Semester Requirements
Frank Cost, Program Chair
(585) 475-5436, fjcppr@rit.edu
Program overview
The majors in the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences are designed to prepare students for a wide range of careers in photographic and related imaging fields. Studies in photographic practices provide both technical and creative experiences for visual problem solving. The principles of imaging are taught through courses investigating the tools and processes used to make pictorial-, data-, and information-based images. All first year students are required to have their own hand held small- or medium-format digital SLR camera and a professional light meter.
Students have the opportunity to supplement their course work with participation in cooperative education, internships, study abroad programs, field trips, presentations by invited guests/guest lecturers, departmental student organizations, and related activities.
Students are urged to take advantage of Rochester’s historic connection with photography. A comprehensive schedule of programs, including exhibitions, lectures, and seminars, is offered by the city’s array of cultural institutions.
Visual media option
Computers have united the industries of photography, graphic design, and print media. All three of these career fields are using the same tools for visual communication and production. As a result, employers search for graduates with a strong base in photography and the ability to work efficiently with graphic designers, print media specialists, and multimedia professionals.
The visual media option broadens a student's skill base to include graphic design and/or print media. Graduates work within these disciplines to coordinate, drive, and direct the production of visual projects.
Students choose a focus in either graphic design or print media. The flexibility of the electives and management courses allows for an even broader skill set in the field. Students will prepare for careers in photographic studio management, graphic design production management, and printing management industries.
Curriculum
Photographic and imaging arts (visual media option), BFA degree, typical course sequence, (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| PHAR-101 | Photo Arts I | 4 |
| PHPS-106 | Photo Technology I (SMTL) | 3 |
| ARTH-135 | LAS-Perspective 2: Survey Western Art and Architecture I | 3 |
| LAS Perspective 1 | 3 | |
| LAS Foundation 1: First-Year Seminar | 3 | |
| PHAR-102 | Photo Arts II | 4 |
| PHPS-107 | Photo Technology II (SMTL) | 3 |
| ARTH-136 | LAS-Perspective 3: Survey Western Art and Architecture II | 3 |
| FDTN-111 | Drawing | 3 |
| LAS Foundation 2: Writing Seminar | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| PHAR-201 | Elements: Fine Art | 3 |
| PHAR-202 | Elements: Advertising | 3 |
| FDTN-121 | 2D Design | 3 |
| LAS Perspective 4 | 3 | |
| PHAR-211 | History and Aesthetics I | 3 |
| PHAR-203 | Elements: Photojournalism | 3 |
| PHAR-204 | Elements: Visual Media | 3 |
| FDTN-141 | 4D Design | 3 |
| LAS Elective | 3 | |
| PHAR-212 | History and Aesthetics II | 3 |
| Third Year | ||
| Choose one of the following business sequences: | 9 | |
| Marketing† | ||
| Manangement‡ | ||
| Choose one of the following specialization sequences: | 9 | |
| Print Media§ | ||
| Graphic Design** | ||
| CIAS Elective†† | 3 | |
| LAS Immersion 1, 2 | 6 | |
| Visual Media Electives | 6 | |
| PHVM-301 | Visual Media Career Research (WI) | 3 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| CIAS Electives†† | 9 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| LAS Immersion 3 | 3 | |
| PHVM-401 | Visual Media Capstone | 3 |
| Visual Media Elective | 3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 122 | |
Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.
(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
(SMTL) Refers to science, math, technical literacy requirement.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.
† Marketing sequence courses include Principles of Marketing (MKTG-230), Internet Marketing (MKTG-320), and Product and Services Commercialization (MKTG-340).
‡ Management sequence courses include Organizational Behavior (MGMT-215), Managerial Skills (MGMT-320), and Digital Entrepreneurship (MGMT-360).
§ Print media sequence courses include Foundations (MAAT-101), Type and Page Design (MATT-106), plus one of the following: Print Production and Workflow (MAAT-206) or Database Publishing (MAAT-301).
** Graphic Design sequence courses include Graphic Design (GRDE-106), Time-based Design (GRDE-107), and Typography (GRDE-201).
†† CIAS elective refers to any course in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.
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Click to view program requirements in the Quarter Calendar
Quarter Curriculum - For Reference Only
Effective fall 2013, RIT will convert its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. The following content has been made available as reference only. Currently matriculated students who began their academic programs in quarters should consult their academic adviser for guidance and course selection.
Program overview
The programs of the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences are designed to prepare students for a wide range of careers in photographic and related imaging fields. Studies in photographic practices provide both technical and creative experiences for visual problem solving. The principles of imaging are taught through courses investigating the tools and processes used to make pictorial-, data-, and information-based images. All first year students are required to have their own hand held small- or medium-format digital SLR camera and a professional light meter.
Students have the opportunity to supplement their course work with participation in cooperative education, internships, study abroad programs, field trips, presentations by invited guests/guest lecturers, departmental student organizations, and related activities.
Students are urged to take advantage of Rochester’s historic connection with photography. A comprehensive schedule of programs, including exhibitions, lectures, and seminars, is offered by the city’s array of cultural institutions.
Visual media option
The computer has helped unite the industries of photography, graphic design, and print media. All three of these career fields are using the same tools for visual communication and production. As a result, employers search for graduates with a strong base in photography and the ability to work efficiently with graphic designers, print media specialists, and multimedia professionals.
The visual media option broadens a student's skill base to include graphic design and/or print media. Graduates work within these disciplines to coordinate, drive, and direct the production of visual projects.
Students choose a focus in either graphic design or print media. The flexibility of the electives and management courses allows for an even broader skill set in the field. Students will prepare for careers in photographic studio management, graphic design production management, and printing management industries.
Curriculum
Professional photographic illustration, visual media option, BFA degree, typical course sequence (quarters)
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| 2067-201. 202, 203 | Photo Arts I, II, III | 15 |
| 2039-225, 226, 227 | Survey of Western Art and Architecture I, II, III | 9 |
| 2076-211, 212, 213 | Materials and Processes of Photography | 9 |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| 1720-050, 052 | First-Year Enrichment | 2 |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| 2067-xxx | Photo Arts Elements | 15 |
| 2060-301, 302, 303 | History and Aesthetics of Photography | 9 |
| 2013-211 | Drawing I | 3 |
| 2013-231 | 2D Design I | 3 |
| 2013-xxx | 4D Design | 3 |
| 2060-xxx | Career Seminar | 1 |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Visual Media Focus§ (graphic design or print media) | 8-9 | |
| 0681-200, 201, 203 | Management Process I, II, III | 12 |
| Minor or CIAS Electives** | 12 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| 2067-512 | Visual Media Capstone Project | 4 |
| Visual Media Focus or Elective§ | 4 | |
| Minor or CIAS Electives** | 10 | |
| Photo Electives‡ | 16 | |
| Open Electives†† | 12 | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 184 | |
* Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information.
† Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.
‡ Photo electives, minimum of 16 quarter credits required in fine art photography, biomedical photographic communications, photographic arts and sciences and imaging and photographic technology
§ Visual media focus, minimum of 12 quarter credits required.
** Minor and/or CIAS elective, minimum 20 quarter credits required.
†† Open electives, minimum of 12 quarter credits required.