About Our BFA Program

School of Photography

About Our BFA Program

School of Photography Student Gallery

The objective of the School of Photography is to develop technically and aesthetically sound photographers, capable of successfully entering and competing in the open marketplace upon graduation. Students complete a series of classes conducted by working professionals, who guide each student to find his or her "style" both by content and approach. Armed with technical skills plus design and concept knowledge, the student develops a cohesive portfolio that has their personal signature in every image.

Potential Careers: Fashion Photography, Advertising Photography, Editorial Photography, Photo Technician, Fine Art Photography, Documentary/Photo Journalism and Portrait Photography.

BFA Program Learning Outcomes

School of Photography

Graduates of the School of Photography will meet the following student performance criteria:

1. Conceptual and Analytic Skills

   • Make creative decisions that optimize conceptual impact, cohesiveness, and memorability of created images.
   • Integrate key conceptual elements (such as mood, narrative, and introducing the unexpected) with technical elements (such as composition, lighting, and point of view) to suggest a story and elicit an emotional response from the viewer.
   • Understand and create visual metaphors and symbols.
   • Demonstrate familiarity with various conceptual approaches to photography.
   • Critically assess the differences between straight and conceptual photography.
   • Competently critique photographs both verbally and in writing, including understanding technical, aesthetic and historical context.

2. Professional Readiness

   • Present and promote their portfolio to acquire jobs within the industry.
   • Solve creative and technical problems.
   • Set priorities and meet deadlines. Show accountability and attention to detail.
   • Understand project parameters and client expectations.
   • Understand photographic terminology.
   • Demonstrate sensitivity to styles and directions in their field.
   • Facility with relevant technology and software.

3. Lighting and Camera Capture Skills

   • Select effective lighting techniques and equipment for portraiture and still life and fine art.
   • Use point source, flood, spot, diffused and reflected light.
   • Recognize the signature effects of each type of lighting.
   • Use metering and exposure calculation, and have a full knowledge of 35mm and medium format cameras.
   • Master indoor and outdoor ambient lighting, strobe-hand held flash, lighting with constant light sources, day light VS. tungsten chrome, mixed lighting with constant light sources.
   • Understand the relationship between time of day/type of light.



Depending on the area of specialization, students will also demonstrate the ability to:

4. Traditional

   • Understand the properties and uses of different film types.
   • Understand of principles of film contrast control (zone system).
   • Perform advanced exposure calculations.
   • Effectively use a light meter.
   • Design lighting concepts and effectively use filters for print shooting.
   • Effectively develop film.
   • Exercise a clear knowledge of testing all formats of film.

5. Digital

   • Apply advanced Photoshop photography techniques, tool sets, layers, curves, and selections to digital media.
   • Scan film and prints using advanced techniques.
   • Navigate the Macintosh operating system including networking and digital file organization.
   • Successfully download files and manage digital data.
   • Select film and digital media based on archival qualities and understanding of ink and paper stability.
   • Correctly expose color transparency film and capture digital files correctly.
   • Recognize different types of light sources, their features and their color temperatures.
   • Control and manipulate color temperature.
   • Familiarity with optical color wheel.
   • Retouch images using color and tonal correction tools.
   • Understand color management and device profiles.

Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
2. Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
3. Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
4. Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
5. Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
6. Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
7. Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.

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