Studio Art: Photography, BASA
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art Major in Studio Art, Photography Concentration
The BASA, Studio Art: Photography Concentration is not currently accepting applications. Suspension of admission effective Spring 2025.
Students in the BASA and BFASA who choose a Photography concentration will focus on creating works of art that use photographic imagery. Faculty in the Photography program are committed to continually redefining fine art photography in an expansive and openly creative way. The ability to understand and employ photography’s unique narrative potential is emphasized alongside technical considerations. Our classes provide a balance of practice and theory, which assures the understanding and appreciation of both the interdependence and integration of creativity, production, and research.
Our photography faculty has international exhibition records and work in numerous museum and private collections. Their photographs, installations, books, films, and videos have won critical acclaim in the form of national reviews and grants ranging from the National Endowment for the Arts to the Illinois Arts Council. Faculty members have lectured on their work throughout the United States and abroad.
Collectively the faculty has a wide range of skills, and they use them to teach fine black and white printing, studio lighting, color photography, digital photography, video, installation art, the history of photography, and critical theory. Graduates of our program apply their knowledge in a variety of ways, as fine artists, commercial photographers, designers, gallery and museum professionals, or any field that requires visual literacy and creative thinking.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art Major in Studio Art, Photography Concentration
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: Students may not graduate from Art Undeclared. Majors in the School of Art & Design require between 122 and 130 hours.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in Art and Design.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
fulfilled by ARTH 110 and any other course approved as Humanities & the Arts | ||
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
fulfilled by ARTH 110 | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-15 | |
First Year Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FAA 101 | Arts at Illinois | 1 |
| ARTF 101 | Contemporary Issues in Art | 2 |
| ARTE 101 | Art, Design, and Society | 2 |
| ARTH 110 | Introduction to the History of Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| ARTF 103 | Design I | 3 |
| ARTF 105 | Design II | 3 |
| Select one Drawing course: | 3 | |
| Observational Drawing | ||
| Expressive Drawing | ||
| Visualization Drawing | ||
| Total Hours | 17 | |
Art & Design Major & Concentration Options
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 122 hours.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in Art and Design.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
fulfilled by ARTH 110 and any other course approved as Humanities & the Arts | ||
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
fulfilled by ARTH 110 | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-15 | |
First-Year Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FAA 101 | Arts at Illinois | 1 |
| ARTF 101 | Contemporary Issues in Art | 2 |
| ARTE 101 | Art, Design, and Society | 2 |
| ARTH 110 | Introduction to the History of Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| ARTF 103 | Design I | 3 |
| ARTF 105 | Design II | 3 |
| Select one Drawing course: | 3 | |
| Observational Drawing | ||
| Expressive Drawing | ||
| Visualization Drawing | ||
| Total Hours | 17 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Art History Requirements | ||
| 200 level and above ARTH courses | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Art requirements | ||
| 200-level ARTS course | 3 | |
| 300-level ARTS course | 3 | |
| ARTS 392 | Current Art Issues Seminar | 3 |
| 400-level ARTS course | 3 | |
| ARTS 448 | BASA Capstone Project | 4 |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of credits for Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts | ||
| General Education Requirements | ||
| First-Year Curriculum Requirements | 17 | |
| Art History Requirements | 9 | |
| Studio Art Requirements | 16 | |
| Free Electives | ||
| A minimum of 40 credits at the 300 or 400 course level are required | ||
| Total Hours | 122 | |
Students in the photography concentration should elect ARTH 257 as part of the 9 additional hours of Art History, listed above.
Photography Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH 257 | History of Photography (exclude if taken as part of Art History requirements) | (3) |
| ARTS 264 | Basic Photography (exclude if taken as part of first year curriculum) | (3) |
| ARTS 266 | View Camera | 3 |
| or ARTS 267 | Digital Photographic Output | |
| ARTS 365 | Photography Workshop | 3 |
| or ARTS 367 | RAW Photography | |
| ARTS 392 | Current Art Issues Seminar | 3 |
| ARTS 448 | BASA Capstone Project | 4 |
| ARTS 461 | Advanced Photography | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art Major in Studio Art, Photography Concentration
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree General and Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| FAA 101 | 1 | ARTE 101 | 2 |
| ARTF 101 | 2 | ARTD or ARTS ### (3D Category) | 3 |
| ARTH 110 | 3 | ARTS ### (4D Category) | 3 |
| ARTS 264 | 3 | Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| ARTF ### (Drawing Category) | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ARTH 257 | 3 | ARTS 266 or 267 | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | ARTH 200-400 level course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ARTS 365 or 367 | 3 | ARTS 392 | 3 |
| ARTH 200-400 level course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ARTS 448 | 4 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| ARTS 461 | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 122 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art Major in Studio Art, Photography Concentration
School of Art & Design
School of Art & Design
Art & Design Faculty
Academic Coordinator of Undergraduate Academic Affairs: Michael Foellmer,
143 Art and Design Building, Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 244-8462
Academic Coordinator of Undergraduate Academic Affairs email
College of Fine & Applied Arts
Fine & Applied Arts
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