Academic Resources

Photojournalism students at St. John's benefit from a first-class academic curriculum that covers film, television, communications and journalism as well as photography. Students learn from internationally known faculty whose work has appeared online and in galleries, newspapers, magazines and other venues around the world.

Thanks to our faculty's extensive connection in the industry — especially in New York City, a world capital of communications and the media — students enjoy internship and job placement opportunities with industry leaders.

Photojournalism students are able to develop their craft in the University's outstanding photography studios and other facilities. The state-of-the-art Sullivan Hall Graphic Classroom features cutting-edge visual design equipment and software, including Adobe PhotoShop, Quark Xpress, Adobe PageMaker, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe PageMill, Microsoft Office, Macromedia Director, Macromedia Freehand, Dreamweaver, Flash, Macromedia Fontographer and Macromedia Sound Edit.

The University maintains a well-stocked collection of print materials on journalism as well as online resources. These include access to nearly 80,000 of Magnum Photos most prized photographs.

Photojournalism students enjoy abundant opportunities to exhibit their work. Located in Sun Yat-Sen Hall on the Queens campus, the Dr. M.T. Geoffrey Art Gallery is a prominent showcase not only for established photographers and artists beyond the campus community, but for professors and students as well.

Students develop a strong academic and professional edge by joining any of St. John's more than 180 student clubs and organizations. Clubs of interest to Photojournalism students include these:

  • Shutterbug 
  • The Society for Performing and Communication Arts
  • Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture
  • St. John's University Television Club (WRED)

Students also may qualify for any of St. John's varied honor societies. For example, Photojournalism majors can apply to The College of Professional Studies Honor Society, which recognizes undergraduates who demonstrate academic excellence and involvement in campus, community and church activities.

All new students at St. John's receive their own wireless laptop computer with full access to the University's award-winning network. Other facilities include high-tech classrooms, laboratories and our 1.7 million-volume University Library. Our new D’Angelo Center is a five-story, 127,000-square-foot University and Student Center with classrooms, lecture halls, a Starbucks Café and a full-service food court.

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of photojournalism, incorporating elements of art, photography, communication studies, and journalism, the relevant library collections are similarly diverse. ARTstor is of particular note to the Photojournalism Program as it provides students with access to a collection of nearly 80,000 Magnum photographs: "Magnum photographers have produced some of the most celebrated and recognizable photographs: of the 20th centruy and contemporary life, documenting an astounding range of subjects, whether industry, society and people, places of interests, politics and news events, or disasters and conflicts."

In addition, ARTstor includes a strong collection covering the history of photography, including more than 16,000 images from the Library of Congress and nearly 18,000 images from the George Eastman House. Other important research resources include online databases. Some relevant examples include:

Communication and Mass Media Complete (EBSCO)
Communication Studies (Sage)
Art Index and Art Index Retrospective (Wilson)
Design and Applied Arts Index (CSA)
ProQuest Historical Newspapers, including: The Christian Science Monitor (beginning 1908), The Hartford Courant (beginning 1764), The Wall Street Journal (beginning 1889), The Washington Post (beginning 1877).

In addition, the University Libraries provides access to the following selected reference resources that cover photojournalism both electronically (and in print, where indicated)

The Dictionary of Media Studies
Key Concepts in Journalism Studies
The Oxford Companion to the Photograph
The Encyclopedia of American Journalism
World Press Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century Journalists
America Magazine Journalists

Journals for photojournalism:

PSA Journal
The Quill
Visual Studies
PDN: Photo District News
The International Journal of Press/Politics
Visual Communication Quarterly
Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly
History of Photography
Aperture
(Print)

Students take advantage of St. John’s location in dynamic New York City. Our faculty and Career Center have strong ties to employers and other professional and educational resources throughout the New York area. Students also make New York their classroom through innovative courses like Discover New York.

Every student at St. John's also benefits from St. John's focus on an international academic experience. The University offers extensive study abroad courses during the academic year as well as the winter and summer semesters. Students can live and learn at St. John's Rome, Italy, campus and Paris, France location.