Photography and Related Media BFA Degree Program
School of Art and Design
Applications accepted for fall only. NYSED: 30267 CIP: 50.0406
The major in Photography and Related Media provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop their abilities as freelance photographers, and to prepare them for a variety of positions within the photography industry and related fields. Curriculum below is for the entering class of fall 2026.
| Semester 5 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| MAJOR AREA | PH 352 - Photographic Concepts and Exhibition | 3 |
| PH 373 - Digital Production Strategies | 2 | |
| RELATED AREA | choice - see Requirements: Related Area Elective(s) | 2 |
| choice - see Requirements: Related Area Elective(s) | 2 | |
| LIBERAL ARTS | HA 333 - Contemporary Photography and New Media | 3 |
| choice - see Requirements | 3 | |
| ELECTIVE | choice - General Elective | 1.5 |
| Semester 6 | Credits | |
| MAJOR AREA | PH 353 - New Documentary Practices | 2 |
| PH 374 - Multimedia Workshop | 3 | |
| RELATED AREA | CG 251 - Digital Editing for Film and Video | 2 |
| choice - see Requirements: Related Area Elective(s) | 2 | |
| LIBERAL ARTS | EN 322 - Writing for Art and Design Professions | 3 |
| choice - see Requirements | 3 | |
| Semester 7 | Credits | |
| MAJOR AREA | PH 472 - Advanced Photography and Video Workshop | 3 |
| PH 493 - Senior Photography Seminar | 4 | |
| RELATED AREA | choice - see Requirements: Related Area Elective(s) | 2 |
| LIBERAL ARTS | choice - see Requirements | 3 |
| choice - see Requirements: Liberal Arts/History of Art, World History and Global Awareness (GLBL) | 3 | |
| Semester 8 | Credits | |
| MAJOR AREA | PH 494 - Senior Photography Seminar II | 4 |
| RELATED AREA | CT 432 - Self Promotion and Digital Portfolio | 2 |
| IC 497 - Senior Internship: Career Planning, BE 403 - The Artist in the Marketplace, EP 311 - Introduction to Entrepreneurship, EP 364 - Understanding, developing Web 3.0 business opportunities and NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), or EP 365 - The Artist as an Entrepreneur | 3 | |
| LIBERAL ARTS | choice - see Requirements | 3 |
| choice - see Requirements | 3 | |
| TOTAL CREDIT REQUIREMENTS | ||
| MAJOR AREA | 21 | |
| RELATED AREA | 15 | |
| LIBERAL ARTS | 24 | |
| ELECTIVE | 1.5 | |
| Total Credits: | 61.5 | |
Fall 2026 Requirements: See below.
Related Area Elective(s): 8 credits.
Students may take any available course in the following departments: Accessories Design, Advertising & Digital Design, Advertising and Marketing Communications, Communication Design, Computer Graphics, Creative Technologies, Entrepreneurship, Fashion Design, FX 261, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Home Products Development, Illustration, Interior Design, Jewelry Design, Menswear, Packaging Design, Styling for Creative Media, Textile/Surface Design, Toy Design, and Spatial Experience Design.
Liberal Arts and Sciences Course Content Requirements
(24 AAS credits* + 24 BS credits = 48 credits total)
- English: 9 credits.
- Mathematics: 3 credits.
- CHOICE of any MA that meets SUNY GE: Mathematics (MATH)*
- Natural Sciences: 3 credits.
- CHOICE of any course that meets SUNY GE: Natural Sciences (NSCI)*
- Diversity: 3 credits.
- CHOICE of any course that meets SUNY GE: Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (DVRS)*
- History of Art: 12 credits.
- General Education: 3 credits*. CHOICE of one additional SUNY General Education Area:
- The Arts (ARTS)
- U.S. History and Civic Engagement (USCV)
- Social Sciences (SOCS)
-
World Languages (WLNG)
Liberal Arts Elective(s): 15 credits: Select Liberal Arts courses (for which prerequisites have been met) from the following subject areas: AB (Arabic); CH (Chinese); EC (Economics); EN (English); ES (Educational Skills); FI (Film and Media Studies); FR (French); HA (History of Art); HE (Health Education) HE 201, HE 301; IT (Italian); JA (Japanese); HI (History); MA (Math); MC (Modern Languages and Cultures); MU (Music); PC (Political Science); PE (Physical Education and Dance) PE 215, PE 216, PE 217, PE 220; PL (Philosophy); PO (Portuguese); PY (Psychology); SC (Science); SO (Sociology); SP (Spanish); and SS (Social Sciences). See Liberal Arts Courses.
NOTE: Students are encouraged to pursue Academic Minors.
OVERALL BACHELOR'S DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
FIT's 2+2 degree structure requires an earned AAS or equivalent plus all the BS or BFA degree requirements.
This structure includes the following overall bachelor's degree graduation requirements:
- 120–126 total earned credits
- 30 credits in General Education credits approved by the State University of New York (SUNY)
BFA degrees NASAD and New York State guidelines:
- 12 credits art/design history
- 30 credits in Liberal Arts/General Studies
- 78–84 credits in major and related area, including a minimum of 24 credits in 300- to 400-level major and related area coursework
Upon graduating from the BFA program, students will have a well-rounded education and will have achieved among others, the following outcomes:
- Recognize, analyze, and adapt contemporary themes in art and photography.
- Produce a cohesive group of photographs that demonstrates aesthetic and conceptual development.
- Create and maintain a web presence for distributing, promoting, and developing visual art work.
- Utilize image capture and compositing techniques to produce photographs that effectively communicate specific concepts and themes.
- Create time-based multimedia/video projects.
- Develop and execute a production strategy and schedule for a long-term photography project.
- Discuss and write about a body of work in the context of contemporary and historical art and photography.
- Conceive of and execute an exhibition of a specific body of work.