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Degrees and Certificates
Photography
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
From Passion to Profession
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with a concentration in Photography
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, we want you to learn how to think like a fine art photographer. It’s not simply a matter of receiving instruction in how to take a technically proficient image, but rather how to communicate a concept to the viewer in a compelling manner.
The Department of Fine Arts offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a Photography concentration. Photography students will receive a foundation in film that will serve as the basis of all future photo and video courses. 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 receive practical, hands-on experience in both film and digital photography. Class sizes tend to be small which promotes student and faculty interaction. Professional photographers are regularly invited to speak to students.
The visual arts training this concentration provides–combined with specific photography training and the other liberal arts components of the curriculum–is a solid foundation for jobs in advertising, marketing, journalism, social media, entrepreneurship and other career endeavors.
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.
Get Your Degree
The Know How
What you will know with a Photography concentration from AUM
We Prepare You For A Career With Purpose
When you know how to blend creativity, forward thinking, and technical skills to realize a creative vision, you can gain recognition by applying it to just about any purpose.
We Set The Bar For Technical Skills
Know past and present methods for photography processing—from the traditional analog approach to computer-based editing of products, portraits, and models.
We Encourage You To Be Well-Rounded
You’ll learn people skills like communication and problem-solving while receiving a well-rounded visual arts education, including a choice of electives to personalize your photography degree.
We Prepare You For A Photography Career
Because our faculty has real-world experience and we expose you to hands-on learning opportunities, you’ll know what to expect in this career before you graduate.
Points of Pride
Soaring Warhawks
Customize Your Concentration
We Have the Answers
Rewarding Occupations and Job Growth
Check out our Career Discovery Board on this page to begin exploring your options. Contact us by phone or email so we can get you the answers you need.
Photographers with a BFA often have an advantage over informally trained colleagues. A photography graduate from AUM has a focused visual arts background that lends artistic insights that clients want.
Most students use a 35mm film camera and a digital single lens reflex camera to start classes. AUM has cameras available for checkout until you are able to purchase your own. Each student will need to purchase film and memory cards. Contact us for details.
Any company, from small nonprofits to large corporations. Graphic design firms, ad agencies, and production companies hire photographers to do project work for their clients in entertainment, healthcare, government, private business and other sectors.
Degree Options
Is a Concentration in Photography right for me?
With this bachelor’s degree as your educational foundation, you have many career possibilities.
| Career/Job Title | Entry-level Education | Job Growth 2020-2030 | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Director | Bachelor’s Degree | 11% (Faster than average) | $97,270 |
| Film and Video Editor and Camera Operator | Bachelor’s Degree | 29% (Much faster than average) | $61,900 |
| Photographer | Bachelor’s degree | 17% (Much faster than average) | $41,280 |
| Broadcast, Sound, and Video Technician | Bachelor’s degree | 21% (Much faster than average) | $50,000 |
Note: Salaries vary depending on several factors including your level of experience, education, training, demographics, and industry. Here is a sampling of the future job growth and salaries according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Learn More
In-Class
Quick Facts
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
At AUM’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, you will have powerful learning experiences, working side by side with professors who have real-world experience.
Our academic departments include Communication and Theatre, Criminal Justice, Economics, English and Philosophy, Fine Arts, History and World Cultures, Political Science and Public Administration, Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work, and Army ROTC. To help you pay for college, you might qualify for one of our scholarships.
Official Name of the Photography Concentration
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with a concentration in Photography
Modality
This degree requires students to meet on campus. Students in these courses enroll in a program to connect in a campus setting and to collaborate using a variety of technological and educational tools. Professors play an inspirational role in building relationships among teams and individuals in this setting. The criteria for many programs can only be met with In-Class coursework. Be sure to check with your advisor to understand the best route to take.
Photography
Required Courses
To complete this degree concentration, you will need to complete courses in the university core, fine arts, and electives. Contact the Department of Fine Arts for a current listing of courses required to complete this program.
The course listings below are only a few of the classes this concentration requires. For a full review of this program in detail, please see our official online catalog AND consult with an academic advisor.
| Course Number | Course Name | What you will know… |
|---|---|---|
| VISU 2712 | Photography I | Know how to capture a powerful image that communicates a message to a person’s abstract thoughts - Paint a thousand words in one click! Know the technical and conceptual aspects of medium and what classifies it as Fine Art. |
| VISU 3912 | Alternative Processes | Jump back into time 100 years to experiment with alternative processes in photography then put your experience to work in your own work. |
| VISU 2030 | Art History | Survey examples of visual arts in the West from Prehistory through the Medieval period. Let the world of visual arts connect you to the human experiences of the past that have brought us into the present. |
