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 program 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.
The visual arts training this program 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.
Note: While salaries vary depending on several factors including your level of experience, education and training, and geography and industry, here is a sampling of the future job growth and salaries in this area.
Employment of media and communication occupations is projected to grow 4 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations, which will result in about 27,600 new jobs. Demand for media and communication occupations is expected to arise from the need to create, edit, translate, and disseminate information through a variety of different platforms. The median annual wage for media and communication occupations was $57,530 in May 2018, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $38,640.
Department of Fine Arts Auburn University at Montgomery Goodwyn Hall 107 334-244-3377 ashughes@aum.edu
The course listings below are a representation of what this academic program requires. For a full review of this program in detail, please see our official online catalog AND consult with an academic advisor. This listing does not include the core curriculum courses required for all majors and may not include some program-specific information, such as admissions, retention and termination standards.
Course sampling specific to the Photography degree option includes:
Taylor Center 101
7400 East Drive Montgomery, AL 36117
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday
334-244-3000
334-244-3795
admissions@aum.edu
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