About Our MFA Program

School of Photography

About Our MFA Program

The graduate program in Photography imparts a high level of digital and traditional photography skill, graduate quality theory and substantially educates and supports students in their investigation of the applied and fine arts specializations. This is accomplished through the mastery of specific skills according to the student’s needs; strong education in relation to relevant theory; emphasis on the student’s personal vision; a professional faculty that provides depth as well as breadth of experience; and facilities that provide a professional context for study. Students have the opportunity to concentrate in the area of photography of specific interest to them while becoming aware of core principles related to photography as a medium.

The philosophy of the Department is to support graduate students in becoming leaders rather than followers in their area of specialization. Photography courses include a mix of studio courses, individual advisement and seminars. Strong conceptual and technical knowledge is the underpinning of the curriculum with a powerful and cohesive body of work being the tangible result. The student’s Final Project is reviewed by a panel of experts and upon approval is exhibited to the public.

MFA Program Learning Outcomes

School of Photography

MFA 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.
   • Understand industry business practices, including copyright law, as it relates to running and maintaining a successful business.
   • Ability to accurately communicate ideas, thoughts and proposals to potential clients.

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 including color space and gamut.
   • Understand and develop a personal workflow system.
   • Understand file capture size and resolution as it pertains to final output requirements.

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.

For application and portfolio requirements, please contact Graduate Admissions at 800-544-2787 or info@academyart.edu.

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