BFA Studio Art Photography

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program in Studio Art is designed to provide an enriched educational environment that develops and nurtures the full range of capabilities necessary for a career in the visual arts. Skills addressed include: a mastery of requisite technical skills, the use of technology across the curriculum, experience in critical and creative problem solving, visual literacy, knowledge of historical modes of expression in the visual arts, and mastery of written modes of expression. The Photography/Video program prepares students for careers ranging from fine art to commercial photography. A central premise of the program is that ideas and techniques are inextricably intertwined, and must be explored together. Courses emphasize the importance of grasping the principles and concepts behind both new and traditional imaging media, recognizing that students must acquire a firm grounding in basic ideas and techniques to be able to respond effectively to future change. Students produce work on a regular basis for group and individual critiques, as well as produce a senior project for exhibition during the spring semester of their final year. At every level, students are expected to spend substantial amounts of time outside of class perfecting their skills.Photography/Video facilities include digital and wet darkrooms, which cover everything from basic to advanced needs, providing students with a wide range of experiences from traditional black and white film to state of the art color prints using archival pigment ink sets, with opportunities to work in digital from cellphone to DSLR and medium format, and in film from roll to sheet. DASL (Digital Art Services Lab) provides a real world digital service bureau experience allowing students to produce prints of all sizes. It is available for students from all concentrations. Cameras in various formats, tripods, lighting equipment, and other accessories are available for student use. Our lighting studio is available for individual student sessions. Other facilities throughout the department are available for individual projects, such as wood and metal labs, print shop and bookbinding, laser cutting, and 3D printing.