The Department of Photography and Film offers a variety of basic, intermediate and advanced photography and filmmaking classes leading to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Film.
The program provides students with the ability to intelligently express, investigate or document using photography and/or film and to interpret meaning in still and moving images. Emphasis is placed on photography and film as contemporary fine arts. The department promotes a fundamental and effective philosophy that students maintain creative freedom, have access to resources and are enrolled in courses in which they can refine their voices and skills through traditional and contemporary media, tools and professional working methods.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:
- Historical perspectives
Students will clearly recall a functional knowledge of photographic and independent film history and theory, define the relationship of photography/film to the visual disciplines and relate the medium’s influence on culture. Students will incorporate a broad perception of cultural diversity including age, race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, etc., communicating insight and ownership of a personal meaning of diversity.
- Applied criticism/theory
Students can analyze, assess and debate contemporary sociopolitical issues and theoretical discourses within the context of contemporary photography and film as well as related media practice and research. Topics to be examined can include but are not limited to multiculturalism, environmentalism, queer theory, feminist and gender studies, postmodernism, modernism, psychoanalytical, Marxism, post-structuralism, post-colonialism and the post-digital. Students will incorporate a broad perception of cultural diversity including age, race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, etc., communicating insight and ownership of a personal meaning of diversity within applied criticism and theory.
- Effective visual communication
Students can effectively author and present visual illustrations, representations, descriptions, explanations and/or contextualization of their artistic, research-based and career-oriented photography/film pursuits, ideas and emotions for a broad range of purposes and audiences.
- Professional practice skills
Students demonstrate and apply broad knowledge of current business practices and resources of professional artists and independent commercial photographers and filmmakers. Students are capable of estimating costs, administering their legal rights as authors of visual art, establishing a professional network, generating and distributing marketing materials, establishing a reliable mode of art production, acquiring additional training, and devising business plans. Students can recognize ethical issues when presented within the context of professional practice.
- Effective oral communication
Students can effectively deliver oral descriptions, explanations and/or contextualization of their artistic, research-based and career -oriented photography/film pursuits, ideas and emotions for a broad range of purposes and audiences.
Filmmaking concentration-specific outcome
- Competency in filmmaking technique
Students effectively recognize, explain and deploy the use of basic to advanced film and digital media tools, techniques and processes sufficient to advance their work from concept to finished product. Students will display evidence of professional proficiency regarding the methods and modes of production presented in required courses covering technical mastery of analog and digital filmmaking.
Degree requirements for Photography and Film, Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A) with a concentration in filmmaking
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| PHTO 280 | Moving Pixels | 3 |
| PHTO 281 | Digital Imaging I | 3 |
| PHTO 350 | Concepts I | 3 |
| • Concentration requirements | ||
| PHTO 275 | Film as Material | 3 |
| PHTO 295 | Revolutionary Cinema | 3 |
| PHTO 361 | Sound and Color | 3 |
| PHTO 362 | Lighting and Cinematography | 3 |
| PHTO 377 | The Film Image | 3 |
| PHTO 390 | Writing and Directing for the Screen | 3 |
| PHTO 394 | Documentary I | 3 |
| PHTO 436 | Senior Suitcase | 3 |
| PHTO 475 | Advanced Production Workshop | 3 |
| PHTO 484 & PHTO 485 | Thesis Film I and Thesis Film II | 6 |
| PHTO 494 | Documentary II | 3 |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| Art Foundation Program | ||
| ARTF 131 | Drawing Studio | 3 |
| ARTF 132 | Surface Research | 3 |
| ARTF 133 | Space Research | 3 |
| ARTF 134 | Time Studio | 3 |
| ARTF 139 | Project Studio | 2 |
| or ARTF 138 | Project Seminar | |
| ARTH 103 & ARTH 104 | Survey of Art I and Survey of Art II | 6 |
| Additional requirements | ||
| ARTH 270 & ARTH 271 | History of the Motion Picture I and History of the Motion Picture II | 6 |
| ARTH 374 | Studies in Film | 3 |
| or ARTH 370 | History of Animated Film | |
| Art electives | 7 | |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| ARTF 131 | Drawing Studio | 3 |
| ARTF 133 | Space Research | 3 |
| ARTF 139 or ARTF 138 | Project Studio or Project Seminar | 1 |
| ARTH 103 | Survey of Art I | 3 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Focused Inquiry I | Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ARTF 132 | Surface Research | 3 |
| ARTF 134 | Time Studio | 3 |
| ARTF 139 or ARTF 138 | Project Studio or Project Seminar | 1 |
| ARTH 104 | Survey of Art II | 3 |
| UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ARTH 270 | History of the Motion Picture I | 3 |
| PHTO 275 | Film as Material | 3 |
| PHTO 280 | Moving Pixels | 3 |
| PHTO 281 | Digital Imaging I | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ARTH 271 | History of the Motion Picture II | 3 |
| PHTO 362 | Lighting and Cinematography | 3 |
| PHTO 377 | The Film Image | 3 |
| PHTO 394 | Documentary I | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| PHTO 350 | Concepts I | 3 |
| PHTO 390 | Writing and Directing for the Screen | 3 |
| PHTO 494 | Documentary II | 3 |
| Art elective | 4 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 19 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| PHTO 295 | Revolutionary Cinema | 3 |
| PHTO 361 | Sound and Color | 3 |
| PHTO 475 | Advanced Production Workshop | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ARTH 374 | Studies in Film | 3 |
| PHTO 436 | Senior Suitcase | 3 |
| PHTO 484 | Thesis Film I | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| PHTO 485 | Thesis Film II | 3 |
| Art elective | 3 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Total Hours: | 120 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.