Art, B.F.A.: Photography Concentration

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Art, B.F.A. Program (127 units)

Program Description

The Art Department emphasizes study in our Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) Program. This is a professional degree that offers students the opportunity to develop greater expertise through comprehensive and intensive study in a specific area of art or design - a program that leads to successful careers in the visual art and design industries. Students who intend to pursue graduate studies or advanced skills for a professional career typically choose the B.F.A degree.

The B.F.A. professional concentrations require 70 units of study in the Department to complete the major.  There is no application procedure to enter the Bachelor of Fine Arts program beyond declaring as a B.F.A. student with a specific concentration.  The concentrations are listed below under major requirements.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts will be able to: 

• Demonstrate mastery of appropriate art-making skills and tools.
• Imagine, ideate and create using an open, confident, and flexible method through creative processes and design thinking.
• Critique and think critically about art works using appropriate concepts from art history and theory, in the context of culture, contemporary art, and in public and global spheres.
• Communicate clearly and persuasively through their work.
• Integrate arts related skills in developing professional practices and planning for ethical, sustainable civic engagement.
• Formulate a plan to develop and maintain a  professional creative practice.

Program Roadmaps

These program roadmaps represent recommended pathways through the program. Please see an advisor to create an education plan that is customized to meet your needs.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program go on to pursue careers as:

• User Experience (UX) Designer • Interaction Designer • Game Designer • Web Designer • User Interface (UI) Designer • User Experience (UX) Researcher • Level Designer • Product Designer • Creative Director • Information Designer/Information Architect • Fine Artist • Product Designer • Architectural Model Maker • 3D Modeler for Film • Craft Artist • Secondary School Teacher • Computer Aided Designer (CAD) • Book Illustrator • Character Designer • Educational Illustrator • Matte Painter (Film and Game Industry) • Animator • Editorial Illustrator • Storyboard Artist • Advertising Illustrator • 3D Modeler • 3D Character Rigger • Digital Painter • Forensic Animator • Stop Motion Animator • Film / Video Editor • Video Production Crew • Motion Graphics Designer • 3D Character Animator • Effects Animator • Compositing Artist • Photo Journalist • Studio / Portrait Photographer • Stock Photographer • Fine Art Photographer • Event Photographer • Fashion Photographer • Commerical / Industrial Photographer • Graphic Designer • Multimedia / Content Developer • Publication Designer • Visual / Branding Designer • Creative Studio Manager • Studio Artist • Muralist • Set Painter/Designer • Production Assistant/Manager • Printmaker • Gallery Assistant • Arts Administrator • Assistant Conservator • Museum & Gallery Preparator • Sculptor • Ceramicist • Production Potter • Art Teacher/Instructor • Game Developer • Creative Technologist • Design Researcher • Wildcard Designer • Imagineer • Environment Designer • Portfolio Coordinator.

Degree Requirements Unit-Outline

• A baccalaureate of fine arts degree requires a total of 127 units:
  • The major requirements consists of 70 units;
  • General Education (GE) & Graduation Requirements (GR) consists of 57 units;
  • Free Electives may consist of 0 units (actual number of free elective units may depend on GE/GR units).

Note: It may be possible to double-count units within the graduation requirements or that a course may satisfy both a graduation requirement and a major requirement. Students should contact their program and AACE advisors for information.

Photography Concentration

The concentration in Photography provides well-grounded studies in the aesthetic and practical areas of contemporary camera-generated imagery with an emphasis on digital technologies. Students take a wide range of classes, including fine art, studio lighting, and advanced digital imaging which culminate in a capstone class designed to prepare the students for a career in photography or to apply to graduate school. The program’s goal is to provide students with the visual, technical, conceptual, and professional vocabulary they need to succeed in their field.

Photography Core

The following 24 units are required:

• ART 152 - Web Design I: Foundations Units: 3
• ART 240 - Photography II Units: 3
• ART 340A - Creative Photography I Units: 3
• ART 340B - Creative Photography II Units: 3
• ART 340C - Creative Photography III Units: 3
• ART 341 - Advanced Photography and Social Justice Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: Social Justice
• ART 348A - Studio Lighting and Product Photography Units: 3
• ART 349A - Portrait Photography Units: 3

Restricted Electives

Choose three (3) of the following for 9 units:

• ART 111 - Sculpture I Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• ART 115 - Ceramics I Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• ART 172 - Painting I Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• ART 241 - 4D Project Development and Preproduction Units: 3
• ART 242 - Audio Production for Video and Animation Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• ART 243 - Video I Units: 3
• ART 247 - Landscape Photography Units: 3
• ART 251 - Interaction and Experience Design Foundations Units: 3
• ART 270 - Drawing II Units: 3
• ART 274 - Figure Drawing I Units: 3
• ART 278 - Bookmaking I Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• ART 279 - Printmaking I Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• ART 340C - Creative Photography III Units: 3
• ART 348B - Advanced Studio Lighting and Product Photography Units: 3
• ART 349B - Advanced Portrait Photography Units: 3
• ART 496 - Special Topics Units: 3

Other Undergraduate Degree Requirements

In addition to major requirements, every student must also complete the University’s baccalaureate requirements for graduation, which are described in the Requirements, Exams & Testing  chapter of this catalog. 

Department Courses Listed by Course Type

Art Courses

Department of Art

Courses

Art

• •  ART 371 - Watermedia Units: 3
• •  ART 398 - Internship Units: 1-3
• •  ART 440 - Forum Units: 1
• •  ART 490 - Independent Study Units: 1-3
• •  ART 491 - BFA Critique Units: 1
• •  ART 498 - Internship Units: 1-6

Art: History

• •  ART 120 - Art of Asia and the Pacific World Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 124 - History of Animation Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 127 - History of Play, Games, and Interactivity Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 220 - Art of the Early Mediterranean World Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 221 - Art of the Transatlantic Modern World Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 225 - Art and Social Engagement Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1; Social Justice
• •  ART 226 - History of Graphic Design Units: 3
• •  ART 229 - Writing About Art and Design Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: Writing II
• •  ART 320 - Comparative World Art I Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C4
• •  ART 323 - Modern Media, Art, and Culture I Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: Social Justice
• •  ART 325 - Race and Representation in American Art Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C4; Diversity
• •  ART 326 - Contemporary Visual Studies I Units: 3
• •  ART 327 - Cinema Art Studies Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C4
• •  ART 420 - Comparative World Art II Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C4
• •  ART 423 - Modern Media, Art and Culture II Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C4
• •  ART 426 - Contemporary Visual Studies II Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C4
• •  ART 493G - Art History and Visual Studies Senior Project Units: 3
• •  ART 497 - Issues in Art History and Visual Studies Units: 3

Art: Studio

• •  ART 100 - Fundamentals of Drawing Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 101 - Photography I Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 102 - 2D Processes Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 103 - 3D Processes Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 104 - 4D Processes Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 111 - Sculpture I Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 115 - Ceramics I Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 152 - Web Design I: Foundations Units: 3
• •  ART 172 - Painting I Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 181 - Introduction to Transdisciplinary Art and Design Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 211 - Sculpture II Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 215 - Ceramics II Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 230 - Graphic Arts Units: 3
• •  ART 240 - Photography II Units: 3
• •  ART 241 - 4D Project Development and Preproduction Units: 3
• •  ART 242 - Audio Production for Video and Animation Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 243 - Video I Units: 3
• •  ART 244 - Animation I Units: 3
• •  ART 245 - Motion Graphics I Units: 3
• •  ART 246 - 3D Modeling and Animation I Units: 3
• •  ART 247 - Landscape Photography Units: 3
• •  ART 251 - Interaction and Experience Design Foundations Units: 3
• •  ART 255 - Game Design I Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 259 - Interaction Design Studio I: Tools for Designers Units: 3
• •  ART 260 - Introduction to Illustration Units: 3
• •  ART 270 - Drawing II Units: 3
• •  ART 272 - Painting II Units: 3
• •  ART 274 - Figure Drawing I Units: 3
• •  ART 278 - Bookmaking I Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 279 - Printmaking I Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C1
• •  ART 310 - 3D Modeling and Fabrication Units: 3
• •  ART 311 - Sculpture III Units: 3
• •  ART 315 - Ceramics III Units: 3
• •  ART 330 - Typography I Units: 3
• •  ART 331 - Design Concepts and Narratives Units: 3
• •  ART 332 - Design for Production Units: 3
• •  ART 335 - Design Strategy and Collaborations Units: 3
• •  ART 336 - Information Design Units: 3
• •  ART 340A - Creative Photography I Units: 3
• •  ART 340B - Creative Photography II Units: 3
• •  ART 340C - Creative Photography III Units: 3
• •  ART 341 - Advanced Photography and Social Justice Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: Social Justice
• •  ART 343 - Video II Units: 3
• •  ART 344 - Animation II Units: 3
• •  ART 345 - Motion Graphics II Units: 3
• •  ART 346 - 3D Modeling and Animation II Units: 3
• •  ART 348A - Studio Lighting and Product Photography Units: 3
• •  ART 348B - Advanced Studio Lighting and Product Photography Units: 3
• •  ART 349A - Portrait Photography Units: 3
• •  ART 349B - Advanced Portrait Photography Units: 3
• •  ART 351 - User Experience Theory and Design Units: 3
• •  ART 352 - Web Design II: Screen Interactions Units: 3
• •  ART 355 - Game Design II Units: 3
• •  ART 356 - Interaction Design Studio II : Prototyping the Internet of Things Units: 3
• •  ART 357 - Interaction Design Studio III : Interactive Immersive Experiences Units: 3
• •  ART 361 - Color and Concept Units: 3
• •  ART 362 - Illustrating Dynamic Forms Units: 3
• •  ART 363 - Narrative Illustration Units: 3
• •  ART 364 - Advanced Illustration Units: 3
• •  ART 370 - Drawing III Units: 3
• •  ART 378 - Bookmaking II Units: 3
• •  ART 379 - Printmaking II Units: 3
• •  ART 418 - Advanced 3D Practice Units: 3
• •  ART 430 - Typography for Print and Interactive Publications Units: 3
• •  ART 448 - Advanced 4D Projects Units: 3
• •  ART 449 - Select Topics in Video Animation Units: 3
• •  ART 452 - Web Design III: Design Evolution Units: 3
• •  ART 455 - Game Development Team Project Units: 3
• •  ART 457 - Interaction Design Studio IV : Speculative Interaction Research Lab Units: 3
• •  ART 472 - Painting III Units: 3
• •  ART 474 - Figure Drawing II Units: 3
• •  ART 475 - Advanced 2D Practice Units: 3
• •  ART 481 - Transdisciplinary Art and Design Seminar Units: 3
• •  ART 485 - Transdisciplinary Art Laboratory Units: 3
• •  ART 493A - Illustration Senior Project Units: 3
• •  ART 493B - Interaction and Game Design Senior Project Units: 3
• •  ART 493C - Photography Senior Project Units: 3
• •  ART 493D - 3D Art & Design Senior Project Units: 3
• •  ART 493E - Transdisciplinary Senior Project Units: 3
• •  ART 493F - Video Animation Senior Project Units: 3
• •  ART 493H - Fine Art Practice Senior Project Units: 3
• •  ART 493I - Graphic Design Senior Project Units: 3
• •  ART 496 - Special Topics Units: 3

Multimedia: Graduate

• •  MM 601 - Seminar in Interactive Art & Design Units: 3
• •  MM 602 - Project and Story Development Units: 3
• •  MM 621 - Screen Based Interaction Units: 3
• •  MM 622 - Physical Prototyping Units: 3
• •  MM 630 - Coding for Multimedia Units: 3
• •  MM 632 - Interaction Design Units: 3
• •  MM 640 - Forum Units: 1
• •  MM 665 - Experiments in Interactivity Units: 3
• •  MM 666 - Experiments in Art and Technology Units: 3
• •  MM 667 - Experiments in Storytelling Units: 3
• •  MM 680 - Interactive Content Development Units: 3
• •  MM 682 - Individual Multimedia Research and Practice Units: 3
• •  MM 690 - Independent Study Units: 1-3
• •  MM 693 - Interaction Design Capstone Project Units: 4
• •  MM 694 - Project Documentation Units: 1
• •  MM 698 - Internship Units: 1-6