Program Details
Photography and Film with concentration in Photography, Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Fine ArtsVirginia Commonwealth University
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. The department promotes a fundamental and effective philosophy that students maintain creative freedom, have access to resources and are enrolled in courses in which they can refine their voices and skills through traditional and contemporary media, tools and professional working methods.
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. Students will incorporate a broad perception of cultural diversity including age, race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, etc., communicating insight and ownership of a personal meaning of diversity. 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. Topics to be examined can include but are not limited to multiculturalism, environmentalism, queer theory, feminist and gender studies, postmodernism, modernism, psychoanalytical, Marxism, post-structuralism, post-colonialism and the post-digital. Students will incorporate a broad perception of cultural diversity including age, race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, etc., communicating insight and ownership of a personal meaning of diversity within applied criticism and theory. 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. Students are capable of estimating costs, administering their legal rights as authors of visual art, establishing a professional network, generating and distributing marketing materials, establishing a reliable mode of art production, acquiring additional training, and devising business plans. Students can recognize ethical issues when presented within the context of professional practice. 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. 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. Students will display evidence of professional proficiency regarding the methods and modes of production presented in required courses covering technical mastery of analog and digital photography.
Program Overview & Guidance
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | Our degree requires students to be self-starting and motivated creators who are comfortable generating artistic ideas and problem solving around the production of their projects. This degree requires a lot of independent work generating projects that take weeks or months to complete. Students should be intellectually curious and comfortable speaking in front of others as well as working in groups. The degree is labor intensive but very creativity rewarding, and built in a department with a very strong community. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
To start as a sophomore in our program, students must have completed courses that are equivalent to the VCU Arts Foundation program--found here: https://bulletin.vcu.edu/undergraduate/arts/art-foundation-program/#programrequirementstext. To start as a junior in our program students must have completed VCU Arts Foundation equivalents and will be required to have at least 9 credits in Photo & Filmmaking topics. Of these 9 credits it's required to have Digital Photography 1 and Digital Filmmaking 1 and should also have Darkroom (for Photo students), and other film production classes (film students).
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | Photo & Film majors pick between our Photography or Filmmaking concentrations. Our degree is built to easily accommodate minors in numerous topics--our students often pursue minors in Sound Design, Animation, Special Effects, Advertising & PR, Fine Arts, or many other topics. We also have numerous students who pursue double majors in subjects like Art Education or other media subjects. In addition, our students augment their studies with various internships in Richmond's large creative economy. |
| Program Successes & Highlights | Notable alumni from our program are photographers, filmmakers, digital media producers in the aerospace industry, museums, university communication offices, and government agencies like NASA. Jobs include producers, art directors, photographers and video editors at high end ad agencies, streaming services, and local TV stations, or they have established their own production companies and successful art or academic careers. |
Program Credit Requirements
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
- Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
- View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
Applicable Admissions Agreements
There are no Applicable Admission Agreements for the Program.
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Students who earn an Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts & Sciences, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Science, General Education Certificate, or Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System, Richard Bland College, or the College of Southern Maryland may be eligible to participate in the Guaranteed Admission Agreement. Students with one of these degrees may also be eligible to have the majority of their general education requirements waived. Students who have earned a transfer-oriented associate degree from any regionally accredited institution or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System before enrolling at VCU will have their General Education requirements satisfied. The Uniform Certificate of General Studies is recommended for this major. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | Students who have earned a transfer-oriented associate degree from any regionally accredited institution or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System before enrolling at VCU will have their General Education requirements satisfied. The Uniform Certificate of General Studies is recommended for this major. |
| Credit for Prior Learning | VCU accepts a variety of types of credit for prior learning, including but not limited to Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), military experience, Cambridge, and industry certifications that are recommended for credit by the American Council on Education or the National College Credit Recommendation Service. |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | VCU is a large, research-driven institution nestled on two campuses in downtown Richmond, Virginia, offering a vast array of degree programs from arts to dental hygiene to engineering to education. VCU students have access to hundreds of student organizations, which is a great way to connect with others whether or not you choose to live in one of our many on-campus residence halls. Take advantage of VCU's location with access to the James River and its park system, internship and job opportunities, community engagement, and interstates to travel to the beach, the mountains, and Washington, D.C.. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by the student's first semester of degree-seeking attendance at VCU. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by the student's first semester of degree-seeking attendance at VCU. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | https://admissions.vcu.edu/apply-to-vcu/undergraduate/transfer/ |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brightpoint Community College | Associate of Applied Arts Degree in Visual Arts | Associate | Associate of Applied Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Brightpoint Community College | Associate of Applied Arts Degree in Visual Arts - Photo Specialization | Associate | Associate of Applied Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Associate of Art degree in Liberal Arts: Fine Arts Major | Associate | Associate of Art | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Cinema, A.F.A. | Associate | Associate of Fine Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Graphic Design, A.A.S. | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Graphic Design: Interactive Design Specialization, A.A.S. | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Photography and Media, A.A.S. | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Visual Art, A.F.A. | Associate | Associate of Fine Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid, Online |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Associate of Fine Arts in Visual Arts | Associate | Associate of Fine Arts | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Applied Arts - Studio Arts (Photographic Media Arts) | Associate | Associate of Applied Arts | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Western Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Visual Design | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Virginia Western Community College | Associate of Arts Degree in Fine Arts | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-1121.00 | Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 27-4021.00 | Photographers | Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject's appearance. May use editing software to produce finished images and prints. Includes commercial and industrial photographers, scientific photographers, and photojournalists. | Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ |
Cost To Complete