
Contact Information
- School Director: Daniel Alenquer | vcd@kent.edu | 330-672-7856
- Speak with an Advisor
- Chat with an Admissions Counselor
Fully Offered
- Delivery:
- In person
- Location:
- Kent Campus
Examples of Possible Careers
- Fashion Photographer
- Wedding Photographer
- Travel Photographer
- Commercial Photographer
- Photo Editor/Retoucher
- Portrait Photographer
- Scientific Photographer
- Wildlife Photographer
- Sports Photographer
Description
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography provides the student with a comprehensive program of study, balancing a liberal arts education with studio offerings in digital photography. Grounded in formal, technical and conceptual skills building, the Photography major focuses on the profession of photography as it relates to commerce. The program builds a photography professional through experiential learning opportunities, as well as through required courses in design.
Programs in the College of Communication and Information are, by nature, innovative, interdisciplinary and collaborative, which is critical to both professional and scholarly disciplines. Students are educated to work at the intersections of communication, information and technology. Through a core of diverse theory- and practice-based courses, students learn basic concepts that apply across the range of college programs and develop a sense of professional expectations and build toward interdisciplinary thinking and application.
There are many study abroad/away opportunities. For more information contact the Office of Global Education.
Accreditation
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Admission Requirements
Admission to this major is selective.1 The School of Visual Communication Design recognizes that competence in visual design, as well as intellectual capacity, are necessary qualities in students who plan to prepare for a career in visual communication design or photography. Therefore, the right is reserved to require evidence of achievement in photography and related areas from all students aspiring to enroll for the first time as majors in the school. Early admission is recommended.
The school director may impose additional requirements considered reasonable and necessary. Each transfer student will be evaluated individually in terms of his or her ability to perform within the program. A transfer applicant’s strengths and deficiencies will be considered and his or her transfer credits will reflect that consideration.
1 Effective spring 2023, admission to the program will no longer be selective.
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campus to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.
First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. Check with a regional campus admissions office to determine application requirements, as they may differ among campuses.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 48 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score; or by completing the ESL level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
Transfer Students: For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.
Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the ethics (and legal issues) closely associated with fields of visual communication.
- Demonstrate an understanding of traditional hands-on skills relative to craftsmanship.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the basic use of digital technologies as they relate to their areas of study.
- Demonstrate an ability to create visual response to communication problems, including understanding of photography, composition and the construction of meaningful images.
University Requirements
All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.
NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.
Requirement | Credits/Courses |
---|---|
Destination Kent State: First Year Experience | 1 |
Course is not required for students with 25 transfer credits, excluding College Credit Plus, or age 21+ at time of admission. | |
Diversity Domestic/Global (DIVD/DIVG) | 2 courses |
Students must successfully complete one domestic and one global course, of which one must be from the Kent Core. | |
Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR) | varies |
Students must successfully complete one course or approved experience. | |
Kent Core (see table below) | 36-37 |
Writing-Intensive Course (WIC) | 1 course |
Students must earn a minimum C grade in the course. | |
Upper-Division Requirement | 39 |
Students must successfully complete 39 upper-division (numbered 30000 to 49999) credit hours to graduate. | |
Total Credit Hour Requirement | 120 |
Kent Core Requirements
Requirement | Credits/Courses |
---|---|
Kent Core Composition (KCMP) | 6 |
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (KMCR) | 3 |
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (KHUM/KFA) (min one course each) | 9 |
Kent Core Social Sciences (KSS) (must be from two disciplines) | 6 |
Kent Core Basic Sciences (KBS/KLAB) (must include one laboratory) | 6-7 |
Kent Core Additional (KADL) | 6 |
Total Credit Hours: | 36-37 |
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
CCI 12001 | PHOTOGRAPHY | 3 |
VCD 13000 | VISUAL DESIGN THINKING | 3 |
VCD 13001 | INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN STUDIO (min B- grade) | 3 |
VCD 18002 | PHOTOGRAPHY II | 3 |
VCD 23001 | TYPOGRAPHY I | 3 |
VCD 28003 | DIGITAL IMAGING I | 3 |
VCD 28004 | PHOTOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVES | 3 |
VCD 34004 | VISUAL ETHICS | 3 |
VCD 34006 | MOTION DESIGN | 3 |
VCD 37000 | VISUAL DESIGN FOR MEDIA | 3 |
VCD 38004 | ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY | 3 |
VCD 38007 | PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES | 3 |
VCD 38011 | EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY | 3 |
VCD 40182 | INTERNSHIP PREPARATION: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY | 2 |
VCD 40192 | INTERNSHIP: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY (ELR) 1 | 1 |
VCD 48001 | PHOTOGRAPHIC PROJECT | 3 |
VCD 48002 | ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHIC PROJECT | 3 |
VCD 48003 | PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO PHOTOGRAPHY | 3 |
VCD 48005 | COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY | 3 |
VCD 48008 | ADVANCED DIGITAL IMAGING | 3 |
VCD 48009 | FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY | 3 |
VCD 49198 | RESEARCH PAPERS AND PROPOSALS FOR DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY (ELR) (WIC) 2 | 2 |
Visual Communication Design (VCD) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) | 3 | |
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA) | ||
ARTH 22006 | ART HISTORY: ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL ART (KFA) | 3 |
ARTH 22007 | ART HISTORY: RENAISSANCE TO MODERN ART (KFA) | 3 |
Art History (ARTH) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) | 3 | |
COMM 15000 | INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) | 3 |
or MDJ 20001 | MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (KSS) | |
ENTR 27056 | INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP | 3 |
UC 10097 | DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE | 1 |
College of Communication and Information Core Electives, choose from the following: | 6 | |
INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3 | ||
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION (DIVG) | ||
CREATIVE CODING | ||
HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION | ||
INFORMATION FLUENCY IN THE WORKPLACE AND BEYOND | ||
MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (KSS) 3 | ||
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES | ||
INTRODUCTION TO USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN | ||
Kent Core Composition | 6 | |
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning | 3 | |
Kent Core Humanities | 3 | |
Kent Core Social Sciences 4 | 6 | |
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) | 6-7 | |
Kent Core Additional 4 | 3 | |
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 5 | 6 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |
- 1
Minimum 1 credit hour of VCD 40192 is required for the program. Students can apply a maximum 4 credit hours of VCD 40192 toward their degree program.
- 2
A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
- 3
Students can choose COMM 15000 or MDJ 20001 as a College of Communication and Information Core Elective if NOT already taken.
- 4
If MDJ 20001 is completed, then 3 credit hours of Kent Core Social Sciences and 6 credit hours of Kent Core Additional is required. If COMM 15000 is completed, then 6 credit hours of Kent Core Social Sciences and 3 credit hours of Kent Core Additional is required.
- 5
A maximum of 4 credit hours of Physical Activity, Wellness and Sport (PWS) courses may be applied toward the degree program.
Progression Requirements
- Students must receive a minimum B- in VCD 13001 before enrolling in VCD 23001. VCD 13001 may be taken a maximum three times until a minimum B- grade is achieved.
- Students must maintain a 2.500 major GPA in order to continue taking VCD courses. Failure to do so at the end of one semester will result in a written warning with the option of repeating certain VCD courses in order to meet minimum grade and GPA requirements to continue. Failure to do so at the end of two consecutive semesters will result in not being permitted to enroll in VCD courses. Students in this situation will be contacted by an academic advisor to create an alternative plan of study with a new major.
Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
---|---|
2.700 | 2.000 |
- A minimum B- grade may be required in some courses.
Roadmap
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.
Semester One | Credits | ||
---|---|---|---|
CCI 12001 | PHOTOGRAPHY | 3 | |
! | VCD 13000 | VISUAL DESIGN THINKING | 3 |
! | VCD 13001 | INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN STUDIO | 3 |
UC 10097 | DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE | 1 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 16 | ||
Semester Two | |||
COMM 15000 or MDJ 20001 | INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) or MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (KSS) | 3 | |
! | VCD 18002 | PHOTOGRAPHY II | 3 |
! | VCD 23001 | TYPOGRAPHY I | 3 |
VCD 37000 | VISUAL DESIGN FOR MEDIA | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Semester Three | |||
ARTH 22006 | ART HISTORY: ANCIENT TO MEDIEVAL ART (KFA) | 3 | |
! | VCD 28003 | DIGITAL IMAGING I | 3 |
! | VCD 28004 | PHOTOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVES | 3 |
VCD 38004 | ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY | 3 | |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Semester Four | |||
ARTH 22007 | ART HISTORY: RENAISSANCE TO MODERN ART (KFA) | 3 | |
VCD 48005 | COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY | 3 | |
VCD 48008 | ADVANCED DIGITAL IMAGING | 3 | |
College of Communication and Information Core Elective | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Semester Five | |||
VCD 34004 | VISUAL ETHICS | 3 | |
! | VCD 38007 | PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES | 3 |
VCD 40182 | INTERNSHIP PREPARATION: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY | 2 | |
Visual Communication Design (VCD) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 14 | ||
Semester Six | |||
ENTR 27056 | INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP | 3 | |
! | VCD 48009 | FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY | 3 |
Art History (ARTH) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Third Summer Term | |||
! | VCD 40192 | INTERNSHIP: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY (ELR) | 1 |
Credit Hours | 1 | ||
Semester Seven | |||
VCD 34006 | MOTION DESIGN | 3 | |
! | VCD 38011 | EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY | 3 |
VCD 49198 | RESEARCH PAPERS AND PROPOSALS FOR DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY (ELR) (WIC) | 2 | |
! | VCD 48001 | PHOTOGRAPHIC PROJECT | 3 |
Kent Core Requirement | 3 | ||
Credit Hours | 14 | ||
Semester Eight | |||
! | VCD 48002 | ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHIC PROJECT | 3 |
! | VCD 48003 | PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO PHOTOGRAPHY | 3 |
College of Communication and Information Core Elective | 3 | ||
General Electives | 6 | ||
Credit Hours | 15 | ||
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |