Skip to content
Photography

A University in Motion. Apply now!

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

From Passion to Profession

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with a concentration in Photography
In-Class

The photographer Garry Winogrand famously said, β€œThe problem of the artist is to state the problem.” In other words, the artist wants you to speculate and examine problems, not solve them. At AUM, we want you to learn how to think like a fine art photographer. It’s not simply a matter of receiving instruction in how to take a technically proficient image, but rather how to communicate a concept to the viewer in a compelling manner.

The Department of Fine Arts offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a Photography concentration. Photography students will receive a foundation in film that will serve as the basis of all future photo and video courses. Why film? Will Fenn, Chair and Associate Professor in Photography at AUM, believes the limited number of frames available to a photographer with film encourages a person to learn how to carefully construct and compose an image. This results in a photographer being able to capture what he or she wants more economically. In the Photography concentration at AUM, you’ll receive practical, hands-on experience in both film and digital photography. Class sizes tend to be small which promotes student and faculty interaction. Professional photographers are regularly invited to speak to students.

The visual arts training this concentration provides–combined with specific photography training and the other liberal arts components of the curriculum–is a solid foundation for jobs in advertising, marketing, journalism, social media, entrepreneurship and other career endeavors.

In photography, you will have the opportunity to build a professional portfolio, learn from professors who are successful practitioners in their field and express yourself creatively within a supportive and collaborative environment.

Other concentrations in this BFA degree program include Graphic Design, Sculpture, and Painting and Drawing.

Apply Now
Get Your Degree

The Know How

What you will know with a Photography concentration from AUM

We Prepare You For A Career With Purpose

When you know how to blend creativity, forward thinking, and technical skills to realize a creative vision, you can gain recognition by applying it to just about any purpose.

We Set The Bar For Technical Skills

Know past and present methods for photography processingβ€”from the traditional analog approach to computer-based editing of products, portraits, and models.

We Encourage You To Be Well-Rounded

You’ll learn people skills like communication and problem-solving while receiving a well-rounded visual arts education, including a choice of electives to personalize your photography degree.

We Prepare You For A Photography Career

Because our faculty has real-world experience and we expose you to hands-on learning opportunities, you’ll know what to expect in this career before you graduate.

Download Your Warhawk GPS!

Game Plan for Success

Your GPS is an academic tracker that provides a step-by-step guide to graduating on time.

Points of Pride

  • AUM faculty are renowned instructors who have exhibited their work nationally and internationally.
  • BFA students exhibit their professionally prepared work in a solo exhibition on campus at the Cason McDermott Art Gallery
  • The Department of Fine Arts at AUM offers scholarship opportunities to assist students in achieving their career goals.
  • AUM students exhibit their work in local galleries and routinely submit to national and local shows and exhibitions.

Soaring Warhawks

  • Trevette Brown was accepted into Atlanta Celebrates Photography’s Portfolio Review, a juried show for emerging photographers.
  • Kaylee Hobbs works as the internet photographer on the marketing team for a luxury and import auto dealer.
  • A recent BFA graduate with a concentration in photography was accepted into the MFA program at Louisiana State University.

Customize Your Concentration

  • Some photographers aspire to make a living at an advertising agency, TV station, or film production company. A Communication minor might enhance your resume and expand your range of knowledge.
  • Apply to the University Honors Program, a diverse community of students who take classes together, work on community service projects, and travel the U.S. and abroad.
Video Testimonials

Tell me about the BFA in Photography at AUM

Will Fenn
We Have the Answers

Rewarding Occupations and Job Growth

Check out our Career Discovery Board on this page to begin exploring your options. Contact us by phone or email so we can get you the answers you need.

Photographers with a BFA often have an advantage over informally trained colleagues. A photography graduate from AUM has a focused visual arts background that lends artistic insights that clients want.

Most students use a 35mm film camera and a digital single lens reflex camera to start classes. AUM has cameras available for checkout until you are able to purchase your own. Each student will need to purchase film and memory cards. Contact us for details.

Any company, from small nonprofits to large corporations. Graphic design firms, ad agencies, and production companies hire photographers to do project work for their clients in entertainment, healthcare, government, private business and other sectors.

Degree Options

Is a Concentration in Photography right for me?

With this bachelor’s degree as your educational foundation, you have many career possibilities.

Career/Job TitleEntry-level EducationJob Growth 2020-2030Annual Median Salary
Art DirectorBachelor’s Degree11% (Faster than average)$97,270
Film and Video Editor and Camera OperatorBachelor’s Degree29% (Much faster than average)$61,900
PhotographerBachelor’s degree17% (Much faster than average)$41,280
Broadcast, Sound, and Video TechnicianBachelor’s degree21% (Much faster than average)$50,000

Note: Salaries vary depending on several factors including your level of experience, education, training, demographics, and industry. Here is a sampling of the future job growth and salaries according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Learn More

Quick Facts

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

At AUM’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, you will have powerful learning experiences, working side by side with professors who have real-world experience.

Our academic departments include Communication and Theatre, Criminal Justice, Economics, English and Philosophy, Fine Arts,Β  History and World Cultures, Political Science and Public Administration, Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work, and Army ROTC. To help you pay for college, you might qualify for one of our scholarships.

Official Name of the Photography Concentration

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with a concentration in Photography

Modality

This degree requires students to meet on campus. Students in these courses enroll in a program to connect in a campus setting and to collaborate using a variety of technological and educational tools. Professors play an inspirational role in building relationships among teams and individuals in this setting. The criteria for many programs can only be met with In-Class coursework. Be sure to check with your advisor to understand the best route to take.

In-Class
Photography

Required Courses

To complete this degree concentration, you will need to complete courses in the university core, fine arts, and electives. Contact the Department of Fine Arts for a current listing of courses required to complete this program.

The course listings below are only a few of the classes this concentration requires. For a full review of this program in detail, please see our official online catalog AND consult with an academic advisor.

Course NumberCourse NameWhat you will know…
VISU 2712Photography I Know how to capture a powerful image that communicates a message to a person’s abstract thoughts - Paint a thousand words in one click! Know the technical and conceptual aspects of medium and what classifies it as Fine Art.
VISU 3912Alternative ProcessesJump back into time 100 years to experiment with alternative processes in photography then put your experience to work in your own work.
VISU 2030Art HistorySurvey examples of visual arts in the West from Prehistory through the Medieval period. Let the world of visual arts connect you to the human experiences of the past that have brought us into the present.
Get In Touch

Want More Info About AUM?

Call Today

334-244-3000

Fax

334-244-3795

Email

[email protected]

Office Hours

8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday

Send AUM Admissions a Message

Back To Top