A degree in photography at AUM is a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with a Photography concentration, designed for students who want to pursue a professional photographer path or other creative careers with a strong fine arts foundation. The program’s focus is not only on making technically proficient images, but on learning to think like a fine art photographer and communicate ideas with clarity, artistic vision, and purpose.
The photographer Garry Winogrand famously said, “The problem of the artist is to state the problem.” In other words, the artist wants you to speculate and examine problems, not solve them. At AUM, that means learning the craft through photography courses that develop technique, visual literacy, and critical thinking. The Department of Fine Arts offers this bachelor’s degree through a campus-based photography program where students receive foundational training in film that supports later photo and video study, along with hands-on work in digital photography. Why film? Will Fenn, Chair and Associate Professor in Photography at AUM, believes the limited number of frames available to a photographer with film encourages a person to learn how to carefully construct and compose an image. This results in a photographer being able to capture what he or she wants more economically.
In the Photography concentration at AUM, you’ll gain experience creating images in both film and digital formats, working closely with faculty in small classes and learning from visiting professional photographers. As a student in our in-person photography concentration, an individual will have access to checkout both digital and film cameras and receive hands-on training from faculty who will assist in portfolio development and provide opportunities for professional growth. Such development is beneficial for those preparing for work in the industry or for graduate study.
The visual arts training this concentration provides is a solid foundation for jobs in advertising, marketing, journalism, social media, entrepreneurship, art direction, and other creative fields.
The instruction is intended to provide graduates with a competitive edge as they develop a portfolio and prepare for roles that may involve editorial work, brand storytelling, marketing materials, or other lens-based imagery.
In photography, you will have the opportunity to build a professional portfolio, learn from professors who are successful practitioners in their field and express yourself creatively within a supportive and collaborative environment.
Other concentrations in this BFA degree program include Graphic Design, Sculpture, and Painting and Drawing.
