Photography Classes in Las Vegas, NV with Degree Program Overviews
Research photography classes in Las Vegas, which currently has three schools offering programs. Read an overview of programs, admission info and program requirements for three Las Vegas schools and decide which program is right for you.
Comparison of Las Vegas Photography Schools
The University of Nevada - Las Vegas is right in the heart of Las Vegas and hosts undergraduate and graduate programs for photography majors. Each fall, the Department of Art invites prominent artists, historians and critics to speak to students. The College of Southern Nevada is located about 15 minutes from the downtown Las Vegas area and offers certificate and associate degree programs in commercial photography through its Department of Media Technologies. This department is the most comprehensive of its kind in the state of Nevada. Although a photography program isn't available at Nevada State College, there are photography classes, as well as a bachelor's degree program in visual media. This program may be of interest to students who want to focus more on digitally processing photographs. Nevada State College is a little farther out than the other schools, at about 21 miles from Las Vegas.
| University of Nevada - Las Vegas | College of Southern Nevada | Nevada State College | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photography Programs Offered | Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with Photography Concentration Master of Fine Arts in Photography | Commercial Photography Associate Degree Commercial Photography Certificate | N/A |
| Related Programs Offered | N/A | N/A | Bachelor of Science in Interactive Media |
| School Type | 4-year; public | 4-year (primarily associate); public | 4-year; public |
| Total Enrollment (2011) | 27,364* | 37,717* | 3,192* |
| Campus Setting | Midsize city | Large city | Rural fringe |
| Tuition & Fees (2011-2012) | $6,428 for in-state; $20,023 for out-of-state* | $2,513 for in-state; $9,008 for out-of-state* | $4,006 for in-state; $14,051 for out-of-state* |
| % of First-Year Students Receive Some Form of Financial Aid (2011) | 90%* | 66%* | 85%* |
| Acceptance Rate (2011) | 82%* | N/A - Open admissions* | 66%* |
| Retention Rate (2011) | 76% for full-time students and 47% for part-time students* | N/A* | 62% for full-time students and 34% for part-time students* |
| Graduation Rate (2011) | 39%* | 11%* | 22%* |
| Noteworthy | Art galleries | Student workshops | State-of-the-art lab facilities |
| Distance from Downtown (Driving Time) | 2.8 mi. (7 min.) | 6.5 mi. (15 min.) | 20.9 mi. (22 min.) |
Source: *NCES College Navigator.
Programs at University of Nevada - Las Vegas
Students at the University of Nevada - Las Vegas can learn about different perspectives on art by attending the school's Visiting Artists and Scholars Lecture Series. The school also has galleries that showcase work from both students and prominent artists.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with Photography Concentration
A total of 120 credit hours have to be completed to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art. The photography concentration requires students to take part in an appropriate internship. The curriculum includes courses in black and white photography, color photography, commercial photography, photographic processes and digital photography. Students must also take core art courses, including drawing, art history and design fundamentals.
Master of Fine Arts in Photography
This is a research-focused graduate program that takes three years to complete. Students each receive an individual studio space and are given opportunities to work closely with faculty members. Students must participate in graduate projects and take part in a graduate exhibition as part of their thesis. Additionally, students attend seminars and take studio, theory and criticism classes. Students are required to attend full-time, but graduate assistantships are available to help defray some of the costs of the program.
Programs at College of Southern Nevada
Photoshop is taught in both the certificate and associate degree programs in commercial photography. The school also hosts workshops, contests, symposiums and other events to help students build photography skills.
Commercial Photography Certificate
The certificate in commercial photography takes about a year to earn. There are beginning and intermediate classes for photographic processes. Other photography topics covered at this school include color lab technologies, illustration photography, photographic lighting and photojournalism.
Commercial Photography Associate Degree
Two years typically need to be dedicated to the associate degree program in commercial photography. Students take the same photography coursework that certificate students do. In addition, associate degree students must take general education courses as prescribed by the school.
Programs at Nevada State College
Nevada State College doesn't offer a photography program; however, the interactive media concentration for the Bachelor of Science in Visual Media program includes some photography courses.
Bachelor of Science in Interactive Media
The history of photography course available at Nevada State College covers the time span from the invention of photography to the present. It also goes over how photography progressed in specific regions of the world such as Great Britain, France and the United States. The college also offers classes in beginning white and black photography and digital photography. However, overall, this major focuses on media design, digital imaging and computer animation.
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