Studio Art: Photography, BFASA
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art Major in Studio Art, Photography Concentration
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 Fine Arts in Studio Art Major in Studio Art, Photography Concentration
Students in the School of Art and Design must complete the Campus General Education requirements. Some Art and Design courses will also apply toward the General Education requirements.
A portfolio review is required for admission to the School of Art and Design.
Students majoring in this degree program must complete the First Year Curriculum requirements before beginning other major requirements.
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 |
| Select one Drawing course: | 3 | |
| Observational Drawing | ||
| Expressive Drawing | ||
| Visualization Drawing | ||
| Select one course in 2D Category: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Graphic Design | ||
| Introduction to Printmaking (required for BFASA Studio Art: Printmaking) | ||
| Fashion Illustration (required for BFASA Studio Art: Fashion) | ||
| Beginning Painting (required for BFASA Studio Art: Painting) | ||
| Basic Photography (required for BFASA Studio Art: Photography) | ||
| Select one course in 3D Category: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Industrial Design | ||
| Ceramics Sculpture I | ||
| Jewelry/Metals I | ||
| Beginning Sculpture (required for BFASA Studio Art: Sculpture) | ||
| Select one course in 4D Category: | 3 | |
| Image Practice | ||
| Time Arts I | ||
| Interaction I | ||
| Total Hours | 20 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Art History Requirements | 9 | |
200 level and above ARTH courses | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Capstone Requirements | ||
| ARTS 392 | Current Art Issues Seminar | 3 |
| ARTS 451 | BFASA Capstone Studio | 4 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credits for BFA Studio Arts | ||
| First-Year Curriculum Requirements | 20 | |
| Art History Requirements | 9 | |
| BFA Capstone requirements | 7 | |
| Concentration Requirements 1 | 43-46 | |
| General Education Requirements, three hours of art history also count as gen ed credit | 40 | |
| Electives to bring the total hours earned to 122, including a minimum of 40 credits at the 300- or 400-level. | 0-3 | |
| Total Hours | 122 | |
- 1
See Concentrations tab for requirements for individual concentrations.
Students in the photography concentration must elect ARTH 257 as part of the 9 additional hours of Art History, listed above.
Photography Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following list: | 12 | |
| Some courses are required for the Photography concentration, noted below. If any required course was selected in the First Year curriculum, pick from remaining offerings in this section. | ||
| ARTS 205 | Introduction to Printmaking (exclude if taken in first year curriculum) | 3 |
| ARTS 221 | Fashion Illustration (exclude if taken in first year curriculum) | 3 |
| ARTS 223 | Experimental Fashion | 3 |
| ARTS 241 | Image Practice (exclude if taken in first year curriculum) | 3 |
| ARTS 243 | Time Arts I (exclude if taken in first year curriculum) | 3 |
| ARTS 251 | Beginning Painting (exclude if taken in first year curriculum) | 3 |
| ARTS 252 | Making and Meaning | 3 |
| ARTS 264 | Basic Photography (exclude if taken in first year curriculum; required for the photography concentration) | 3 |
| ARTS 265 | Photography II (required for the photography concentration) | 3 |
| ARTS 266 | View Camera (required for the photography concentration) | 3 |
| ARTS 267 | Digital Photographic Output | 3 |
| ARTS 280 | Beginning Sculpture (exclude if taken in first year curriculum) | 3 |
| ARTS 299 | Special Topics in Studio Art (may be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours total if topics vary) | 3 |
| Select up to eleven 300 or 400-level courses from the following list: | 31-34 | |
| Some courses are required for the Photography concentration, noted below. | ||
| ARTS 320 | Fashion and Textiles Design | 3 |
| ARTS 321 | Sustainable Fashion Development and Branding | 3 |
| ARTS 354 | Intermediate Painting | 3 |
| ARTS 364 | Photography III (required for the photography concentration) | 3 |
| ARTS 365 | Photography Workshop (may be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours) | 3 |
| ARTS 367 | RAW Photography | 3 |
| ARTS 381 | Intermediate Sculpture | 3 |
| ARTS 394 | Special Topics in Photography (required for the photography concentration) | 3 |
| ARTS 399 | Internship in Studio Arts (may be completed twice to a maximum of 4 hours total, with advisor consent) | 1 to 4 |
| ARTS 405 | Special Topics in Printmaking (may be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours) | 3 |
| ARTS 420 | Making Fashion: Apparel Design in Context | 3 |
| ARTS 443 | Time Arts II (may be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours) | 3 |
| ARTS 444 | Interaction II (may be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours) | 3 |
| ARTS 445 | Special Topics in New Media | 3 |
| ARTS 454 | Advanced Drawing (may be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours) | 3 |
| ARTS 455 | Advanced Painting (may be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours) | 3 |
| ARTS 456 | Advanced Sculpture (may be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours) | 3 |
| ARTS 457 | Art in Context (may be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours) | 3 |
| ARTS 461 | Advanced Photography (taken twice senior year, for 6 credits total; required for the photography concentration) | 6 |
| ARTS 499 | Special Topics in Studio Art (may be repeated to a maximum of 9 hours total, if topics vary) | 0 to 3 |
| Total Hours | 43-46 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine 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 |
| ARTF 101 | 2 | ARTE 101 | 2 |
| ARTH 110 | 3 | ARTD or ARTS ### (3D Category) | 3 |
| ARTS 264 | 3 | ARTS ### (4D Category) | 3 |
| ARTF ### (Drawing Category) | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Comp. I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | Comp. I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| FAA 101 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ARTS 265 | 3 | ARTS 266 | 3 |
| ARTH 200-400 level course | 3 | ARTH 200-400 level course | 3 |
| Course from 'select 4' concentration list | 3 | Course from 'select 4' concentration list | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ARTS 364 | 3 | ARTS 394 | 3 |
| ARTH 257 | 3 | ARTS 392 | 3 |
| Course from 'select 11' concentration list | 3 | Course from 'select 11' concentration list | 3 |
| Course from 'select 11' concentration list | 3 | Course from 'select 11' concentration list | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ARTS 461 | 3 | ARTS 461 | 3 |
| Course from 'select 11' concentration list | 3 | ARTS 451 | 4 |
| Course from 'select 11' concentration list | 3 | Course from 'select 11' concentration list | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Total Hours 122 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine 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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