Overview
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography with Entrepreneurial Studies, offered by the Department of Art, provides 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.
Designed to complement the studio experience with tools to support a studio practice or pursue graduate studies, the Entrepreneurship coursework enhances students' career options. Graduates of this degree program will possess requisite business skills to support themselves as visual artists or entrepreneurs in art and related fields.
Each student moves from a common foundation curriculum that introduces materials and processes and prepares them for success in a range of fields of study. Those who select Art as their major will work side-by-side with majors in Visual Studies, Art Education and Art Therapy. The dynamic exchange of ideas that result from these interdisciplinary conversations spur intellectual risk and drive research-based creative concepts.
Upon graduation, students have the practical skill sets and honed aesthetic for successful careers in studio art, art education and design, as well as attend top-tier graduate programs.
Campus Location: Main
Program Code: TA-PHOE-BFA
Admissions
Admission to Tyler's Studio Art (Bachelor of Fine Arts) programs is based on a review of academic credentials and portfolio review. For detailed information on how to apply, please visit Tyler's Studio Art admissions page.
Study Abroad
Students who plan to study abroad should arrange to meet with their academic advisor and the Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses office as early as possible, preferably during the freshman year, in order to explore options and plan the sequence of courses that would be most appropriate.
Accreditation
Temple University is a non-profit accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). NASAD establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for art and design and art/design-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational and other art/design-related endeavors.
Contact Information
Dilmar Mauricio Gamero S., PhD, Program Head
Tyler School of Art Building, Room B30Y
215-777-9245
dilmar.mauricio@temple.edu
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
Summary of Requirements
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography with Entrepreneurial Studies 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 with Entrepreneurial Studies majors must complete the General Education requirements.
- Students must earn a C- or better in ART 2601 or ART 2603, and ART 2602 to enter the Photography with Entrepreneurial Studies major.
- The 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 BFA in Photography with Entrepreneurial Studies
| 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 (WI) | 3 |
| Specialized Photo Course | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Field Internship | ||
| View Camera | ||
| Digital Projects | ||
| Contemporary Photography | ||
| Special Topics in Photography | ||
| Entrepreneurship Courses | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Planning to Start Your Own Business | ||
| Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking | ||
| Lean Startup: Fast and Inexpensive Ways to Test and Launch Your Ideas | ||
| Launch a New Venture in 100 Days | ||
| Doing Well by Doing Good: Where Innovation and Entrepreneurship Meet Social Impact | ||
| Pitching and Funding Entrepreneurial Ventures | ||
| Special Topics - Strategic Management | ||
| Social Impact Internship - Work with Benefit/B-corps, Non-profits, or Multi-bottom-line Ventures | ||
or SGM 3685 | New Venture Internship: Learning to be a High-Value Employee, Manager, or Founder | |
| Select one of the following: 2 | 3 | |
| Field Internship | ||
| Art Career Workshop (WI) | ||
| Professional Practices in Art (WI) | ||
| Art Careers Promotion | ||
| The Business of Design (WI) | ||
| Field Internship | ||
| Creative Cottage Industrialist | ||
| Rome Internship | ||
- 1
The schedule of courses that are required for the Photography major is posted each semester on the Tyler Photography web site at https://tyler.temple.edu/programs/photography.
- 2
These courses cannot fulfill both a requirement for the major and for this category.
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 with Entrepreneurial Studies
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| FDPR 1511 | Foundation Drawing 1 | 3 |
| FDPR 1521 | 2D Foundation Principles | 3 |
| FDPR 1531 | 3D Foundation Principles/W | 3 |
| FDPR 1503 | Woodshop Fundamentals | 1 |
| ARTH 1155 or ARTH 1955 | Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 or Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | 3 |
| ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW] or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| 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 ARTH 1956 | Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century 1 or Honors Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | 3 |
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 2601 or ART 2603 | Photo I: Digital or 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 IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 2602 or ART 2901 | Digital Imaging or Honors Digital Imaging: Seeing Photographically | 3 |
| ART or GAD 2000-2999 Sophomore Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Planning to Start Your Own Business | ||
| Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking | ||
| Lean Startup: Fast and Inexpensive Ways to Test and Launch Your Ideas | ||
| Launch a New Venture in 100 Days | ||
| Doing Well by Doing Good: Where Innovation and Entrepreneurship Meet Social Impact | ||
| Pitching and Funding Entrepreneurial Ventures | ||
| Special Topics - Strategic Management | ||
| Social Impact Internship - Work with Benefit/B-corps, Non-profits, or Multi-bottom-line Ventures | ||
| New Venture Internship: Learning to be a High-Value Employee, Manager, or Founder | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 3601 or ART 3608 | Color Photography I or Color Photography I | 3 |
| ART 3603 or ART 3605 | Darkroom Photography or Darkroom Photography | 3 |
| ART 3604 | Photographic Lighting | 3 |
| Art History Elective WI 2 | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 3611 | Advanced Photo Workshop | 3 |
| ART 3613 | Digital Photography | 3 |
| Select one of the following (not previously chosen): | 3 | |
| Planning to Start Your Own Business | ||
| Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking | ||
| Lean Startup: Fast and Inexpensive Ways to Test and Launch Your Ideas | ||
| Launch a New Venture in 100 Days | ||
| Doing Well by Doing Good: Where Innovation and Entrepreneurship Meet Social Impact | ||
| Pitching and Funding Entrepreneurial Ventures | ||
| Special Topics - Strategic Management | ||
| Social Impact Internship - Work with Benefit/B-corps, Non-profits, or Multi-bottom-line Ventures | ||
| New Venture Internship: Learning to be a High-Value Employee, Manager, or Founder | ||
| Art History Elective 3 | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 4696 | Senior Seminar in Photography [WI] | 3 |
| Specialized Photography Course 4 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following (not previously chosen): | 3 | |
| Planning to Start Your Own Business | ||
| Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking | ||
| Lean Startup: Fast and Inexpensive Ways to Test and Launch Your Ideas | ||
| Launch a New Venture in 100 Days | ||
| Doing Well by Doing Good: Where Innovation and Entrepreneurship Meet Social Impact | ||
| Pitching and Funding Entrepreneurial Ventures | ||
| Special Topics - Strategic Management | ||
| Social Impact Internship - Work with Benefit/B-corps, Non-profits, or Multi-bottom-line Ventures | ||
| New Venture Internship: Learning to be a High-Value Employee, Manager, or Founder | ||
| Open Elective 3 | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 4601 | Senior Photography | 3 |
| ART 3612 | Photo Process Workshop | 3 |
| ART or GAD 2000+ Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 5 | 3 | |
| Field Internship | ||
| Art Career Workshop [WI] | ||
| Professional Practices in Art [WI] | ||
| Art Careers Promotion | ||
| The Business of Design [WI] | ||
| Field Internship | ||
| Creative Cottage Industrialist | ||
| Rome Internship | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| 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 selecting a WI course from the list of Tyler entrepreneurship courses may elect to take a non-WI Art History course.
- 3
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.
- 4
Choose from: ART 3085, ART 3602, ART 3606, ART 3607, ART 3610.
- 5
These courses cannot fulfill both a requirement for the major and a requirement for this category.
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. BFA 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.