The photography and video specialization of the visual arts major offers digital and traditional practices in which students fluidly explore diverse methods of telling stories. Courses focus on developing technical and conceptual aspects of the mediums while emphasizing the potential of photography and video to engage meaningfully with ideas and culture. In addition to multi-level digital color photography, students explore a variety of photographic practices, including large format, studio lighting for photo and video, alternative processes, and black & white darkroom. This specialization also encourages the exploration and redefinition of the role of photography/video within a contemporary fine art context, allowing for experimentation with image appropriation, presentation, installation, and integration with new genres as well as the creation of interdisciplinary collaborations among students, faculty, and the community. The major includes three capstone courses, Theory and Practice, Professional Practice, and Thesis, to prepare graduates for the workplace or graduate school.
Courses
Specialization Requirements (12 course units)
Photography/Video Core (4 course units)
- AAV 231/Studio Lighting: Photography/Video
- AAV 244/Video I
- AAV 331/Advanced Projects in Photography and Video
- AAV 3XX/VideoII
Photography/Video Requirements (3 course units)
- AAV 230/Photo II
- AAV 330/Photo III: Image and Narrative
- AAV 370/Topics in Visual arts OR Video II
- AAV 399/Internship
Studio Electives for Photography/Video (2 course units)
- AAV 342/Installation, Performance, and Media
- AAV 3XX/Studio Elective
Captsone (3 course units)
- AAV 338/Theory & Practice in Photography/Video
- AAV 461/Professional Practice
- AAV 432/Senior Thesis in Photography/Video
Recommended Program of Study
Second Year
First Semester
- AAV 230/Photo II: Documentary – (1 course unit)
- AAV 244/Video I – (1 course unit)
- AAH 254/Histories of Photography – (1 course unit)
- College Core – (1 course unit)
Second Semester
- AAV 231/Studio Lighting – (1 course unit)
- AAV 342/Installation, Performance, and Media – (1 course unit)
- Art History – (1 course unit)
- College Core – (1 course unit)
- Sophomore Review – (0 course unit)
Total for year: 8 course units
Third Year
First Semester
- AAV 330/Photo III: Image and Narrative – (1 course unit)
- AAV 3XX/Video II – (1 course unit)
- Art History – (1 course unit)
- College Core – (1 course unit)
Second Semester
- AAV 338/Theory and Practice in Photography and Video – (1 course unit)
- AAV 331/Advanced Projects in Photography and Video – (1 course unit)
- AAV 399/Internship- (1 course unit)
- College Core – (1 course unit)
Total for year: 8 course units
Fourth Year
First Semester
- AAV 461/Professional Practice – (1 course unit)
- Art History – (1 course unit)
- AAV 3XX/Studio Elective
- Elective – (1 course unit)
Second Semester
- AAV 432/Senior Thesis in Photography and Video – (1 course unit)
- AAV 3xx/Studio Elective – (1 course unit)
- Elective – (1 course unit)
- Elective – (1 course unit)
Total for year: 8 course units