Program Overview

Photography and Film, Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A) with a concentration in photography

The Department of Photography and Film offers a variety of basic, intermediate, and advanced photography and filmmaking classes leading to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Film. The program provides students with the ability to intelligently express, investigate, or document using photography and/or film and to interpret meaning in still and moving images. Emphasis is placed on photography and film as contemporary fine arts.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:

• Historical perspectives: Students will clearly recall a functional knowledge of photographic and independent film history and theory, define the relationship of photography/film to the visual disciplines, and relate the medium's influence on culture.
• Applied criticism/theory: Students can analyze, assess, and debate contemporary sociopolitical issues and theoretical discourses within the context of contemporary photography and film as well as related media practice and research.
• Effective visual communication: Students can effectively author and present visual illustrations, representations, descriptions, explanations, and/or contextualization of their artistic, research-based, and career-oriented photography/film pursuits, ideas, and emotions for a broad range of purposes and audiences.
• Professional practice skills: Students demonstrate and apply broad knowledge of current business practices and resources of professional artists and independent commercial photographers and filmmakers.
• Effective oral communication: Students can effectively deliver oral descriptions, explanations, and/or contextualization of their artistic, research-based, and career-oriented photography/film pursuits, ideas, and emotions for a broad range of purposes and audiences.

Photography Concentration-Specific Outcome

• Competency in photography and exhibition technique: Students effectively recognize, explain, and deploy the use of basic to advanced photographic and digital media tools, techniques, and processes in the context of artist books, fine art gallery, and public art installations, or other creative venues to advance their work from concept to finished product.

Special Requirements

Successful completion of ARTF 131, ARTF 132, ARTF 133, and ARTF 134 is required for current art foundation students to major in photography and film. Core photography and film courses typically begin in the fall semester. However, students may also start in the spring semester, depending on individual advising and course availability.

Degree Requirements for Photography and Film, Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A) with a concentration in photography

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.

• General education: Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser.
• Major requirements:
  • Major core requirements:
    • PHTO 280: Moving Pixels (3 credits)
    • PHTO 281: Digital Imaging I (3 credits)
    • PHTO 350: Concepts I (3 credits)
  • Concentration requirements:
    • PHTO 243: Darkroom (3 credits)
    • PHTO 260: Experiments in Sequencing (3 credits)
    • PHTO 307: Processes and Techniques (3 credits)
    • PHTO 340: Lighting I: Studio (3 credits)
    • PHTO 352: Concepts II: Junior Project (3 credits)
    • PHTO 381: Digital Imaging II (3 credits)
    • PHTO 420 & PHTO 421: Senior Thesis I and Senior Thesis II (6 credits)
    • PHTO 435: Professional Practice (3 credits)
    • PHTO 442: Lighting II: Location (3 credits)
    • PHTO 474: Contemporary Critical Perspectives (3 credits)
• Ancillary requirements:
  • Art Foundation Program:
    • ARTF 131: Drawing Studio (3 credits)
    • ARTF 132: Surface Research (3 credits)
    • ARTF 133: Space Research (3 credits)
    • ARTF 134: Time Studio (3 credits)
    • ARTF 139 or ARTF 138: Project Studio or Project Seminar (2 credits)
  • ARTH 103 & ARTH 104: Survey of Art I and Survey of Art II (6 credits)
• Additional requirements:
  • ARTH 270 or ARTH 271 or ARTH 370: History of the Motion Picture I or History of the Motion Picture II or History of Animated Film (3 credits)
  • ARTH 372: History of Photography (3 credits)
• Arts electives: 10 credits
• Open electives: 12 credits

Recommended Course Sequence/Plan of Study

A sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU is provided. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.

• Freshman year:
  • Fall semester:
    • ARTF 131: Drawing Studio (3 credits)
    • ARTF 134: Time Studio (3 credits)
    • ARTF 139 or ARTF 138: Project Studio or Project Seminar (1 credit)
    • ARTH 103: Survey of Art I (3 credits)
    • UNIV 111: Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (3 credits)
    • General education course (3 credits)
  • Spring semester:
    • ARTF 132: Surface Research (3 credits)
    • ARTF 133: Space Research (3 credits)
    • ARTF 139 or ARTF 138: Project Studio or Project Seminar (1 credit)
    • ARTH 104: Survey of Art II (3 credits)
    • UNIV 112: Focused Inquiry II (3 credits)
    • General education course (3 credits)
• Sophomore year:
  • Fall semester:
    • ARTH 270: History of the Motion Picture I (3 credits)
    • PHTO 243: Darkroom (3 credits)
    • PHTO 280: Moving Pixels (3 credits)
    • PHTO 281: Digital Imaging I (3 credits)
    • General education course (3 credits)
  • Spring semester:
    • PHTO 260: Experiments in Sequencing (3 credits)
    • PHTO 307: Processes and Techniques (3 credits)
    • PHTO 381: Digital Imaging II (3 credits)
    • UNIV 200: Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (3 credits)
    • Arts elective (3 credits)
    • General education course (3 credits)
• Junior year:
  • Fall semester:
    • ARTH 372: History of Photography (3 credits)
    • PHTO 340: Lighting I: Studio (3 credits)
    • PHTO 350: Concepts I (3 credits)
    • Open elective (3 credits)
  • Spring semester:
    • PHTO 352: Concepts II: Junior Project (3 credits)
    • PHTO 442: Lighting II: Location (3 credits)
    • Art elective (4 credits)
    • General education course (3 credits)
    • General education course (3 credits)
• Senior year:
  • Fall semester:
    • PHTO 420: Senior Thesis I (3 credits)
    • PHTO 435: Professional Practice (3 credits)
    • PHTO 474: Contemporary Critical Perspectives (3 credits)
    • General education course (3 credits)
    • Open elective (3 credits)
  • Spring semester:
    • PHTO 421: Senior Thesis II (3 credits)
    • Art elective (3 credits)
    • Open electives (6 credits)