
• Black and White Photography I
• Lighting Techniques
• History of Photography

Undergraduate Research & Internships

Produce tangible artistic projects in both traditional and digital media using our on-site labs and studios. Expand your portfolio with hands-on courses and real-world internship experience, and display your creative works in our DiMattio and Ice House Galleries.