Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art; Concentration in Photography

The Department of Art offers its students an education in the visual arts as an integral part of a comprehensive educational experience. Our degree programs offer intense, professional education in the aesthetics and theories of the visual arts. Additionally, students will be trained in the skill and intellectual awareness that are the basis for a future of creative and professional achievement in the visual arts.

At UNLV the BFA is an additional year of study during which time students have an opportunity to focus more intensively on developing their skills and creativity. Admission to the BFA program is by portfolio review.

Photography Concentration

The Photography Area of Concentration provides students with a solid foundation in technical, aesthetic, conceptual, critical and practical skills necessary to thrive in the challenging and diverse world of photography. Students in this area work in traditional and non-traditional mediums with a pluralistic approach to picture making, learning both film-based and digital technology with emphasis placed on photography as a Fine Art. Students define their individual photographic style in terms of both content and approach, and once technical and conceptual skills are solidified, students develop a portfolio that shows their unique personal view of image making. After being accepted into the BFA Program students produce an advanced-level thesis project, demonstrating mastery and synthesis of the skills taught in the program, utilizing visual, oral and written presentations.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the BFA in Photography, students should be able to:

Demonstrate functional levels of drawing skills with varied media.
Recognize and be able to interpret major works of art pertaining to the art history courses taken.
Demonstrate working knowledge of the elements and principles of students' chosen area of concentration
Articulate and critically respond to both familiar and unfamiliar works of art through critical dialogue.
Understand the function of presentation and/or the exhibition process of personal works in public gallery or other cultural venues.
Demonstrate technical, aesthetic and conceptual skills in traditional, digital and experimental photographic processes.
Produce a portfolio of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in photography.
Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral and written presentation skills.
Produce an advanced‐level thesis project within a traditional, digital or experimental photographic specialization.

Career Possibilities

T he options for employment in the field of photogr aphy are many and varied. S tudents who want to work in the field discover that ther e are a wide variety of options; h ere are just a few of the job titles that are available in the field of photography today .