Online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art (Digital Photography)

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The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art in Digital Photography at ASU is the first online program from a research 1 university or fine art college in the nation to offer a studio practice-based degree. Working with a faculty of professional artists, students have the opportunity to master technical, aesthetic and conceptual aspects of digital photography.

Resident tuition | Non-resident tuition
ASU Online offers start dates every 7.5 weeks.
Class number may be less for transfer students.
Required number of credits to complete this degree.

The ASU Online BFA in Art with a concentration in Digital Photography focuses on creative and expressive photography in its 21st century incarnations. The program is designed to foster unique creative practices and develop sophisticated visual literacy. Through practical assignments, students can create experiences as they engage with classmates and instructors across the world. Students complete these practical assignments by creating photographs in response to ideas introduced in the courses and their own ideas. Students will use PDFs and video to share their work. Upper division courses will provide the opportunity to further develop the introductory ideas and techniques and pursue individualized projects. The work that students produce is regularly critiqued by instructors on a critique platform. All classes will have at their core creation of images and critical exchange. Upon completing the degree, students will have a final portfolio, an artist statement, along with a community of peers and mentors, and a highly developed ability to give and receive critical feedback.

Graduates will be ready to begin careers and pursue graduate study in art and photography, they will also have the skills to excel in a wide range of related areas including: editorial, commercial and advertising photography, journalism, design, photo and art direction and editing, museum curation and gallery direction and many other fields that demand visual literacy, self-direction and creative and critical engagement.


Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts accolades:

  • ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is the largest comprehensive design and arts school in the country.
  • 5,000+ students, nearly 400 faculty members, 130 programs comprising of arts, media and engineering, design, film, dance and theatre and music.
  • Ranked 20th among fine arts schools in the nation, ahead of Cornell University, Parsons School of Design and the University of California.

Calendar

Next Start Date:

03/11/19
Most Innovative

Featured Courses

ARA 309: Photography Now

Explores contemporary practice through lectures, readings, exhibition visits, screenings and discussions. Explores work created within the past thirty years up to the present. Students act as a collective "ear to the ground" for the medium, engaging in first-hand experiences and research and being responsible to share those experiences with the class as active agents of discovery. Requires reading current periodicals, attending and discussing photographic lectures and exhibitions both in-class and beyond within the local community.

ART 206: Digital Photography I

Through readings, lectures, demonstrations and regular shooting assignments and critique, introduces the basic concepts of photography as a form of creative expression. With an emphasis on the student's own creative practice, covers technical, aesthetic and conceptual aspects of photography and explores how meaning is created in a photograph. Introduces basic digital editing, camera controls, selection and sequencing. Assignments cover traditional genres such as landscape, portrait and still life. Places a strong emphasis on interaction with classmates' work and receptivity to critique. Fully manual DSLR is suggested but not required for this course.

ART 207: Digital Photography II

Through readings, lectures, demonstrations and regular shooting assignments and critique, introduces the basic concepts of digital photography as a form of creative expression. With an emphasis on the student's own creative practice, explores the ways in which the recently increased speed of creation and dissemination have led to the ubiquity of photography and how these aspects have radically altered how photographs function in today's world. Covers technical, aesthetic and conceptual aspects of digital photography and explores how meaning is created in a digital photograph. Students learn digital editing, camera controls, file formats, workflow and explores media theory in relation to digital imaging technology. Assignments cover topics such as appropriation, social media, surveillance, vernacular and ritual photography. Places a strong emphasis on interaction with classmates' work and receptivity to critique.

ART 317: Advanced Digital Photography

Builds on the skills and conceptual underpinnings of previous coursework and is the final course in the required photo foundation for the Digital Photography BFA. Students build on their understanding of photography in relation to the technical, aesthetic and conceptual aspects of photography. Requires students to create a short video and create physical objects, including printed photographs and a book. Places a strong emphasis on idea development, interaction with classmates' work and receptivity to critique.
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Faculty

Home to world-class artists and designers who inspire students to shape the future. Herberger’s faculty research focuses on improving the human condition through creativity and art in the following areas:

  • The Study of Creative Work
  • Arts Entrepreneurship and Cultural Policy
  • Arts Education and Arts-Integrated Education
  • Design + Arts + Science + Engineering
  • Arts and Design for Social Justice
  • Creative Health Collaborations
  • Community Engagement and Public Policy

Program Summary

Total Hours:

120

Related Careers

Graduates with an ASU Online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art (Digital Photography) have career opportunities illustrated in the following list. Career examples include but are not limited to:

Career *Growth *Median Salary
6.0%
$63,630
2.4%
$85,610
10.8%
$64,300
11.9%
$41,780
2.0%
$48,080
0.6%
$31,080
3.1%
$43,890
5.8%
$56,310
2.0%
$64,620
3.1%
$30,490
9.1%
$69,100
2.5%
$64,200
9.1%
$69,100

ASU Online Story

  • Curatorial work in galleries, museums and historical collections

  • History or studio areas

  • Nonprofit Arts Organization Management

  • University Teaching

  • Journalism

  • Art Direction

  • Design

  • Art Photographer,

  • Artist

  • Photo Editor

  • Art Editor

  • Web Designer

  • Editorial Photographer

  • Museum and Gallery Directors

Requirements

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
Freshman | Transfer | International | Readmission

Affording College

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