The Bachelor of Fine Art (B.F.A.) in Photography at St. John's University provides you with the skills you need to succeed in a wide variety of career options. You develop mastery of the technical aspects of the photographic medium, as well as a strong philosophical and historical foundation in the visual arts and its impact on contemporary social and visual culture.
Affiliated with the International Center of Photography (ICP) in New York City, our B.F.A. in Photography offers you the technical and conceptual training necessary to master both analog and digital techniques while developing your individual critical and creative abilities. You have access to internships in a wide variety of professional settings in New York, as well as the opportunity to obtain ICP certification.
The strong liberal arts foundation we provide sets St. John's apart from other art schools because you graduate with the skills you need to succeed in a variety of fields. We prepare you to “think outside the box” and critically solve complex problems, making you an ideal leader in a complex global society.
The International Center of Photography is located at 79 Essex Street, New York, N.Y. 10002. All ICP classes are offered in-person. You are required to complete either 15 or 30 credits of your major at ICP, depending on the certificate path you select. If you select the 15-credit path, you will complete approximately 18% of your major classes at ICP, which amounts to 11% of your entire B.F.A. degree. If you select the 30-credit path, you will complete approximately 36% of your major classes at ICP, which amounts to 22% of your entire B.F.A degree. Enrollment at ICP does not incur any additional fees or costs.
St. John’s University has attained the prestigious National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accreditation, held by selective art schools nationwide.
- Degree Type
- BFA
- Area of Interest
- The Arts
- Associated Colleges or Schools
- Program Location
- Queens Campus
- Required Credit Hours
- 132
More Information
In addition to applying to St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, B.F.A. candidates in Photography must submit their portfolio of original artwork to the Department of Art and Design via SlideRoom. This online portfolio service allows you to upload, label, arrange, and submit your portfolio electronically to faculty reviewers. We request 12-15 images using JPG format, but also accept other file types as per the instructions on the SlideRoom portal. Specific instructions for your portfolio upload are available on the department page, and in SlideRoom.
After completing the St. John's Undergraduate Application, you will be able to upload your images via SlideRoom.
Please contact the Department Chair directly at [email protected] with any questions regarding this process.
For more information about admission to this and other acclaimed undergraduate programs at St. John's University, please visit Undergraduate Admission.
The Department of Art and Design awards two full-time, four-year scholarships to first-year students who demonstrate extraordinary proficiency and creative potential in their portfolio submission and have met the academic requirements of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Three additional first-year students who demonstrate excellence in the visual arts are offered a $1,000 incentive scholarship. Students are selected through the portfolio review process and must submit their portfolio in our SlideRoom portal by March 1, 2024 to be considered. For more information, contact Nerissa Palad-Palermo at 718-990-6250 or [email protected].
Required Studio Courses*
| Course | Course # | Title |
|---|---|---|
| ART | 1105 | Introduction to Graphic Design |
| ART | 1110 | Foundation Design |
| ART | 1610 | Photography I |
| ART | 1620 | Photography II |
| ART | 1630 | Advanced Digital Photography & Imaging |
| ART | 1650 | Analog Photography & Experimentation |
| ART | 2650 or 4953 | The Photograph as Document or Independent Study |
| ART | 2655 | Analog Photography II or ICP 1005* |
| ART | 3560 | Studio Seminar I or ICP 1006* |
| ART | 4110 | Studio Seminar II or ICP 1007* |
| ART | 4112 | Professional Practices or ART 3110 Professional Portfolio or ICP 1008* |
| ART | 3010 | Special Topics in Studio Art or ICP 1009* |
*Please note that studio art courses meet for six hours per week.
In addition to the courses listed above, students must take either 15 or 30 credits with the International Center of Photography (ICP). ICP offers intensive photographic study that, in collaboration with the courses offered at St, John's, aim to target specific areas of the medium and immerse our students in a community of photographers to further advance their knowledge and career options. Courses specializing in lighting, portraiture, documentary, studio and digital mastery are but a few of the selections offered that complement the photography and visual communication classes take during their first two years at St. John's. A more comprehensive listing of the types of courses are available on their website.
Required Art History Courses
| Course | Course # | Title |
|---|---|---|
| ART | 1660 | History of Photography |
| ART | 3710 | Contemporary Photography |
| ART History Elective | ||
Art Electives (9 credits of studio or art history electives)
Required Capstone Course - Choose one:
| Course | Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ART | 4125 | Creative Thesis | 9 |
| ART | 4909 | Internship | 9 |
BFA Core Curriculum Courses
| Course | Course # | Title |
|---|---|---|
| FYS | 1000 | First Year Seminar |
| FYW | 1000 | First Year Writing |
| ENG | 1100 | Literature in Global Context |
| HIS | 1000 | The Emergence of a Global Society |
| PHI | 1000 | Philosophy of Human Person |
| PHI | 3000 | Metaphysics |
| SPE | 1000 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking |
| THE | 1000 | Perspectives on Christianity |
Also the following courses:
- Ethics (Philosophy or Theology)
- Foreign Language (6 credits)
- Mathematics and/or Logical, Quantitive, and Computational Reasoning
- Science and/or Data Analysis
- Social Justice (select from approved list of courses)
- Social Science Elective
- THE – Sacred Texts and Traditions (select from approved list of courses)
Student Stories
Kalen Na’il Roach ‘14BFA
St. John's College of Liberal Arts and SciencesDepartment Contact
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