Photography, BFA

The Seattle University Photography major offers a strong foundation in photographic technique, critical theory and creative development. In collaboration with the Photographic Center Northwest, the required photography courses for the program are further enhanced by numerous elective offerings each quarter.

In addition, the Photographic Center Northwest, a non-profit community arts center, invites internationally recognized photographers to teach workshops and give public lectures throughout the year. Seattle University photography students are exposed to the work of both regional and international photographers through rotating gallery exhibitions at the Photographic Center Northwest.

Requirements

In order to earn the bachelor of fine arts with a major in photography, students must complete a minimum of 180 quarter credits, with a cumulative and a major/program grade point average of 2.00 including the following:

I. Core Curriculum Requirements

ENGL 110 - College Writing: Inquiry and Argument 5
PHIL 110 - Introduction to Philosophy and Critical Thinking 5
HIST 120 - Origins of Western Civilization 5
ENGL 120 - Introduction to Literature 5
MATH 107 or MATH 110 or above 5
Lab Science 5
PHIL 220 - Philosophy of the Human Person 5
Social Science I 5
Social Science II (different discipline from Social Science I) 5
Theology and Religious Studies Phase II (200-299) 5
Ethics (upper division) 5
Theology and Religious Studies Phase III (300-399) 5
Interdisciplinary (ART 480 required)*
Senior Synthesis (ART 490 required)*

*Credits included in major requirements

II. College of Arts and Sciences Requirements

Modern Language 115, 125, 135, or equivalent (15)

NOTE:

All students with a major in the College of Arts and Sciences must demonstrate competency in a language other than English through the 135 level. This competency is ordinarily achieved by successful completion of the three-course sequence: 115, 125, and 135. Because these courses are a college requirement, no course in the sequence may be taken on a pass/fail, correspondence, or audit basis. Placement into other than the beginning course of the sequence is achieved by acceptable performance on the Modern Language Competency Examination. See the Modern Languages Department for details on the examinations. Courses used to satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences modern language requirement may not be used to fulfill photography major requirements.

Choose one of the following two courses:

III. Major Requirements

87 credits in visual art, including:

ART 100 - Design and Color 5
ART 105 - Freshman Seminar 2
ART 120 - Drawing I 5
ART 160 - Black and White Photography I 3
ART 260 - Color Photography I 3
ART 265 - Black and White Photography II 3
ART 271 - Digital Imaging 5
ART 317 - History of Photography 5
ART 360 - Black and White Photography III 3
ART 365 - Light Control for Photography 3
ART 378 - Photography Production Seminar 3
ART 412 - Theory and Methods in Photography 5
ART 478 - Photography Portfolio Seminar 2
ART 480 - Documentary Photography for Social Change 5
ART 490 - Senior Synthesis: Business of Art 5
ART Electives at the 200-level or above (see course descriptions ) 5
ART Electives at the 300-400 level (see course descriptions ) 15

Choose one of the following two courses:

Documentary Emphasis:

In addition to the classes listed above, students who wish to pursue an emphasis in documentary photography would substitute nine of the fifteen elective credit requirements with the following documentary courses: Documentary Survey, Documentary Methodology and Documentary Stills and Video.

NOTE:

Faculty will review the student portfolio upon completion of sophomore year, or equivalent, to determine eligibility to continue in the photography major.