Photography Major Requirements and Course Information
Photography major programs teach students the theory and technical aspects of photography. Many bachelor's degree programs today focus on digital photography, while some offer courses in print photography. Obtaining a bachelor's degree in photography can lead to careers in advertising, media, museums or galleries.
Bachelor's Degree in Photography
The most common bachelor's degree programs in photography award Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. Photography programs at the bachelor's degree level offer students multidisciplinary studies, offering broad curricula that address theories, technology and creative thought related to photography. Many programs allow students to specialize in an aspect of photography related to their individual interests, such as advertising, photojournalism, visual media, fine arts or commercial photography. Students have the chance to develop skills in the foundational techniques of photography, such as black-and-white or color photography, digital photography, darkroom procedures, aesthetics, composition and color balance.
Photography programs may also provide students with opportunities for artistic and professional practice. Programs generally encourage students to develop a personal style in photography in which they convey ideas, emotions and information in their work. Students may be subjected to critiques during courses or collaboration with peers, allowing them to further develop as artists. Some programs require students to develop a portfolio of work that shows their transformation from student to artist.
Throughout a bachelor's degree program, students will become trained in basic skills in photography, including positioning and point-of view techniques, shooting indoors and in sunlight, neutralizing backgrounds and finding points of emphasis. Students will generally work with a variety of equipment, learning to photograph 2-D and 3-D projects, shooting with 35mm cameras, and understanding how lenses, tripods and film function. Students will also explore various photography techniques, such as 'depth of field' and 'F-stop'.
Educational Prerequisites
Many photography programs have basic requirements, such as a high school transcript or a satisfactory General Educational Development (GED) test score. However, some schools may have additional enrollment requirements, such as the submission of a portfolio. Applicants may also be required to submit SAT or American College Testing (ACT) scores.
Program Coursework
Students in a photography program must typically complete around 60 hours of major coursework in such areas as lighting, camera use and maintenance, darkroom techniques, composition of images and the history of photography. Course topics within a photography curriculum may include these:
- Digital photography
- Design
- Art history
- Processes
- 2-dimensional design
- Photojournalism
- Color photography
- 3-dimensional design
- Photograph printmaking
Employment Outlook and Salary Info
Graduates of bachelor's degree programs in photography go on to work as photo editors, museum and gallery staff, multimedia specialists, photographer archivists, photo lab technicians, advertising photographers, portrait photographers, photojournalists or travel photographers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a 12% growth was predicted in the field between 2008 and 2018 (www.bls.gov). The median salary for photographers was $29,130 in 2010, with the highest-paid photographers earning in excess of $63,400 that year.
Continuing Education Information
Students interested in pursuing further education in photography may enroll in a Master of Arts or a Master of Fine Arts program in photography. Many master's degree programs focus on the individual vision of each student, allowing each student to further develop his or her point-of-view. During a master's degree program, students may engage in studio work and residencies, and they may develop a thesis or an exhibition of work near the end of the program.
Photographer Careers
Careers for professional photographers include photojournalism, scientific photography, industrial photography, food photography, sports photography and fine arts photography. More than 50% of working photographers today are freelance or self-employed.
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3 Popular Schools
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Florida (1 campus)
- Nevada (1 campus)
Classroom-Based Programs
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Bachelor
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- BFA in Cinema Production
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Florida (1 campus)
- Georgia (1 campus)
Classroom-Based Programs
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Bachelor
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- Bachelor of Fine Arts - Media Production: Audio Recording and Sound Design
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Florida (1 campus)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
Other Recommended Schools:
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School locations:
- Michigan (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Grand Valley State University include:
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- Graduate: Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Dance
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Musical Arts
- Photography, Film, and Video
- Film and Cinema Studies
- Photography
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School locations:
- Arizona (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Northern Arizona University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate Master
- Non-Degree: Certificate
- Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Design and Applied Arts
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Musical Arts
- Photography, Film, and Video
- Photography
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School locations:
- Washington (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Washington include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate First Professional Degree Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Dance
- Design and Applied Arts
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Musical Arts
- Photography, Film, and Video
- Photography
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School locations:
- Virginia (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Virginia Commonwealth University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate First Professional Degree Master
- Non-Degree: Diploma
- Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Dance
- Design and Applied Arts
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Musical Arts
- Photography, Film, and Video
- Photography
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School locations:
- Michigan (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Ferris State University include:
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- Graduate: First Professional Degree Master
- Non-Degree: Certificate Coursework
- Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Associate Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Design and Applied Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Musical Arts
- Photography, Film, and Video
- Photography
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School locations:
- New York (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Syracuse University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate First Professional Degree Master
- Non-Degree: Certificate
- Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Associate Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Design and Applied Arts
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Musical Arts
- Photography, Film, and Video
- Cinematography and Film Production
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School locations:
- Pennsylvania (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Temple University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate First Professional Degree Master
- Post Degree Certificate: First Professional Certificate Post Master's Certificate
- Undergraduate: Associate Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Dance
- Design and Applied Arts
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Musical Arts
- Photography, Film, and Video
- Film and Cinema Studies
- Photography
