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Program Overview
Photographic and Imaging Arts Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree
Overview
The Photographic and Imaging Arts BFA program at RIT offers students the opportunity to master photography in various fields, including advertising, fine art, photojournalism, and visual media. The program provides a comprehensive education in photographic arts, with a focus on both technical and creative skills.
Why Study Photography at RIT
- Industry Exposure: The School of Photographic Arts and Sciences brings an array of visiting professionals, events, and talks.
- Gain Real-World Experience: Gain hands-on experience in the classroom and through paid work opportunities like internships and co-op.
- Focused Degree Options: Options in advertising photography, fine art photography, photojournalism, and visual media.
RIT’s Photography BFA
RIT’s photographic and imaging arts major has options in advertising photography, fine art photography, photojournalism, and visual media. Study photographic imaging with an immersive and hands-on approach geared toward creativity and innovation. Enrollment in photography classes begins on day one of the first year. Theoretical and experimental components lead to the development of broad-based skills required of professionals in today’s ever-changing image culture, art world, and industries.
Options
Advertising Photography Option
Be prepared for a diverse and rewarding career in the field of visual communications. Learn to create photographs and moving media for a wide range of commercial use in today’s fast-changing media environment.
Fine Art Photography
The fine art photography option prepares students for careers as visual artists, educators, editorial photographers, or freelance artists. Study the theoretical and practical skills needed to create thought-provoking and meaningful images develops technical, conceptual, and aesthetic abilities, and become a contemporary image-maker.
Photojournalism
Produce non-fiction visual reporting that tells the stories of people, social issues and events for diverse and modern media outlets including digital and print. Learn to create and publish both still photographic reporting as well as moving and interactive media that document our diverse culture, evoking both the momentous and the everyday circumstances of contemporary life and society.
Visual Media
Integrate the graphic communications professions of photography, media design, and business. Prepare for a career as a visual media specialist or other professional positions that have a demand for photographically skilled professionals who can work effectively with graphic designers, print media specialists, multimedia and social media professionals.
Careers and Experiential Learning
Typical Job Titles
- Advertising Photographer
- Archivist
- Art Director
- Branding Specialist
- Curator
- Editorial Photographer
- Freelance Photographer
- Gallery Manager/Owner
- Graphic Designer
- Image Retoucher
- Magazine Editor
- Multimedia Editor
- Multimedia Journalist
- Photo Illustrator
- Photo/Picture Editor
- Photojournalist
- Portrait Photographer
- Producer
- Project Manager
- Publisher
- Social Media Strategist
- Sports Photographer
- Studio Manager
- Videographer
Cooperative Education and Internships
What’s different about an RIT education? It’s the career experience you gain by completing cooperative education and internships with top companies in every single industry. You’ll earn more than a degree. You’ll gain real-world career experience that sets you apart.
Curriculum
Photographic and Imaging Arts (advertising photography option), BFA degree, typical course sequence
- First Year
- ARTH-1##: Any 100-level ARTH Course (General Education – Artistic Perspective)
- ARTH-1##: Any 100-level ARTH Course (General Education – Global Perspective)
- FDTN-111: Drawing I
- FDTN-121: 2D Design I
- PHAR-101: Photographic Arts I
- PHAR-102: Photographic Arts II
- PHPS-106: Photographic Science Fundamentals
- PHPS-107: Photographic Technology II
- YOPS-10: RIT 365: RIT Connections
- Second Year
- FDTN-141: 4D Design
- PHAR-202: Elements of Advertising Photography
- PHAR-211: Histories and Aesthetics of Photography I
- PHAR-212: Histories and Aesthetics of Photography II
- Choose one of the following:
- PHAR-201: Elements of Fine Art Photography
- PHAR-203: Elements of Photojournalism
- PHAR-204: Elements of Visual Media
- Third Year
- PHAP-301: Advertising Photography I
- PHAP-302: Advertising Photography II
- PHAP-361: Foundations of Image Retouching
- CAD Electives
- General Education – Immersion 1 (WI-GE), 2
- Open Electives
- Fourth Year
- PHAP-401: Advanced Capstone I
- PHAP-321: Business Practices for Professional Photographers
- PHAP-403: Portfolio Development (WI-PR)
- CAD Electives
- Open Elective
- General Education – Immersion 3
- Advertising Photography Professional Elective
Photographic and Imaging Arts (fine art photography option), BFA degree, typical course sequence
- First Year
- ARTH-1##: Any 100-level ARTH Course (General Education – Artistic Perspective)
- ARTH-1##: Any 100-level ARTH Course (General Education – Global Perspective)
- FDTN-111: Drawing I
- FDTN-121: 2D Design I
- PHAR-101: Photographic Arts I
- PHAR-102: Photographic Arts II
- PHPS-106: Photographic Science Fundamentals
- PHPS-107: Photographic Technology II
- YOPS-10: RIT 365: RIT Connections
- Second Year
- FDTN-141: 4D Design
- PHAR-201: Elements of Fine Art Photography
- PHAR-211: Histories and Aesthetics of Photography I
- PHAR-212: Histories and Aesthetics of Photography II
- Choose one of the following:
- PHAR-202: Elements of Advertising Photography
- PHAR-203: Elements of Photojournalism
- PHAR-204: Elements of Visual Media
- Third Year
- PHFA-301: Fine Art Core I
- PHFA-302: Fine Art Core II
- PHFA-401: Professional Development for Artists (WI-PR)
- Art History Elective
- Fine Art Photography Professional Electives
- CAD Elective
- General Education – Immersion 1 (WI-GE), 2
- Open Elective
- Fourth Year
- PHFA-402: Fine Art Photography Portfolio I
- PHFA-403: Fine Art Photography Portfolio II
- Fine Art Photography Professional Electives
- CAD Electives
- Open Electives
- General Education – Immersion 3
Photographic and Imaging Arts (photojournalism option), BFA degree, typical course sequence
- First Year
- ARTH-1##: Any 100-level ARTH Course (General Education – Artistic Perspective)
- ARTH-1##: Any 100-level ARTH Course (General Education – Global Perspective)
- FDTN-111: Drawing I
- FDTN-121: 2D Design I
- PHAR-101: Photographic Arts I
- PHAR-102: Photographic Arts II
- PHPS-106: Photographic Science Fundamentals
- PHPS-107: Photographic Technology II
- YOPS-10: RIT 365: RIT Connections
- Second Year
- FDTN-141: 4D Design
- PHAR-203: Elements of Photojournalism
- PHAR-211: Histories and Aesthetics of Photography I
- PHAR-212: Histories and Aesthetics of Photography II
- Choose one of the following:
- PHAR-201: Elements of Fine Art Photography
- PHAR-202: Elements of Advertising Photography
- PHAR-204: Elements of Visual Media
- Third Year
- IDEA-301: Foundations of Project Development (WI-PR)
- PHPJ-302: Photojournalism I
- PHPJ-306: Picture Editing I
- PHPJ-307: Ethics and Law
- PHPJ-315: Non-Fiction Multimedia
- PHPJ-455: Advanced Non-Fiction Multimedia
- CAD Elective
- General Education – Immersion 1, 2
- Open Elective
- Fourth Year
- PHPJ-401: Photojournalism Capstone 1 (WI-PR)
- PHPJ-402: Photojournalism Portfolio and Professional Development
- CAD Electives
- Open Electives
- General Education – Immersion 3
- Photojournalism Professional Electives
Photographic and Imaging Arts (visual media option), BFA degree, typical course sequence
- First Year
- ARTH-1##: Any 100-level ARTH Course (General Education – Artistic Perspective)
- ARTH-1##: Any 100-level ARTH Course (General Education – Global Perspective)
- FDTN-111: Drawing I
- FDTN-121: 2D Design I
- PHAR-101: Photographic Arts I
- PHAR-102: Photographic Arts II
- PHPS-106: Photographic Science Fundamentals
- PHPS-107: Photographic Technology II
- YOPS-10: RIT 365: RIT Connections
- Second Year
- FDTN-141: 4D Design
- PHAR-204: Elements of Visual Media
- PHAR-211: Histories and Aesthetics of Photography I
- PHAR-212: Histories and Aesthetics of Photography II
- Choose one of the following:
- PHAR-201: Elements of Fine Art Photography
- PHAR-202: Elements of Advertising Photography
- PHAR-203: Elements of Photojournalism
- Third Year
- CAD Sequence Core Course
- SCB Business Course
- Visual Media Professional Electives
- CAD Elective
- General Education – Immersion 1 (WI-GE), 2
- Open Elective
- Fourth Year
- PHVM-301: Visual Media Career Research
- PHVM-401: Visual Media Capstone (WI-PR)
- CAD Sequence Core Course
- CAD Electives
- Open Elective
- SCB Business Course
- General Education – Immersion 3
Admissions and Financial Aid
First-Year Admission
First-year applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong academic background that includes:
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of social studies and/or history
- 3-4 years of mathematics
- 2-3 years of science
Financial Aid and Scholarships
100% of all incoming first-year and transfer students receive aid.
RIT’s personalized and comprehensive financial aid program includes scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment programs. When all these are put to work, your actual cost may be much lower than the published estimated cost of attendance.
Accreditation
All four options of the BFA program in photographic and imaging arts, as well as the MFA program in photography and related media, are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Faculty
- Gregory Halpern: Professor
- William Snyder: Professor
- Meredith Davenport: Associate Professor
Facilities
- Sound Capture Room
- Digital Photo Lab
- Imaging Services Lab (ISL)
Events
- Film+FotoFest@RIT'25
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