BFA Photography
Pictured | Derrick Taylor, Jr. | Bachelor of Fine Arts, Photography | Nashville, Tennessee (hometown)
Military Involvement | Army Active Duty (Iraq, 2016-2017)
Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Concentration in Photography
Based on the tradition of fine art photography, this program stresses the formal and conceptual aspects of the medium as well as an aesthetic and cultural understanding of photography in an historical and contemporary context. Students will utilize digital, black and white, and alternative processes in photography. Students interested in graduate study, professional employment, or exploring the use of photography in their personal expression benefit from this program.
Academic Advising
Your academic advisor is a critical partner in fostering your success at IU South Bend and beyond. Your advisor will help you explore academic majors and careers, plan your degree, choose classes, learn about internships and study abroad, and much more. To see who is assigned as your advisor, visit your Student Online Advising Record in one.iu.edu. For more information about advising at IU South Bend, visit the website for the Undergraduate Advising Center.
Final responsibility for meeting degree requirements rests with the student.
Questions about advising? Email sbadvise@iu.edu or call (574) 520-4550.
Degree Requirements (125 cr.)
Degree Map >>
Students receiving the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree must complete 125 total credit hours including:
- IU South Bend Campuswide General Education Curriculum (33 cr.) | 3 credits are satisfied by a course from the Major
- AHST-A 307 Introduction to Non-Western Art
Fulfills Contemporary Social Values: Global Cultures requirement - FINA-P 273 Computer Art and Design I
Extended Literacies: Computer Literacy requirement - FINA-A 109 Ways of Seeing: Visual Literacy
Fulfills Extended Literacies: Visual Literacy requirement - FINA-A 190 Art, Aesthetics, and Creativity;
VT: Studio Techniques and Research
Fulfills Additional Requirements: First Year Seminar
- Major Requirements (77 cr.)
- Addtional Requirements (15 cr.)
- A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300– or 400–level.
- Courses required for the major must be completed with a grade of C– or higher.
- A minimum CGPA of 2.0 is required.
- Photography students are required to take AHST-A 477 History of Photography as one of the upper-level art history courses.
- All B.F.A. photography students are required to purchase a DSLR camera.
- All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise stated.
Major Requirements (77 cr.)
Foundation Level (12 cr.)
- FINA-F 100 Fundamental Studio-Drawing
- FINA-F 101 Fundamental Studio-3D
- FINA-F 102 Fundamental Studio-2D
- FINA-P 273 Computer Art and Design I
Extended Literacies: Computer Literacy requirement
Art History/Foundation Level (6 cr.)
- AHST-A 101 Ancient and Medieval Art
- AHST-A 102 Renaissance Through Modern Art
Survey Level (9 cr.)
- Three 200–level courses, outside area of concentration
- FINA-S 200 Drawing 1
- FINA-S 230 Painting 1
- FINA-S 240 Basic Printmaking Media
- FINA-S 250 Graphic Design I
- FINA-S 260 Ceramics 1
- FINA-S 270 Sculpture 1
- FINA-S 271 Introduction to Figurative Sculpture
Upper-Level Concentration (38 cr.)
- FINA-S 291 Fundamentals of Photography
- FINA-S 304 Digital Imaging
- FINA-S 392 Intermediate Photography
- FINA-S 406 Artificial Lighting
- FINA-S 423 Large Format Photography
- FINA-S 492 Bachelor of Fine Arts Photography
- FINA-Y 398 Professional Practice in Fine Arts (2 cr.)
- INMS-S 300 Video Art
- INMS-S 323 Intermediate Photoshop
- Select up to four additional upper-level art classes
Art History/Upper Level (9 cr.)
- AHST-A 307 Introduction to Non-Western Art
Contemporary Social Values: Global Cultures requirement - AHST-A 477 History of Photography
- One course at the 300– or 400–level
Senior Level (3 cr.)
It is recommended that students complete the following courses during the final year of study.
- FINA-S 499 Bachelor of Fine Arts Final Review (0 cr.)
- FINA-A 409 Capstone Course
Additional Requirements (15 cr.)
- World Languages (6 cr.) | Select two courses in one world language (French, German, Japanese, Spanish)
- Upper-Level Electives (9 cr.)
- Select three credits at the 100– or 200–level (3 cr.)
- Select six credits at the 300– or 400–level (6 cr.)
Fine Arts Upper-Divisional Review
Completion of the upper divisional review marks a student’s passage from pre-B.F.A./B.A. into the B.F.A./B.A. program. This review is an opportunity for every art student with 50 to 60 credits toward their degree to present their work to the faculty. This dedicated time is an opportunity to discuss the student’s unique interests and goals. Upon satisfaction of the Upper Divisional requirement, students have distinguished themselves as upper-level B.F.A./B.A. candidates, and have made considerable progress towards graduation.