Photographic Sciences Bachelor of Science Degree
RIT's scientific photography degree immerses you in the fascinating world of scientific photography, where you’ll use photography to capture images and collect scientific data.
Overview for Photographic Sciences BS
Why Study Scientific Photography at RIT
Photographic sciences is an RIT New Economy Major: This collection of degree programs is forward-thinking and future-forming, and helps prepare you to excel in the multidisciplinary nature of our modern, dynamic economy.
Combining interests in both science and the arts: photographic sciences features unique coursework found at no other U.S. institution. Upper-division classes focus on high-speed photography, micrography, ophthalmic imaging, and image analysis/quality, among other topics.
Industry Work Experience: Four required blocks of cooperative education and internship means nearly a year of hands-on, full-time paid work experience at organizations like the FBI, the Mayo Clinic, and Smithsonian Institution.
Strong Career Paths: Carl Zeiss Microscopy and NASA are two of the biggest employers of our graduates. Other employers include Canon, Fujifilm, Leica Microsystems, and the National Retina Institute.
Industry Exposure: Alumni, students, and faculty are regularly recognized by industry competitions like Nikon’s Small World and the BioCommunications Association’s BioImages competition.
Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Available: Earn both your bachelor’s and your master’s in less time and with a cost savings, giving you a competitive advantage in your field.
STEM-OPT Visa Eligible: The STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows full-time, on-campus international students on an F-1 student visa to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.
Part scientist, part artist. A scientific photographer uses imaging to capture scientific data to explore science and medicine. These scientific images identify and solve problems–and help to advance our understanding–in biology and biomedical sciences, medicine, forensics, chemistry, and engineering. It’s a dynamic field that combines photography with imaging science, information technology, computing, optics, biology, and biomedical sciences.
RIT’s Scientific Photography Degree
RIT’s Bachelor of Science in Photography provides you with the broad-based skills required of a professional photographer, combined with a solid foundation in the sciences.
You’ll complete courses that develop your abilities as a photographer and gain the photographic skills and approaches required of scientific photography. In addition, you’ll study science and technology through the lens of photography, with courses in:
- High-speed photography
- Micrography
- Ophthalmic imaging
In the first two years, this scientific photography degree will immerse you in the technical applications of scientific photography. At the same time, you will pursue courses in laboratory sciences, including physics and biology.
The scientific photography degree provides you with the flexibility to use elective courses to explore areas that interest you and complement your career goals. You’ll be encouraged to use general education requirements to integrate complementary studies in subjects such as imaging science, information technology, or developmental biology to help prepare for exciting and evolving career opportunities.
You will graduate well-prepared to apply technological advances in photography to a wide variety of photographic and imaging careers and advanced degrees spanning the fields of science, technology, and medicine.
Photographic Sciences Student Association
The Photographic Sciences Student Association promotes professional and social interaction among students in the program and professionals from the imaging and photographic technology industries. The association regularly invites alumni and leaders from the professional imaging fields to present lectures and demonstrations.
Furthering Your Education in Photography
Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees
Today’s careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT’s Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.
- Photographic Sciences BS/Color Science MS: If you're excited by the intersection of science and photography, consider this accelerated dual degree that pairs a BS in photographic sciences with a master's in color science – a specialized degree unlike any other in the nation. You’ll be able to complete both degrees in as little as five years. As you build your foundation in photographic sciences, you’ll combine unique coursework in subjects like high-speed photography, micrography, and image analysis with hands-on training in the field through a paid co-op experience. Moving into your graduate work, you’ll study how humans perceive and interact with color through classes and research projects to further specialize your skills. Graduates with this expertise are sought after for high-paying careers at companies like Apple, Carl Zeiss Microscopy, Fujifilm, and Microsoft as well as government agencies like NASA and the Library of Congress.
- +1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor’s degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success.
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Apply for Fall 2026
First-year students can apply for Early Decision II by Jan. 1 to get an admissions and financial aid assessment by mid-January.
Careers and Experiential Learning
Typical Job Titles
| Clinical Research Scientist | Field Support Engineer | Forensic Photographer |
| Forensic Specialist | Imaging Quality Engineer | Imaging Quality Assessor |
| Medical Photographer | Photomicrographer | Software Quality Assurance (SQA) Engineer |
| Image Quality Technician | Medical Image Technician | Ophthalmic Photographer |
| Surgical Photographer |
Industries
Cooperative Education and Internships
Hands-On Experience to Gain Real-World Skills
What’s different about an RIT education? It’s the career experience you gain by completing cooperative education and internships with top companies in every single industry. You’ll earn more than a degree. You’ll gain real-world career experience that sets you apart. It’s exposure–early and often–to a variety of professional work environments, career paths, and industries.
Co-ops and internships take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. Co-op in the College of Art and Design provides hands-on experience that enables you to apply your artistic capabilities in dynamic professional settings while you make valuable connections between classwork and real-world applications.
Students in the photographic sciences program are required to complete one co-op experience. These experiences are generally completed between the second and third academic years. Some recent co-op placements, as well as permanent job placements, include Harvard University, the Mayo Clinic, Smithsonian, Georgetown University, Case Western Reserve University, NASA, Imatest, Carl Zeiss Microscopy, FBI, Nikon Scientific Instruments, Apple Inc., and NVIDIA.
Scientific Photography Careers
With a 95% outcomes rate, you’ll be well-prepared to launch an exciting career in scientific photography. Our graduates are employed as ophthalmic photographers, forensic photographers, surgical photographers, photomicrographers, medical photographers, latent finger print examiners, core imaging facility managers, technical support engineers, imaging specialists, imaging engineers, public relations photographers, research associates, dermatology photographers, research photographers, and image quality engineers.
Recent employers include imaging companies, universities and research centers, camera companies, forensic laboratories, and government agencies. NASA, Apple, The Mayo Clinic, Carl Zeiss Microscopy, Harvard University, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, and Canon have all hired graduates of the program.
Creative Industry Days
Connect with Design Industry Leaders
RIT’s Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education hosts Creative Industry Days, which connects students majoring in art, design, film and animation, photography, and select computing majors with companies, organizations, creative agencies, design firms, and more. Creative Industry Days are a series of events that allow you to network with company representatives and interview directly for open co-op and full-time employment positions.
Featured Work and Profiles
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Imaging Technologies Expert
After graduating, Paul Reichert '01 (Imaging and Photographic Technology; now Photographic Sciences) joined the Photography and Television (Photo/TV) Operations group at NASA Johnson Space...
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Designing Camera Systems of the Future
Bobby Gold '16 (photographic sciences), as a senior image quality engineer at NVIDIA, designs and tests camera systems for autonomous vehicles and robotics platforms. As a student at RIT, he completed...
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From RIT to Apple
Liz Stublen '22 After graduating from RIT's photographic sciences program, Liz Stublen '22 went on to use specialized scientific imaging systems to collect data for hardware tests at Tesla before transitioning to a...
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Behind the lens of a scientific photographer
Teri Zgoda '17 (photographic sciences) is an award-winning scientific photographer whose images have been honored by Nikon and prestigious national magazines.
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Optical Equipment Expert
As team lead of the remote advanced workflow specialist team for Leica Microsystems, Stefanie Nicolosi ’09 (Photographic Sciences) knows the ins and outs of optical equipment worth more than $1...
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Capstone Research
For their senior capstone projects, students in RIT's photographic sciences major choose their own research topic to investigate over their final two semesters.
Read More about Capstone Research
Curriculum for 2025-2026 for Photographic Sciences BS
Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements
Admissions and Financial Aid
This program is STEM designated when studying on campus and full time.
First-Year Admission
First-year applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong academic background that includes:
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of social studies and/or history
- 3 years of mathematics which must include algebra, geometry, and algebra 2/trigonometry. Pre-calculus is preferred.
- 2-3 years of science. Biology is preferred.
Transfer Admission
Transfer applicants should meet these minimum degree-specific requirements:
- Biology is required
- College algebra is required. Pre-calculus is preferred.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
100% of all incoming first-year and transfer students receive aid.
RIT’s personalized and comprehensive financial aid program includes scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment programs. When all these are put to work, your actual cost may be much lower than the published estimated cost of attendance.
Learn more about financial aid and scholarships
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Contact
School of Photographic Arts and Sciences