Photography

Photography is used to illustrate, advertise, communicate, and express. Emerging digital technologies are expanding the realm of what is possible in photography and, at the same time, fueling the demand for outstanding creative images. In the photography program you will concentrate on developing skills in the use of black and white photography, color photography, digital photography, and will explore the integration of video and moving images. Student work is on display at the Photography department site. Students are also encouraged to submit writing and art work to the Kelab Art and Literary Journal, a collaborative effort of the Creative Writing, Graphic Design, Photography and New Media programs along with the Writers' Guild.

You will integrate the computer into your art-making process in the first semester and continue to build and refine your technical and aesthetic skills throughout your four semesters. Additionally, you will learn to use the web as a content-delivery tool, become fluent in technologies that allow images to be integrated with motion, sound, animation, and interactive dialogue. You will also gain a firm grounding in traditional visual arts studies. There are art foundation courses including drawing and design that will help you to fully understand and communicate the visual experience.

In addition to technology-based skills, you will approach photography as a fine arts activity and acquire a traditional broad foundation of study in the visual arts. Seven art courses address the topics of design, drawing, and art history in order to provide a solid grasp of visual fundamentals.

Photography

 

Careers on Career Coach

You will be prepared for the increasingly electronic environment that commercial creative work requires. There are many areas of concentration and job classifications within the field of photography that graduates can consider. Among the areas of concentration are architectural photographer, medical/scientific photographer, stock photographer (freelance and agency), fine arts photographer, photojournalism and press photographer, fashion photographer, commercial photographer, advertising and editorial photographer, and visual artist.  

Digital technology is allowing the creative artist to redefine what is possible in photography, and offers the opportunity to embark on an exciting journey into the future of creative imaging. Thus, it is difficult to predict the full range of employment opportunities that will become available, as new technologies and new opportunities will continue to unfold. At present, the two largest areas of activity are: 

  • Creative digital photography - commercial digital photography such as travel, sports, photojournalism - digital photographic illustration - digital multimedia content production - and digital artist. 

  • New media content production - multimedia - moving image and animation - web content production - media artist. 

Learn more about related jobs:

Program Chair

Christine Shanks

Christine Shanks

Associate Professor, Graphic Design

I am an image maker, designer, and educator. I feel at home on the computer and working by hand in the studio. 

Read more

 

 

Transfer Options

This program is intended to facilitate transfer to a four-year college with studies in photography or related visual disciplines. In almost all cases, the degree will satisfy the requirements of the first two years of study at the transfer institution. Recent graduates have transferred to:

  • University at Albany
  • Buffalo State College
  • Cornell University
  • SUNY College at Cortland
  • Ithaca College
  • SUNY New Paltz
  • SUNY College at Oswego
  • Rochester Institute of Technology

 

Degree Requirements

A.S.
Minimum Credits for Graduation: 61 credits

 

Fall Term 1

Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15
ART111, Photography I, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ART117, Design Foundations I, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ART120, Drawing I, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ENGL100, Academic Writing I, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
MATH109, Statistical Literacy, 3 cr.
MATH110, Topics in Mathematics, 3 cr.
MATH120, College Algebra, 4 cr.
MATH122, Technical Mathematics, 3 cr.
MATH138, Precalculus Mathematics, 4 cr.
MATH200, Statistics, 3 cr.
MATH201, Calculus I, 4 cr.
MATH202, Calculus II, 4 cr.
MATH203, Calculus III, 4 cr.
MATH206, Differential Equations, 4 cr.
MATH216, Discrete Mathematics, 4 cr.
Use Schedule Search for electives

Spring Term 1

Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15
ART104, History of Photography and Video, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ART118, Design Foundations II, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ART212, Digital Photography, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ENGL101, Academic Writing II, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
ASTR101, Introductory Astronomy, 3 cr.
BIOL100, Human Biology, 3 cr.
BIOL101, Principles of Biology I, 3 cr.
BIOL102, Principles of Biology II, 3 cr.
BIOL104, General Biology I, 4 cr.
BIOL105, General Biology II, 4 cr.
BIOL112, Essentials of Medical Microbiology, 3 cr.
BIOL114, Essentials of Nutrition, 3 cr.
BIOL115, Field Natural History, 3 cr.
BIOL116, Tropical Field Natural History, 4 cr.
BIOL119, Botany, 3 cr.
BIOL131, Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology I, 4 cr.
BIOL132, Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology II, 4 cr.
BIOL201, Human Anatomy and Physiology I, 4 cr.
BIOL202, Human Anatomy and Physiology II, 4 cr.
BIOL211, Ecology, 4 cr.
BIOL216, General Microbiology, 4 cr.
CHEM101, Principles of Chemistry I, 4 cr.
CHEM102, Principles of Chemistry II, 4 cr.
CHEM107, General Chemistry I, 4 cr.
CHEM108, General Chemistry II, 4 cr.
CHEM205, Organic Chemistry I, 4 cr.
CHEM206, Organic Chemistry II, 4 cr.
ENVS101, Introduction to Environmental Science, 3 cr.
ENVS102, Technology and the Environment, 3 cr.
ENVS116, Soil Science, 3 cr.
ENVS141, Agroecology, 3 cr.
ENVS202, Integrated Pest Management, 3 cr.
GEOL101, Introductory Geology, 3 cr.
METR101, Introductory Meteorology, 3 cr.
PHSC104, General Physics I, 4 cr.
PHSC105, General Physics II, 4 cr.
PHSC211, Physics I (Mechanics and Heat), 4 cr.
PHSC212, Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism), 4 cr.
PHSC213, Physics III (Waves, Optics and Modern Physics), 4 cr.
Use Schedule Search for electives

Fall Term 2

Minimum Total Semester Credits: 16
ART101, Art History: Ancient to Early Medieval, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ART112, Photography II, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ART255, Lighting Principles, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ART262, Portfolio Preparation - Photography, 1 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ENGL102, Approaches to Literature, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
ANTH201, Introduction to Anthropology, 3 cr.
ANTH202, Cultural Anthropology, 3 cr.
ANTH260, Culture Survey for Study Abroad, 3 cr.
ANTH295, Global Seminar, 3 cr.
COMM101, Mass Media, 3 cr.
ECON101, Introduction to Economics, 3 cr.
ECON120, Principles of Microeconomics, 3 cr.
ECON121, Principles of Macroeconomics, 3 cr.
ENVS107, Economy, Society & Environment, 3 cr.
ENVS108, Environmental Psychology, 3 cr.
ENVS110, Food Systems I: Introduction to the U.S. Food System, 3 cr.
ENVS295, Global Seminar, 3 cr.
GEOG120, World Regional Geography, 3 cr.
HSTY260, Topics in Modern Latin America, 3 cr.
HUMS206, Juvenile Delinquency, 3 cr.
IED260, Culture Survey for Study Abroad, 3 cr.
POSC103, American National Government, 3 cr.
POSC104, American State and Local Government, 3 cr.
POSC107, Economy, Society & Environment, 3 cr.
POSC260, Topics in Modern Latin America, 3 cr.
PSYC101, Psychology of Personal Growth, 3 cr.
PSYC103, Introduction to Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC108, Environmental Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC201, Social Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC205, Childhood Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC207, Adolescent Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC208, Adult Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC209, Abnormal Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC218, Educational Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC263, Development Across the Lifespan, 3 cr.
SOCE121, Intro to Gender & Sexuality Studies, 3 cr.
SOCE201, Human Sexuality, 3 cr.
SOCE205, Organizational Behavior, 3 cr.
SOCI101, Introduction to Sociology, 3 cr.
SOCI103, The American Community, 3 cr.
SOCI201, Sociology of the Family, 3 cr.
SOCI205, Contemporary Social Problems, 3 cr.
SOCI206, Juvenile Delinquency, 3 cr.
SOCI207, Introduction to Criminology, 3 cr.
Use Schedule Search for electives

Spring Term 2

Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15
ART102, Art History: Renaissance to Contemporary , 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ART213, Dynamic Media I, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ART222, Advanced Digital Photography, 3 cr. Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
Choose one from the courses listed below:
Minimum credits required: 3
ENGL201, Public Speaking Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ENGL204, Interpersonal Communication Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ENGL210, Intercultural Communication Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
ALEX@
ART106, Introduction to Photojournalism, 3 cr.
ART233, Animation, 3 cr.
ART248, Word & Photographic Image, 3 cr.
ART290, Independent Art Studio - Photography, 3 cr.
COMM115, Introduction to Digital Video, 3 cr.
Use Schedule Search for electives


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Note: The @ symbol represents any course number or discipline. For example, BIOL @ means any course with a Biology course prefix. An @ alone means one course in any course discipline with any course number.

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