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.
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.
Portfolios and applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but you must submit your portfolio via SlideRoom on or before January 15 to be considered for one of the visual art scholarships. For early action, please submit your portfolio via SlideRoom by December 15.
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 January 15 to be considered. For more information, contact Nerissa Palad-Palermo at 718-990-6250 or [email protected]
| 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 | The Photograph as Document |
| OR | ||
| ART | 4953 | Independent Student |
| 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* |
| ICP | 1000 | |
| ICP | 1001 | |
| ICP | 1002 | |
| ICP | 1003 | |
| ICP | 1004 | |
*Please note that studio art courses meet for six hours per week.
| Course | Course # | Title |
|---|---|---|
| ART | 1660 | History of Photography |
| ART | 3710 | Contemporary Photography |
| ART History Elective | ||
Choose one of the below:
| Course | Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ART | 4125 | Creative Thesis | 9 |
| ART | 4909 | Internship | 9 |
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