Associate of Arts - Photography

The AA degree provides students with an education in the fundamental skills of photography. Coursework ensures technical competence for digital capture, lighting, post-production, and a solid understanding of photography as a visual language.

Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:

Conceptual and Problem-Solving Skills

• Make creative decisions that support conceptual impact, cohesiveness and memorability of created images
• Integrate key conceptual elements (such as mood, narrative, introducing the unexpected) with technical elements (such as composition, lighting, point of view) to suggest a story or elicit an emotional response from the viewer

Lighting Skills

• Utilize indoor and outdoor lighting, studio lighting techniques, lighting with constant light sources, and mixed lighting situations
• Work effectively with natural light and demonstrate understanding of the relationship between time of day and variations related to quality of light
• Work effectively with point source, flood, spot, diffused and reflected light

Camera Capture Skills

• Demonstrate full knowledge of digital SLR components
• Demonstrate understanding of exposure controls
• Effectively use a light meter for multiple lighting situations

Digital Imaging

• Apply Photoshop techniques using various tools, layers, curves and selections with digital images
• Apply retouching skills and color correction knowledge consistent with industry standards

Digital Printing

• Produce professional quality prints
• Create high quality print portfolio demonstrating printing skill and overall quality of images required for petition to graduate
• Demonstrate understanding of archival qualities, including ink and paper stability

Professional Readiness

• Demonstrate knowledge of industry trends and professional practices related to professional photography
• Produce professional materials required for an entry-level job search

*Note App Fee Waiver in effect for ApplyBoard to reduce the application fee to $50*