Semester Requirements

http://photography.rit.edu

Program overview

The photographic and imaging technologies major combines photography, visual communications, and science. The program prepares students for careers in various institutions such as forensic labs, pharmaceutical companies, and military bases, or in ophthalmic photography, the only form of diagnostic photography. Because of the unique blend of courses, recent graduates have been very successful in finding positions not only in biomedical imaging but also in the electronic imaging field as technical service representatives, multimedia producers, and Web publishers.

Options

The program offers two options for students to choose from: biomedical photographic communications or imaging and photographic technology.

The biomedical photographic communications option prepares you for a photographic career in forensics, research, hospitals, and other biological settings such as ophthalmic (eye) clinics and veterinary centers as well as in other life science situations. Your foundation courses provide practical experience with traditional and digital photographic equipment and processes—as well as video. Medical and biological subject matter is included. In upper-level courses, you’ll explore the use of computers in electronic imaging, desktop publishing, graphics, and multimedia. You’ll spend at least three months in cooperative education, gaining paid, professional work experience in a medical or research setting within the United States. The option also provides the educational background for the registered biomedical photographer (RBP) certification after you enter the profession. Your course work also can be tailored to assist you in preparing for the certified retinal angiographer (CRA) exam.

The imaging and photographic technology option prepares you for careers in a technical, industrial, or scientific environment. The curriculum combines a foundation in traditional photographic materials and processes with specialized studies in areas as diverse as photo instrumentation, optics, color measurement, high-speed/time-lapse photography, and video production. Computing, programming, electronic imaging, and multimedia are emphasized starting in your first year. Technical courses provide you with hands-on exposure to state-of-the-art tools and techniques. You also may choose a variety of technical and photographic electives such as holography, scanning electron microscopy, architectural photography, nature photography, and more. Six months of cooperative education are required.

Curriculum

Photographic and imaging technologies (biomedical photographic communications option), BS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013

Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.

(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.

* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.

† The First Year Seminar requirement is replaced by an LAS Elective for the 2013-14 academic year.

‡ Business elective can be any course in the E. Philip Saunders College of Business.

§ Photo electives might include Surgical Photography (PHPS-307), Historic Processes (PHPS-306), Scanning Electron Microscopy (PHPS-316), Forensic Photography (PHPS-302), Panoramic Photography (PHPS-311), Web Publishing (PHPS-315), Nature and Natural Science Photography (PHPS-303), Underwater Digital Photography (PHPS-321), Advanced Underwater Digital Photography (PHPS-322) amongst others.

Photographic and imaging technology (imaging and photographic technologies option), BS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013

Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.

(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.

* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.

† Business elective can be any course in the E. Philip Saunders College of Business.

‡ Surgical Photography (PHPS-307), Historic Processes (PHPS-306), Scanning Electron Microscopy (PHPS-316), Forensic Photography (PHPS-302), Panoramic Photography (PHPS-311), Web Publishing (PHPS-315), Nature and Natural Science Photography (PHPS-303), Underwater Digital Photography (PHPS-321), Advanced Underwater Digital Photography (PHPS-322).

Cooperative education

One cooperative education placement is required before graduation. Co-ops are full- or part-time positions and offer an opportunity for students to gain experience in their field. They are generally completed between the second and third academic years. The Office of Cooperative Education and Career Services will assist students in identifying co-op placements and opportunities. Some recent venues included Harvard, Mayo Clinic, Smithsonian, Gerogetown, Case Western Reserve University, Carl Zeiss Microscopy and Nikon Scientific Instruments.

Additional information

Career opportunities

An employment survey conducted by the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences indicates the need for graduates with ithese skills will exist well into the future. Recent graduates are employed as ophthalmic photographers, forensic photographers, surgical photographers,  photomicrographers, medical photographer,  latent finger print examiner, core imaging facility manager, technical support engineer, imaging specialist, ortho correction specialist  public relations photographer, physician or ophthalmologist, research associate, dermatology photographer, research photographer, and entrepreneurs.

The Biomedical Technical Photography Student Association promotes professional and social interaction among students and professionals from the imaging and photographic technology industry. The association regularly invites alumni in professional imaging fields to present lectures and demonstrations.