Photography and Film, Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
The Department of Photography and Film offers a variety of basic, intermediate and advanced photography and filmmaking classes leading to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Film, with concentrations in filmmaking, photography, and photography and filmmaking.
Beginning courses cover fundamentals and techniques and develop the visual senses. Advanced courses expand on the student’s knowledge and help the student assemble a well-developed portfolio. Emphasis is placed on photography and filmmaking as fine arts. All students in the program work in narrative, documentary and experimental genres and learn both film-based and digital technology.
Admission criteria
Degree requirements
Photography curriculum
Filmmaking curriculum
Admission criteria
Students seeking admission to the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Film degree program apply to the School of the Arts and enter the Art Foundation Program. During the final semester of the Art Foundation Program, students submit a portfolio application that is reviewed by the Department of Photography and Film.
Degree requirements
Completion of the program requires a minimum of 120 credits. Forty-five credits must be completed in 300-, 400- and/or 500-level courses. The final 30 credits must be completed at VCU. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an adviser each semester to maintain the correct curriculum track toward graduation.
For full application consideration, students must complete each course requirement of the Art Foundation Program with a minimum grade of C and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. While in the program students must earn a minimum grade of C in each departmental course and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Students who fail to meet these requirements may be dropped from the program.
Special equipment is required. Students should contact the department or visit its Web site for a list of required equipment.
Curricula outlines
| University core | ||
| Credits | ||
| UNIV 111 and 112 Focused Inquiry I and II | 6 | |
| UNIV 200 Writing and Rhetoric or equivalent | 3 | |
| Approved humanities/fine arts | 3 | |
| Approved social/behavioral science | 3 | |
| Approved natural/physical science | 3 | |
| Quantitative literacy | 3 | |
| General studies | ||
| Art history | 12 | |
| To include ARTH 103, 104, 271 and 472 | ||
| Literature | 3 | |
| Art Foundation studios | 14 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| 200-level PHTO classes | 8 | |
| 300- and 400-level PHTO classes | 40 | |
| PHTO 420 Senior Portfolio (capstone) | 6 | |
| Additional requirements | ||
| Open electives | 12 | |
| Studio art elective | 4 | |
| Total | 120 | |
| Note: 45 credits in 300- to 500-level courses are required to graduate. | ||
| University core | ||
| Credits | ||
| UNIV 111 and 112 Focused Inquiry I and II | 6 | |
| UNIV 200 Writing and Rhetoric or equivalent | 3 | |
| Approved humanities/fine arts | 3 | |
| Approved social/behavioral science | 3 | |
| Approved natural/physical science | 3 | |
| Quantitative literacy | 3 | |
| General studies | ||
| Art history | 15 | |
| To include ARTH 103, 104, 270, 271 and 474 | ||
| Literature | 3 | |
| Art Foundation studios | 14 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| 200-level PHTO classes | 5 | |
| 300- and 400-level PHTO classes | 43 | |
| PHTO 420 Senior Portfolio (capstone) | 3 | |
| Additional requirements | ||
| Open electives | 12 | |
| Studio art elective | 4 | |
| Total | 120 | |
| Note: 45 credits in 300- to 500-level courses are required to graduate. | ||