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The information here may reflect program requirements for future academic years. If you are a current student and would like to see the current or prior years’ requirements for this program, please see the University Catalog.



The Photography major requires the completion of 60 semester hours, which includes ten three-credit required courses, one three-credit Art History course, one three-credit 400-level course from a selected menu of courses, six three-credit elective courses, and six credits of Thesis Project. This 60-credit major contributes to the 121 credits required for the BFA degree.

In addition to the program requirements listed below, all BFA students must complete Foundation & General Education requirements that contribute to the 121 credits required for the BFA degree.

Program Curriculum

Required Program Courses

  • IM201 Theory & Practice

  • IM301 Theory & Practice

  • PH272 Concept / Capture / Print I

  • PH273 Studio Lighting Essentials

  • PH274 Photographic Investigations (6 credits, two different topics)

  • PH371 Photographic Practice and Research

  • PH372 The Photographic in Contemporary Art

  • PH374 Studio Lighting

  • PH375 Concept / Capture / Print 2

Art History

  • IS217 History of Photography

Program Electives

  • Complete 1 course from the following courses:

    • PR471 Print Studio

    • SC491 Experimenting With Materials

    • PR411 Advanced Artist Publications

    • PH474 Advanced Photographic Investigations

    • IM401 Theory & Practice

  • Complete 18 additional credits from any of the following subjects:

    • Studio Electives may be taken in any of of the following subjects: Animated Arts (AA), Creative Writing (CW), Drawing (DR), Graphic Design (GD), Illustration (IL), Intermedia (IM), Painting (PA), Painting and Drawing (PADR), Photography (PH), Printmaking (PR), or Sculpture (SC).

Applied Creative Practice


The Photography minor requires the completion of 15 semester hours, which includes one three-credit required course and twelve additional credits from selected menus of courses. Taken together with a major, this minor contributes to the 121 credits required for the BFA degree.

Program Curriculum

Required Program Courses

  • IS217 History of Photography

Program Electives

  • Complete 2 courses from Photography (PH) subject at any course level

  • Complete 1 course at the 300- or 400-level from subject Photography (PH)

  • Complete 1 additional course from the following courses.

    • Any course from Photography (PH) subject

    • AA237 Stop Motion

    • GD247 Production

    • GD341 Culture & Audience

    • GD344 Marketing & Branding

    • IL256 Digital Media Strategies 2

    • IL352 Cultural Marketplace

    • IL354 Design + Image

    • IL359 Advanced Picture Book

    • IM201 Theory & Practice

    • IM301 Theory & Practice

Course Outline

Learn to communicate powerfully and explore new ways of thinking about image making. You'll build a strong foundation of skills and a high degree of professional proficiency in analog and digital techniques while focusing on critically examining the challenges of photographic expression, and developing a vocabulary to discuss and critique your work and the work of others.

ID Course Title Course Req
Integrated Studies (9 cr. required)
IS101 Core Seminar 1 3
IS102 Core Seminar 2 3
IS106 Place-Based Inquiry 3
Applied Creative Practice (3 cr required)
ACP100 Introduction to Creative Citizenship 3
First-Year Seminar (1 cr. required)
FD100 **First Year Seminar 1
Studio Courses (3 cr required)
Studio Elective 3
Foundation Studio (15 cr. required)
FD101  Visual Elements: 2D 3
FD102 Visual Elements: Digital Tools 3
FD105  Drawing 1 3
FD111  3D Design 3
FD112  Time Arts 3
TOTAL 31
At the completion of First Year: 31 cr. earned to date 31

**FD100 First Year Seminar is required of all first-years with fewer than 30 transfer credits.

ID Course Title Course Req
Art History (3 cr. required)
IS 217 History of Photography 3
Integrated Studies (6 cr. required)
IS220Q Interdisciplinary Seminar (Q) 3
IS200 Interdisciplinary Seminar 3
Applied Creative Practice (3 cr required)
ACP200 Creative Project Management 3
Studio Courses (18 cr. required)
PH272  Concept / Capture / Print I 3
PH274  *Photographic Investigations 3
PH274  *Photographic Investigations 3
PH273 Studio Lighting Essentials 3
Studio Elective 3
IM201  Theory & Practice 200-level 3
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Second Year: 61 cr. earned to date 61

*Photographic Investigations menu (take two different topics from rotating menu - examples of topics are listed below):

  • Analog Processes
  • Alternative Processes
  • Documentary Photography
  • The Photo Book
  • Photographic Letterpress
  • Sun and Silver: Cyanotype and VanDyke
ID Course Title Course Req
Integrated Studies (6 cr. required)
IS220Q Interdisciplinary Seminar (Q) 3
IS200 Interdisciplinary Seminar 3
Applied Creative Practice (6 cr. required)
ACP300 Creative Entrepreneurship and Career Readiness 3
ACP301 or ACP302 Applied Learning Internship or Applied Learning Elective 3
Studio Courses (18 required cr.)
PH371  Photographic Practice and Research 3
PH372  The Photographic in the Contemporary Art 3
PH375 Concept / Capture / Print II 3
PH374  Studio Lighting 3
Studio Elective 3
IM301  Theory & Practice 300-level 3
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Third Year: 91 cr. earned to date 91
ID Course Title Course Req
Integrated Studies (3 cr. required)
IS200 Interdisciplinary Seminar 3
Applied Creative Practice (12 cr. required)
ACP400 Senior Seminar 3
ACP401 Thesis Critique Seminar 3
ACP499 Thesis Project 6
Studio Courses (15 cr. required)
*400-level studio course (from menu) 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Fourth Year: 121 cr. earned to date 121

Willamette University

Photography