Department of Art: Photography

A student may apply for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) major in Photography after taking required Foundation courses, and at least one basic photography course. Applications include a portfolio and a written statement, which are submitted at midterm each semester. Accepted students take all courses listed on the Photography Plan of Study and meet all departmental and college requirements. 

In their final two semesters, BFA students take Senior Studio I and Senior Studio II. Students apply for admission to Senior Studio I by submitting a written proposal supported by related examples of work. The Senior Studio projects are presented in an exhibition on campus at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art. 

For the completion of their degree, students write a thesis paper documenting their thesis project and research. 

BFA degree requirements

For the most up-to-date degree requirement information, please visit the Undergraduate Catalog and scroll to the "Photography Major" section.

Click on course title for full description.

Freshman Art Foundation courses (15 credits) 

• ARS100 - Drawing: Visual Thinking I (3)
• ARS101 - Drawing: Visual Thinking II (3)
• ARS102 - Design: Color (3)
• ARS103 - Design: Form (3)
• ARS112 - Art Seminar¹ (3)

¹ transfer students with an A.A. or A.S. degree who have equivalent substitutions for all four Foundation studio courses may opt to take Art Seminar or substitute
a studio course for it. If the Foundation requirement is incomplete, the student needs to take ARS 112.

Required Senior Seminar: 3 credit

• ARS490 - BFA Seminar (writing intensive, junior year) (3)
  

Art History courses: 12 credits 

• ARH201 - Art of the Western World I (3)
• ARH202 - Art of the Western World II (3)
• ARH358 - Modern Art, 1900-1970 (3)
  OR
• ARH359 - Contemporary Art, 1970 to the Present (3)
  
• ARH368 - History of Photography (3)

Required Photography courses: 33 credits 
Please consult with your advisor about when the respective courses are offered and plan accordingly. 

• ARS250 - Basic Analog Photography² (3)
• ARS230 - Basic Digital Photography² (3)
• ARS333 - Advanced Digital Photography⁴ (3)
  
• ARS331 - Image in Context³ (3)
  
• ARS332 -  The Large Format Image³ (3)
  
• ARS350 - The Constructed Image³ (3)
  
• ARS334 - Digital Video³ (3)
  
• ARS450 - The Document^{3, 5} (3)
  
• ARS451 - Contemporary Ideas in Photography³ (3)
  
• ARS452 - Senior Studio in Photo I (3)
• ARS453 - Senior Studio in Photo II (3)

²may not be repeated for credit
³may be repeated for credit
⁴may be repeated with permission of instructor
⁵ take ARS331 Image in Context first

Required Cognate Courses: 6 credits  

• ARS280 - Basic Printmaking (3)
  This course may be substituted with ARS370 Book Arts or ARS380 Silkscreen if approved by your advisor. Permission of instructor required.
• ARS307 - Typography⁶
  This course may be substituted with other GD courses if approved by your advisor. Permission of instructor required.

⁶recommended during sophomore or junior year, not for seniors

Studio Electives: 12 credits  
Highly recommended elective courses: ARS328 - Artist Survival Skills, ARS495 - Internship/Fieldwork  

NOTES: 

1. To count in the major, a minimum grade of C is required in all art studio classes, and a C- or better is required in all art history courses. 
2. Transferred art studio courses accepted in the major must have a grade of C or better, and transferred art history courses must have a C- or better. 50% of the major must be completed at SUNY New Paltz.
3. Other graduation requirements are: 30 liberal arts credits & 45 upper division credits. A total of 120 credits are needed to complete BFA and 150 for dual degree.
4. Up to 12 credits in Independent Study and/or Fieldwork permitted (see guidelines for restrictions/process) 

Applies to all students accepted into the BFA program in Fall 2020 or later.