Photography
Associate of Fine Arts
Transfer Major
Decisions on the transferability of courses are made by the four-year colleges and differ from school to school. Students enrolled in this major should contact the Transfer Services Office early in their academic program to determine which courses will transfer to the college of their choice.
Arts & Communication
Hicks Art Center • Phone (215) 968-8425
Curriculum code No. 1195
The Photography Transfer Major provides students with experiences in film-based and digital photography. Students develop their technical and creative skills and learn skills applicable to both fine art and commercial photography.
The program includes a balance of film-based and digital photographic techniques allowing students to understand the link between technological innovation and the photographic process. Students are encouraged to develop a unique aesthetic in both commercial and artistic image making. Emphasis on darkroom, digital, location and studio work develops both the creative ability and the technical skills essential both photography careers and transfer to four-year institutions.
Graduates from this program may pursue transfer to professional art schools and complete a baccalaureate degree or begin a career as an entry-level commercial photographer. Photographers may find work with commercial photography studio or in a business such as wedding and/or portrait photography, advertising agencies, publishing companies, training companies, and other firms in the communications business.
Graduates of this program are able to
- use film-based and digital photography to begin to explore and express their own creative voice;
- prepare and present a formal, professional-quality portfolio of work which may be used to apply for admission to a four-year college and/or as part of an employment application*; and
- demonstrate and apply skills associated with traditional film and digital-based imagery as well as photographic lighting techniques in both the studio and the field.
* In preparing and presenting a portfolio in VAMM250, students currently need an array of digital skills, such as, but not limited to, media capture, manipulation, and presentation. Students take several required digital course (e.g. VAMM100, VAGD101, VAGD201, VAMM110) and then reinforce/develop their digital skills across the major. Essential digital competencies associated with portfolio preparation and presentation will be assessed within this course.
Students entering as photography majors require an assessment interview. A portfolio review is not required for admission, but is recommended for placement purposes. An advisor will help select the appropriate sequence of courses.
Degree Course Requirements
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| COLL101 Orientation to College | 1 |
| COMP110 English Composition I A,10 | 3 |
| COMP111 English Composition II E,2,4,10 | 3 |
| VACV140 Digital Editing 1 | 3 |
| VAFA101 2-D Design Fundamentals | 3 |
| VAMM100 Digital Imaging 1 | 3 |
| VAMM110 Web and Interactive Design E | 3 |
| VAMM250 Digital Arts Portfolio Studio E,5,9 | 3 |
| VAPH110 Digital Photography Fundamentals 1 | 3 |
| VAPH151 Intro to Photography 1 | 3 |
| VAPH157 Photography II E | 3 |
| VAPH196 Photo History 1 | 3 |
| VAPH210 Digital Photography II E | 3 |
| VAPH211 Studio Lighting Fundamentals E | 3 |
| VAPH257 Large Format Photography E | 3 |
| Art or Film History C,1 | 3 |
| Math/Science A,D,6,7 | 3/4 |
| Social Science/Diversity B,3,8 | 3 |
| Studio Electives F | 9 |
| Total Credit Hours | 61/62 |
Recommended Semester Sequence
The recommended course sequence is designed for full- time students who average l5 credit hours per semester. Students may need more time to complete major requirements based on placement testing. This additional time will entail some adjustments to the sequence recommended.
First Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| COLL101 Orientation to College | 1 |
| COMP110 English Composition I A,10 | 3 |
| VAFA101 2-D Design Fundamentals | 3 |
| VAMM100 Digital Imaging 1 | 3 |
| VAPH151 Intro to Photography 1 | 3 |
| VAPH196 Photo History 1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 16 |
Second Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| COMP111 English Composition II E,2,4,10 | 3 |
| VAPH157 Photography II E | 3 |
| VAPH110 Digital Photography Fundamentals 1 | 3 |
| Art or Film History C,1 | 3 |
| VAMM110 Web and Interactive Design E | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 |
Third Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| VAPH210 Digital Photography II E | 3 |
| VAPH211 Studio Lighting Fundamentals E | 3 |
| Studio Electives F | 6 |
| Math/Science A,D,6,7 | 3/4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 15/16 |
Fourth Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| VACV140 Digital Editing 1 | 3 |
| VAMM250 Digital Arts Portfolio Studio E,5,9 | 3 |
| VAPH257 Large Format Photography E | 3 |
| Social Science/Diversity B,3,8 | 3 |
| Studio Electives F | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 |
A Placement testing required.
B Any of the following may be chosen: COMM111, ECON111, GEOG110, MUSC103, POLI111, PSYC110, SOCI110, SOCI120.
C Any of the following may be chosen: VAFA191, VAFA192, VAFA193, VACV142.
D Any of the following may be chosen: SCIE101, SCIE102, SCIE104, CHEM101.
E Course requires prerequisite and/or corequisite.
F Any studio course from VACV, VAMM, VAFA, VAGD or VAPH.
1 Satisfies Arts/Humanities.
2 Satisfies Critical Thinking.
3 Satisfies Diversity.
4 Satisfies Information Literacy.
5 Satisfies Oral Communication.
6 Satisfies Quantitative Literacy.
7 Satisfies Scientific Literacy.
8 Satisfies Social Sciences.
9 Satisfies Technological Competence.
10 Satisfies Writing.
Bucks County Community College is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Arts and Design. Credits exceeding the required minimum cannot be used to satisfy required credits in other course requirements.