Photography AFA

Program Overview

---

Summary

With a foundation in the principles of visual design, composition and art history, students develop technical skills in capturing, developing and printing the photographic image, exploring the manipulation of light to create images.

What You’ll Learn

• Develop and apply perceptual skills and knowledge of visual structure in the creation of photographic images
• Develop and apply skills in creative and technical processes to develop foundation skills as well as individual artistic point of view and expression
• Use and apply the language and vocabulary of photography and visual design in critiques and discussion
• Develop a portfolio of photographic images communicating foundations skills and individual artistic direction

Courses & Requirements

General Education - 20 Credits

Communication (10 Credits)

• ENGL& 101 English Composition I
• ENGL& 102 Composition II: Reasoning/Research/Writing

Multicultural Understanding (5 Credits)

Choose one of the following courses: CMST 203, CMST 285, GWS 284, HIST& 220, HIST 245, HUM 105, AES 101, PSYC 230, SOC 270. Recommended: HUM 105.

• Course 1

Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning (5 Credits)

Choose one of the following classes:

MATH& 107, MATH 111, MATH& 141, MATH& 142, MATH& 146, MATH& 148, MATH& 151, MATH& 152, MATH& 163, MATH 207, MATH 208, MATH 211, MATH& 264, PHIL& 120

• Course 1

Distribution Requirements (30 Credits)

Humanities

Included in Photography Core Requirements

Natural Sciences (15 Credits)

Select from at least two different disciplines (e.g. Biology and Physics) in Natural Sciences. At least 10 credits required in Physical, Earth, and/or Biological Sciences, including at least 5 credits of lab science. Maximum 5 credits from Other Science courses.

• Course 1
• Course 2
• Course 3

Social Sciences (15 Credits)

Select from at least two different disciplines (e.g., Psychology and History) in Social Sciences.

• Course 1
• Course 2
• Course 3

Photography Core Requirements (50 Credits)

• VCT 124 Basic Mac & PC Systems
• VCT 125 Intro to Image Construction, Editing & Output
• VCT 136 Adobe: Raster Graphics w/Photoshop
• ART 109 Two-Dimensional Design
• ART 131 Drawing 1
• ART 144 Photography 1
• ART 145 Photography 2
• ART 146 Photography 3
• ART 244 Studio Photography
• ART 246 Documentary Photography
• ART 290 AFA Portfolio

Art History Requirements (10 Credits)

10 credits of Art History are required for the Foundation Studio Art Core. Take ARTH 226 and one of the following courses: ARTH 204, ARTH 210, ARTH 224, ARTH 225.

• ARTH 226 Survey of Western Art: Modern/Postmodern
• Course 1

Where can I transfer?

The AFA degree makes it possible for students to transfer as art majors with advanced placement to a number of public and private colleges and universities in the U.S. Washington state institutions are listed below.

Public Institutions

• Central Washington University
• Eastern Washington University
• The Evergreen State College
• University of Washington
• Washington State University
• Western Washington University

Private Institutions

• Cornish School of the Arts
• Gonzaga University
• Heritage University
• NW College of Art & Design
• Pacific Lutheran University
• Seattle Pacific University
• Seattle University
• Walla Walla University

Careers & Opportunities

Graduates of Photography programs develop the knowledge and technical skills to work as professional photographers in a variety of careers, including: photojournalism, exhibiting artists, freelance artists, advertising, marketing and sales, public relations, photo conservation and publishing.

Potential employers include: Photography studios, newspapers, magazines and publishing companies, galleries, arts and humanities organization, historical societies, public and private schools, colleges and universities, business and industry, government agencies and non-profit organizations.

Sample Degree Map

The following outline is designed to provide you with an example of what a full-time sequence of courses might look like. We strongly encourage every student to meet with an Academic Advisor to customize and adapt this example to suit individual needs.

Quarter 1 - Typically Fall

• ART 109 Two-Dimensional Design
• ENGL& 101 English Composition I
• Math course such as MATH& 107 Math in Society

Quarter 2

• ART 131 Drawing 1
• ART 144 Photography 1
• Multicultural Understanding course such as
  • HUM 105 Multicultural Studies through Arts & Humanities
  • AES 101 Power and Positionality in the United States

Quarter 3

• ART 145 Photography 2
• Natural Science lab course such as ENVS& 100 Survey of Environmental Science
• Social Science course such as
  • PHIL 102 Contemporary Moral Problems
  • PSYC& 100 General Psychology
  • PSYC 207 The Psychology of Excellence

Quarter 4

• ART 146 Photography 3
• ARTH 226 Survey of Western Art: Modern/Postmodern
• ENGL& 102 Composition II: Reasoning/Research/Writing

Quarter 5

• ART 244 Studio Photography
• Natural Science course such as BIOL 107 Biology and Society
• Social Sciences course

Quarter 6

• ART 246 Documentary Photography
• Art History course such as
  • ARTH 204 Survey of Asian Art
  • ARTH 210 Japanese Art History
  • ARTH 273 History of Photography
• Natural Sciences course

Quarter 7

• VCT 124 Basic Mac & PC Systems
• VCT 125 Intro to Image Construction, Editing & Output
• VCT 136 Adobe: Raster Graphics w/Photoshop
• Social Sciences course

Quarter 8

• ART 290 AFA Portfolio

Tuition & Fees

Estimated Tuition & Fees

(does not include additional program or course fees, books, or supply costs)

Per Quarter
| WA-Resident | Non-WA resident, US citizen, & Eligible non-citizen On Campus | Non-WA resident Non-US citizen¹ | Non-WA resident, US citizen Online Only
---|---|---|---|---
1 credit | $126.47 | $246.49 | $327.01 | $144.67
5 credits | $632.35 | $1,232.45 | $1,635.05 | $723.35
12 credits (full-time) | $1,387.14 | $2,487.04 | $3,408.94 | $1,571.08
15 credits | $1,570.80 | $2,520.25 | $3,617.20 | $1,757.65

¹ Includes all International Students, both on campus and overseas online

Additional Program Fees

• Approximately $50 - $150 per quarter, depending on courses selected

Related Program Options

• Computer Graphics Foundation Certificate
• Web Design Certificate
• Digital Video Certificate
• Digital Photography Certificate
• Game Art and Design AAAS
• Visual Communications Business Foundation Certificate
• Creative Project Management AAAS
• Art and Design Foundation Certificate
• Digital Illustration/Animation Certificate
• Visual Communications Foundation with Specialization Certificate
• Graphic Design AAAS
• Foundation Studio Art AFA
• Art History Pre-Major
• Animation/Video for Multimedia AAAS
• Visual Communications Computer Foundation Certificate
• Visual Communications Foundation Certificate
• Humanities Pre-Major

Program Outline

Outline:

• The Associate in Fine Arts - Photography degree is designed to meet the general education requirements at Washington state four-year institutions and to prepare students for baccalaureate majors in Photography.
• Emphasizes portfolio development.
• Provides a foundation for artistic development and direction for students who do not plan on transferring for further academic study.

---

Careers:

• Graduates develop the knowledge and technical skills to work as professional photographers in a variety of careers, including:
• photojournalism
• exhibiting artists
• freelance artists
• advertising
• marketing and sales
• public relations
• photo conservation
• publishing.
• Potential employers include:
• Photography studios
• newspapers
• magazines and publishing companies
• galleries
• arts and humanities organizations
• historical societies
• public and private schools
• colleges and universities
• business and industry
• government agencies
• non-profit organizations.