Photography

The Photography Program offers film and digital classes. The department is equipped with processing facilities and access to a computer lab and a wet darkroom. The classes are small enough for students to interact with faculty and receive individual attention. Students are pushed to become technically proficient and to explore content important to them.

Students are introduced to noted professionals through the college’s Artist-in-Residence Program and the department’s Visiting Artist Program. Previous guests include Maggie Steber, Shelby Lee Adams, Keith Carter, Debbie Fleming Caffery, Sandy Skoglund, and Kate Breakey.

Students are also encouraged to submit their works to competitive juried exhibits. In the past, several students have been finalists in the Annual Photography Contest of Photographer’s Forum magazine sponsored by Nikon and published in Lux, a fine art photography journal from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Degree Requirements

BFA Major in Studio Art (83 hours of Art)

The degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) requires successful completion of 120 hours, whose required components include (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements (see UCA Core requirements and note that ART 2325, 2335, or 2336—required for Art majors and minors—fulfills the LD UCA Core requirement in Critical Analysis, Fine Arts/Humanities) and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated courses (again, see UCA Core requirements); (2) 83 hours of art and design courses in an approved BFA major in Studio Art and emphasis degree plan as described below; (3) and electives to bring total credit hours to 120. Art and design courses must follow a prerequisite structure. A minor is not required. This degree may require more than the normal eight semesters to complete. Students with a 2.5 cumulative GPA and a 3.25 major GPA on a minimum of 24 hours of art may apply for acceptance to the BFA program after completing the Sophomore Major Advancement Interview (SMAI). Students are strongly encouraged to follow the semester-by-semester structure in the published BFA Academic Map. As such, this document is to be used as a checksheet to evaluate the student’s progress through the degree in a course-by-course manner.

In order to complete the state-mandated minimum number of hours for core requirements in general education, art majors are required to complete a Humanities course in either the Diversity category or in the Responsible Living category.

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