Photography Option

The School of Film and Photography (SFP) prepares students to meet the challenges of a rapidly expanding media environment as professionally trained creative artists and informed critical thinkers. Our students develop their own voices as tomorrow's leaders through intensive hands-on exploration of film, photography, and related media.

The School of Film and Photography offers two undergraduate degrees, a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) in Film and Photography and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA) in Integrated Lens-Based Media. The BA has two separate concentrations (termed Options), Film or Photography, though there is crossover in both areas built into each Option. Students who wish to explore an even deeper relationship between Film and Photography may apply for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Program in Integrated Lens Media.

The Photography option is both an artistic and applied program, providing a solid foundation for those entering a professional field and those choosing to pursue postgraduate education. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the Photography option is one of the few comprehensive four-year photography degree programs in the north central and northwest United States. Coursework covers everything from traditional silver-based darkroom techniques to alternative processes with emphasis in digital technologies across the curriculum.

Photography Option Foundations

Upon completion of the required Photography foundation courses and two university Core requirements, WRIT 101W and University Seminar (US), interested students may apply for acceptance into the Photography option. Selection will be based on passing grades in the required foundation courses. Those accepted into the program will be required to purchase a Macintosh laptop computer that meets the specifications of the department by the start of fall semester of their sophomore year. 

A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation, 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above.

Photography Option Curriculum

Foundation Courses (typically taken in freshman year)

FILM 101IHUnderstanding Film and Media3
FILM 112Aesthetics of Film Production I3
PHOT 113RAThe Magic of the Darkroom I3
PHOT 213The Magic of the Darkroom II3
WRIT 101WCollege Writing I3
University Seminar (topic of choice)3

Photography Option Requirements

PHOT 255Intro to Color Photography4
PHOT 258View Camera4
Choose four of the following Film & Photo Studies courses (must include 304):12
Film History I: Origins to the 1960s
Film History II: 1960s to the Present
American Popular Television
Recent History of Photography
Studies in Film
Contemporary Issues in Photography
Advanced Studies in Film
Photography students are strongly recommended to take ARTH 200IA Art of World Civilization I (4) and/or ARTH 201IA Art of World Civilization II (4) as well as other Art History classes especially if graduate school is planned. Other recommended studies electives taught in departments across the University are: ARTH 391 Visual Analysis of Film and Video (3), GRMN 422IH German Text & Cinema (3), JPNS 361IH Japanese Text and Cinema (3), LS 451 Film, Photos, and Culture: A Global Perspective (3), NASX 360 Native Americans and Cinema (3), PHL 328 Philosophy and Film (3), SPNS 352IH US Latino Text and Cinema (3), and PSYX 263CS The Psychology of Film (3).
Take two of the following Photography Production courses:8
Prof Practices in Photography
Landscape and the Book
Advanced Lighting Practices
Alternative Photographic Techniques
Portraiture
Image & Text
Experimental Photography
Seminar/Workshop
Other photography-related production course(s) approved by advisor
PHOT 499 -Senior Production Photography (fall or spring; may be taken twice)5
Entry into Senior Capstone requires an accepted proposal, completion of Freshman and Sophomore course requirements, Junior Production electives, completion of a minimum of 3 of the 4 required Studies electives, and completion of at least 2 of the SFP electives. Core and Non-SFP electives can be taken at any time.
SFP Electives (at least 4 courses*; photo majors are strongly encouraged to fulfill 2 SFP electives with Photography Production courses)12-16
Non-SFP Electives not including Core Requirement (at least 3 courses**)9
Total Credits72

Photography Students are strongly recommended to take at least one of ARTZ 109IA Visual Language: Comprehensive Foundation, ARTZ 110RA Visual Language: Ideation and Creativity, or ARTZ 105IA Visual Language - Drawing, and ARTH 200IA Art of World Civilization I or ARTH 201IA Art of World Civilization II. ARTZ and ARTH courses can count as SFP electives. ARTH courses can count as SFP Studies electives.