Units required for Major: 79
Minimum units required for BFA: 120
Program Description
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography is intended for students who are interested in pursuing careers as photographic image makers. The program provides students with the technical, creative, and critical thinking skills needed to practice in a variety of design and art fields. The breadth of courses in the program reflects the importance of both a liberal arts background and professional preparation in the design field. Courses encompass the study of photographic and graphic history and theory, aesthetics, design, contemporary digital and analog photographic practice, lighting, complex planning, and professional practice.
The Photography curriculum provides comprehensive coverage in all major areas of training, including techniques in contemporary photographic image making, concept development and communication, image production and presentation techniques, critical image evaluation, historical understanding and contextualization, and issues of proper conduct and ethics within the field. Guest lecturers are an important part of the photography curriculum.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Lower Division Design Core Courses (21 Units) | ||
| DSGN 4 | Design and Thinking | 3 |
| GPHD 20 | History Of Graphic Design | 3 |
| GPHD 25 | Visual Basics | 3 |
| INTD 20 | Design | 3 |
| INTD 25 | Design Fundamentals | 3 |
| PHOT 11 | Digital Photography I | 3 |
| PHOT 20 | The Photographic Self | 3 |
| Required Lower Division Major Courses (9 Units) | ||
| PHOT 12 | Digital Photography II | 3 |
| PHOT 15 | Survey of Photography | 3 |
| PHOT 40 | Darkroom Photography | 3 |
| Required Lower Division Art History (3 Units) | ||
| ART 1C | Global Modern and Contemporary Art | 3 |
| Required Lower Division Interdisciplinary Elective (3 Units) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Art, Religions, and Power before 1400 | ||
| Art, Empires, and Cross-Cultural Exchange, 1400-1800 | ||
| Traditional Asian Art | ||
| Modern and Contemporary Asian Art | ||
| Art of the Americas | ||
| Beginning Drawing | ||
| Beginning Painting | ||
| Beginning Watercolor | ||
| Beginning Printmaking | ||
| Beginning Ceramics | ||
| Beginning Metalsmithing | ||
| Beginning Sculpture | ||
| Beginning New Media Art | ||
| Interpersonal Communication Skills | ||
| Media Communication and Society | ||
or JOUR 55 | Media Communication and Society | |
| Introduction to Film Studies | ||
| Introduction to Graphic Design | ||
| Visual Basics II | ||
| Introduction to Interior Design | ||
| Beginning AutoCAD and SketchUp | ||
| Style For Media Writers | ||
| Media Literacy and Critical Thinking | ||
| Introduction To Theatre | ||
| History of the Theatre: Ancient to Renaissance | ||
| Theatre History After 1660 | ||
| Aesthetics of Theatre and Film | ||
| Required Lower Division Culture and Society Elective (3 Units) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Language, Culture, and Critical Thinking | ||
| Africa: Myths and Realities | ||
| Introduction to Ethnic Studies | ||
| Black Images in Popular Culture | ||
| Required Upper Division Studio Courses (22 Units) | ||
| PHOT 111 | Intermediate Digital Photography | 3 |
| PHOT 141 | Intermediate Darkroom Photography | 3 |
| PHOT 148 | Artificial Light, Studio | 3 |
| PHOT 155 | Advanced Photography Techniques | 3 |
| PHOT 165 | Issues in Contemporary Photographic Practice | 5 |
| PHOT 180 | Senior Portfolio | 5 |
| Required Upper Division Studio Elective (3 Units) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Artificial Light, Location | ||
| Studio Topics in Photography | ||
| Required Upper Division Photographic Theory and History (6 Units) | ||
| PHOT 101 | Photography, Inception to Mid-Century | 3 |
| PHOT 102 | Photography, a Social History | 3 |
| Required Upper Division Interdisciplinary Electives (6 Units) | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Origins of American Indian Art | ||
| Art of the Ancient Mediterranean | ||
| Medieval Art | ||
| Renaissance Art | ||
| Baroque and Rococo Art | ||
| 19th Century Art | ||
| Modern Art | ||
| US and Caribbean Art: Race and Representation | ||
| Latin American and Latino Art History | ||
| Contemporary Art | ||
| Asian Art and Mythology | ||
| Art of India and Southeast Asia | ||
| Art of China and Japan | ||
| Art of Korea | ||
| Modern Architecture | ||
| California Architecture and Urban History | ||
| Advanced Drawing | ||
| Intermediate Painting | ||
| Intermediate Printmaking | ||
| NewMedia: 3D Computer Modeling | ||
| Digital Printmaking | ||
| Advanced Printmaking Studio | ||
| Video Art | ||
| Advanced Ceramics | ||
| Hand-Built Ceramic Techniques | ||
| Intermediate Jewelry | ||
| Intermediate Metalsmithing | ||
| Advanced Sculpture | ||
| World Design and Visual Culture | ||
| Urban Design and Society | ||
| History Of The Media | ||
or COMS 120 | History of the Media | |
| War, Peace and the Mass Media | ||
| Artificial Light, Location | ||
| Studio Topics in Photography | ||
| Required Upper Division Culture and Society Elective (3 Units) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Crosscultural Aging in America | ||
| Race and Ethnicity in Latin America and Caribbean | ||
| American Indians, Film and Popular Culture | ||
| Native American Oral Tradition and Storytelling | ||
| Native American Women | ||
| Women in the Mass Media | ||
| Minorities, Social Change and the Press | ||
| Black Drama in the African Diaspora | ||
| Women and Theatre: Staging Diversity | ||
| Contemporary Chicano/Latino Theatre: Themes and Performance 1965-Present | ||
| Multicultural Perspectives in American Theatre | ||
| Total Units | 79 | |
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Area A: Basic Subjects (9 Units) | ||
| A1 - Oral Communication | 3 | |
| A2 - Written Communication | 3 | |
| A3 - Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms (13 Units) | ||
| B1 - Physical Science | 3 | |
| B2 - Life Forms | 3 | |
| B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5) | 1 | |
| B4 - Math Concepts | 3 | |
| B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
| Area C: Arts and Humanities (12 Units) | ||
| C1 - Arts | 3 | |
| C2 - Humanities | 3 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course | 3 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
| Area D: The Individual and Society (6 Units) | ||
| Area D Course | 3 | |
| Area D Course | 3 | |
| Area D Course | 0 | |
| Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 0 | |
| Area E: Understanding Personal Development (3 Units) | ||
| Area E Course | 3 | |
| Area F: Ethnic Studies | ||
| Area F Course | ||
| Total Units | 43 | |
The following roadmaps are sample planning resources. Please consult your academic advisor and Academic Catalog for graduation requirements as you develop your individualized academic plan.
Photography, BFA: 4-Year Roadmap
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Units | |
| DSGN 4 | Design and Thinking | 3 |
| PHOT 11 | Digital Photography I | 3 |
| PHOT 20 | The Photographic Self | 3 |
| GE Area 1C - Oral Communication 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 5B - Biological Science 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 5C - Laboratory 2 | 1 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| DSGN 10 | Think Make | 4 |
| DSGN 20 | Design and Society Since 1780 | 3 |
| PHOT 15 | Survey of Photography | 3 |
| GE Area 1A - English Composition 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 2 - Mathematical Concepts & Quantitative Reasoning 2 | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| First Semester | ||
| PHOT 12 | Digital Photography II | 3 |
| ART 1C | Global Modern and Contemporary Art | 3 |
| Lower Division Interdisciplinary Elective 3 | 3 | |
| GE Area 1B - Critical Thinking 2 | 3 | |
| GR American Institutions (US History) 2 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PHOT 40 | Darkroom Photography | 3 |
| GPHD 20 or INTD 20 |
History Of Graphic Design or Design |
3 |
| Lower Division Interdisciplinary Elective 3 | 3 | |
| ENGL 20 | College Composition II | 3 |
| GE Area 6 - Ethnic Studies 2 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| First Semester | ||
| PHOT 101 | Photography, Inception to Mid-Century | 3 |
| PHOT 111 | Intermediate Digital Photography | 3 |
| PHOT 141 | Intermediate Darkroom Photography | 3 |
| GE Area 5A - Physical Science 2 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Semester 1 2 | 4 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PHOT 102 | Photography, a Social History | 3 |
| PHOT 148 | Artificial Light, Studio | 3 |
| PHOT 155 | Advanced Photography Techniques | 3 |
| Upper Division GE Area 4 - Social & Behavioral Sciences + American Institutions (GOVT) 2 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Semester 2 2 | 4 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| First Semester | ||
| PHOT 165 | Issues in Contemporary Photographic Practice | 5 |
| Upper Division Photography Studio Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division Interdisciplinary Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division GE Area 5 or 2 - Science or Mathematical Concepts/Quantitative Reasoning 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 4 - Social & Behavioral Sciences 2 | 3 | |
| Units | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PHOT 180 | Senior Portfolio | 5 |
| Upper Division Interdisciplinary Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division Culture & Society Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division GE Area 3 - Arts or Humanities + Writing Intensive 2 | 3 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Total Units | 125 | |
Photography, BFA: 2-Year Roadmap
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Units | |
| PHOT 101 | Photography, Inception to Mid-Century | 3 |
| PHOT 111 | Intermediate Digital Photography | 3 |
| PHOT 141 | Intermediate Darkroom Photography | 3 |
| GR American Institutions (US History) 2 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Semester 1 2 | 4 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PHOT 102 | Photography, a Social History | 3 |
| PHOT 148 | Artificial Light, Studio | 3 |
| PHOT 155 | Advanced Photography Techniques | 3 |
| Upper Division GE Area 4 - Social & Behavioral Sciences + American Institutions (GOVT) 2 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Semester 2 2 | 4 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| First Semester | ||
| PHOT 165 | Issues in Contemporary Photographic Practice | 5 |
| Upper Division Photography Studio Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division Interdisciplinary Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division GE Area 5 or 2 - Science or Mathematical Concepts/Quantitative Reasoning 2 | 3 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PHOT 180 | Senior Portfolio | 5 |
| Upper Division Interdisciplinary Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division Culture & Society Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division GE Area 3 - Arts or Humanities + Writing Intensive 2 | 3 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Total Units | 60 | |
- 1.
Any course not completed in the first semester should be taken in the second or a later semester.
- 2.
Please see General Education/Graduation Requirement course options.
- 3.
Please see an academic advisor for elective options.