Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography
Photography
Rebecca Michaels, Program Head
Tyler School of Art Building, Room B030X
215-777-9226
rebeccam@temple.edu
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Photography at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture offers students access to state-of-the-art facilities and prepares them to find their voices as artists, photojournalists and image-makers in traditional and emerging technologies.
Tyler Photography provides access to a wide range of faculty expertise, generously equipped photography studios and an interdisciplinary spirit, making it possible for all types of undergraduates to develop their skills as problem solvers and find pathways to meaningful expression and success. Whether students are interested in deep exploration of cutting-edge digital techniques, historic darkroom processes or incorporating methods from other artistic disciplines, Tyler's faculty offer personal guidance.
Tyler BFA students can take advantage of the school's location at a large research university in Philadelphia, a vibrant art center with a pioneering photography tradition, to find internships and jobs, explore museums and galleries, launch creative practices, start businesses and earn placements in competitive graduate programs.
Degree Requirements
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 126 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. All Photography majors must complete the BFA curriculum and General Education requirements.
- Students must earn a C- or better in ART 2601 or ART 2603, and ART 2602 to enter the Photography major.
- The nine required Junior/Senior Photography courses must be completed with a C- or better to fulfill major requirements.
The faculty encourages taking Photography courses in excess of the minimum required. These additional courses count towards required studio credits.
Major Requirements for B.F.A. in Photography
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Sophomore Prerequisite 1 | ||
| ART 2601 | Photo I: Digital | 3 |
| or ART 2603 | Photo I: Digital | |
| ART 2602 | Digital Imaging | 3 |
| or ART 2901 | Honors Digital Imaging: Seeing Photographically | |
| Junior and Senior Requirements 1 | ||
| ART 3601 | Color Photography I | 3 |
| or ART 3608 | Color Photography I | |
| ART 3603 | Darkroom Photography | 3 |
| or ART 3605 | Darkroom Photography | |
| ART 3604 | Photographic Lighting | 3 |
| ART 3611 | Advanced Photo Workshop | 3 |
| ART 3612 | Photo Process Workshop | 3 |
| ART 3613 | Digital Photography | 3 |
| ART 4601 | Senior Photography | 3 |
| ART 4696 | Senior Seminar in Photography | 3 |
| Specialized Photo Course | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Field Internship | ||
| View Camera | ||
| Digital Projects | ||
| Contemporary Photography | ||
| Special Topics in Photography | ||
| Art Career Workshop | ||
| 1 | The schedule of courses that are required for the Photography major is posted each semester on the Tyler Photography web site: https://tyler.temple.edu/programs/photography. |
Suggested Academic Plan
Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography
Requirements for New Students starting in the 2022-2023 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| FDPR 1511 | Foundation Drawing1 | 3 |
| FDPR 1521 | 2D Foundation Principles | 3 |
| FDPR 1531 | 3D Foundation Principles/W | 3 |
| FDPR 1503 | Woodshop Fundamentals | 1 |
| ARTH 1155 or 1955 | Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | 3 |
| ENG 0802, 0812, or 0902 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| Term Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| FDPR 1512 | Foundation Drawing | 3 |
| FDPR 1522 | 2D Foundation Principles | 3 |
| FDPR 1532 | 3D Foundation Principles/C | 3 |
| FDPR 1502 | Investigations of Art and Design | 1 |
| ARTH 1156 or 1956 | Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century1 | 3 |
| IH 0851 or 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 2601 or 2603 | Photo I: Digital | 3 |
| ART or GAD 2000-2999 Sophomore Studio Elective | 3 | |
| ART or GAD 2000-2999 Sophomore Studio Elective | 3 | |
| IH 0852 or 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ] | 4 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 2602 or 2901 | Digital Imaging | 3 |
| ART or GAD 2000-2999 Sophomore Studio Elective | 3 | |
| ART or GAD 2000-2999 Sophomore Studio Elective | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 3601 or 3608 | Color Photography I | 3 |
| ART 3603 or 3605 | Darkroom Photography | 3 |
| ART 3604 | Photographic Lighting | 3 |
| Art History Elective [WI] | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 3611 | Advanced Photo Workshop | 3 |
| ART 3613 | Digital Photography | 3 |
| ART or GAD Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Art History Elective2 | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 4696 | Senior Seminar in Photography [WI] | 3 |
| Specialized Photography Course3 | 3 | |
| ART or GAD Studio Elective | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Non-Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 4601 | Senior Photography | 3 |
| ART 3612 | Photo Process Workshop | 3 |
| ART or GAD Studio Elective | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Open Elective2 | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 126 | |
| 1 | These 2 courses constitute the waiver for the GenEd Arts category if the courses are completed with a C- or better. |
| 2 | Students completing a 3 credit Art History 2000+ elective must select a 4 credit open elective to reach the minimum 126 credits to earn the BFA degree. |
| 3 | Choose from: ART 3085, ART 3602, ART 3606, ART 3607, ART 3610, ART 3796. |
Please Note: An approved study abroad program waives the GenEd Global/World Society (GG) requirement; however, these credits must be made up with academic coursework taken outside of Tyler departments to be in compliance with BFA accreditation. Photography majors interested in studying abroad should consult with an academic advisor to determine if a semester (generally spring semester of second year) or a summer program would be the best option to remain on track for graduation.