St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
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- Photography, Bachelor of Fine Arts
Overview
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.
St. John’s University has attained the prestigious National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accreditation, held by selective art schools nationwide.
Contact
Elizabeth DeLuna
Professor and Chair
718-990-5603
[email protected]
Program Mission Statement
The B.F.A. program in Photography at St. John's prepares students for careers in the fields of creative media and photography and for graduate studies by:
- Teaching the core competencies of research, writing, critical and thinking through the continual observation and analysis of the visual and social world.
- Helping students develop practical technical skills required for a variety of photographic careers that include: documentary, fine arts, and commercial applications of photography and media.
- Providing a strong philosophical and historical foundation for the visual arts and its impact on contemporary social and visual culture.
Admission
In order to alleviate stress for applicants in light of the COVID-19 restrictions and remote learning, we are happy to announce that St. John's University Department of Art and Design will be waiving the portfolio requirement as an admissions component for the B.F.A. in Photography for 2021 applications.
You can apply directly to the B.F.A. in Photography by completing the St. John's Undergraduate Application.
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.
Scholarships
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 January 15 to be considered. For more information, contact Nerissa Palad-Palermo at 718-990-6250 or [email protected].
Courses
To earn a B.F.A. in Photography at St. John's, you complete 132 credits in core, major requirements, and elective courses as outlined below. For more information about courses, please see the St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Science section of our Undergraduate Bulletin.
| 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 | Photography & Social Justice |
| ART 1660 | History of Photography |
| Art History Electives (2) | |
| ART 4125 | Creative Thesis (9 credits) |
| ART 4909 | Internship (9 credits) |
| General Studies or Documentary program or applicable courses selected in consultation with your departmental advisor. | 30 credits |
In addition, you must select five art electives (15 credits total).
| DNY 1000C |
| ENG 1000C |
| ENG 1100C |
| HIS 1000C |
| MFL Electives (2) |
| MTH 1000C |
| PHI 1000C |
| PHI 2200C |
| PHI 3000C |
| SCI 1000C |
| One social science elective from: ANT, ECO, GEO, GOV, LIN, PSY, or SOC |
| SPE 1000C |
| THE 1000C |
| THE 2000-level |
| THE 3000-level |
Career Outcomes
Thanks to their strong personal and professional connections, our professors help you build your own network in New York’s art scene. As a senior, you explore internships with publishers, magazines, advertising agencies, graphic design studios, museums, galleries, and other organizations that help you launch a successful career.
A survey conducted by The Wall Street Journal includes St. John’s among its Top 100 colleges that are “most likely to help students land a job in key careers and professions — areas that are growing, pay well and offer high levels of satisfaction.” Studios, galleries, multimedia communications firms, and businesses in general rely on the creative intuition and skills of designers to reach their target audience. This competitive field is expected to grow an estimated 13 percent, especially in the interactive media sector. Our alumni find great success within their field of study and most of our interns are hired by the hosting firm before they even graduate.
Global Approach to Education
Since 1998 the Department of Art and Design has been a leader in Global Education. As a B.F.A. student, you may apply for a study abroad semester, during which you experience the cultural riches of Rome, Italy, Paris, France, and/or Limerick, Ireland first-hand. We also offer individual course opportunities in a variety of locations around the globe. We encourage you to use our global art offerings to broaden your understanding of humanity from both a global and personal perspective.
Below is a sampling of some of the courses we offer abroad:
- The Italian Sketchbook
- Drawing and Design in Rome
- Photography in Paris
- Survey of Art and Architecture in Italy
- Art and Architecture in France
- Monuments of World Architecture
- The City of Rome
- A variety of “Special Topic” short-term classes abroad
Additional Information
You gain a solid foundation in the visual arts and emerging media and their applications across various media and disciplines. You learn from experienced and internationally-known faculty whose work appears in prestigious media companies, product and publication design, galleries, museums, and publications in New York City, across the country, and around the globe.
Our studios provide an ideal environment for students to learn and create under the guidance of master educators. Our facilities include state-of-the-art classrooms with cutting-edge equipment and software.
Each B.F.A. program capstone experience is a thesis or internship during your senior year. Thesis students work closely with their chosen faculty advisor creating a body of work to present to galleries or include in an M.F.A. application portfolio. Internships are individually arranged according to the student's interests, strengths, and career objectives. With easy access to New York City, students have access to our strong network of affiliates and alumni who now hold prominent positions in the arts.