Exploring the WashU Photography Program Curriculum

Washington University's photography program, embedded within the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to nurture artistic talent and prepare students for diverse careers in the arts. The program emphasizes both technical proficiency and critical thinking, encouraging students to explore their creative potential while developing a strong understanding of the historical and contemporary contexts of art and design.

Degree Options and Curriculum Structure

The undergraduate studio art program at WashU includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA), a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA), or a second major. Students can combine work in art and design with studies in architecture, business, the humanities, the natural and social sciences and the other arts. Students may take these courses for educational and intellectual enrichment or in direct correlation with their primary interests.

For students entering the College of Art, a BFA degree requires a total of 121 credits of course work, and a BA degree requires 120 credits of course work. Students may not choose the Bachelor of Arts for a dual degree. Major requirements (any course required to be taken within the Sam Fox School) may not be double counted for another degree, major, or minor unless specifically allowed by a Sam Fox School minor.

The BFA degree provides a focused, studio-intensive experience, while the BA degree allows for greater flexibility to combine art studies with other academic interests. Students may also earn the BFA as part of a dual-degree program. Undergraduate students in Art, Arts & Sciences, Business and Engineering can add a dual BFA degree, a second major, or a minor in art or design to their existing degree path.

The curriculum is structured to provide a strong foundation in the fundamentals of art and design, followed by opportunities for specialization in photography and other areas. Students develop their artistic practices while pursuing diverse academic interests in science + medicine, design, and the humanities.

Core Requirements for the BFA Degree

To receive a degree from the College of Art, a student must meet the requirements below and take academic courses with other undergraduates. To receive a degree from the College of Art, a student must meet the requirements and take academic courses with other undergraduates. Work in art and design can be combined with studies in architecture, business, the humanities, the natural and social sciences and the other arts. Students must complete 121 credits to earn the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

The BFA curriculum includes several key components:

Distribution Requirements (12 units)

These requirements ensure that students receive a well-rounded education in the liberal arts:

Writing (3 units): Students must complete a College Writing course with a C- or better during the first year of study. Transfer students must fulfill the writing requirement by taking an approved course or by review of a writing portfolio.
Humanities (3 units): Humanities courses examine the human condition as documented and expressed in both past and contemporary times. This area includes courses in literature (both in English and other languages), Classics, History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies, and some courses in creative arts such as Dance, Drama, Music and Writing. Courses tagged HUM Humanities ArtSci IQ fulfill the humanities requirement.
Natural Sciences or Mathematics (3 units): These courses help the student understand the natural and physical world using objective and empirical observation and controlled experimentation. This area includes courses in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Biology or Policy, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Math and Physics, and some courses from departments such as Anthropology and Psychological & Brain Sciences. Courses tagged NSM Natural Sciences and Mathematics Art Sci IQ fulfill this requirement.
Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 units): These courses use qualitative and quantitative observation to explore the social environment, relationships with society, and forms of human behavior. This area includes courses in Anthropology, Economics, Education, International and Area Studies, Political Science and Psychological & Brain Sciences, and courses from other areas, including interdisciplinary studies. Courses tagged SSC Social and Behavioral Sciences ArtSci IQ fulfill the social and behavioral sciences requirement.

Art History and Visual Culture (15 units)

These courses provide context for art and design studies by examining the cultural and historical impact of artworks and artifacts. The BFA degree requires two 3-credit introductory courses (ARTARCH 1515 History of Western Art, Architecture & Design and ARTARCH 2020 Introduction to Modern Art, Architecture and Design) and three additional courses. Courses in the subject area Art History and Archaeology (ARTARCH) at the 2000-level or above or tagged FA Visual Culture fulfill this requirement.

ARTARCH 1515 History of Western Art, Architecture & Design (3 units)
ARTARCH 2020 Introduction to Modern Art, Architecture and Design (3 units)
Three additional courses in Art History and Archaeology (ARTARCH) at the 2000-level or above or courses tagged FA Visual Culture (9 units)

Foundations (13 units)

In your first year, you’ll take core studios, including drawing, 2D design, 3D design, digital studio, and a weekly seminar. These courses provide a foundation in essential artistic skills and concepts:

ART 1050 Drawing I (3 units) Drawing studios are team-taught by studio art and communication design faculty.
ART 1110 2D Design (3 units) In 2D design and digital studio, you’ll build essential skills in composition and communication through manual processes and digital design software.
ART 1120 3D Design (3 units) In 3D design, you’ll learn fundamental sculptural and spatial skills, experimenting with new materials and processes, while learning how to use specialized tools and machines.
DESIGN 1210 Digital Studio (3 units)
ART 1101 Practices in Art + Design (1 unit)

Sam Fox Electives (12 units)

Any courses in ART, DESIGN, FASHION, ARCH, LANDARCH or URBDES (12 units)

Open Electives (30 units)

Any courses in the following Schools: Sam Fox, Arts & Sciences, Business, or Engineering* (30 units)*A maximum of 15 non-Washington University units (including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and transfer credit) is permitted. No more than 9 units may be applied to physical education, lessons, independent study, and internships.

BFA Majors in Art

BFA Majors in Art can choose to concentrate in one of the following five areas: Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, or Time-Based Media. As your education progresses, so will your course flexibility. You can choose between studios in core areas-Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, and Photography-as well as ones in hybrid media, time arts, public art, socially engaged practice, and much more.

Photography Program Specifics

While the provided data doesn't offer a detailed breakdown of specific photography courses within the BFA curriculum, it establishes the broader context within which photography students operate. Sam Fox School students have access to incredible studios and making spaces, ranging from wood and metal shops, a ceramics studio, and printmaking studio to a digital fabrication lab, darkroom and digital photography studios, textile studios, and more. The program emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach, encouraging students to explore diverse media and techniques.

Given the foundation courses and elective options, photography students can expect to develop skills in:

Traditional Darkroom Techniques: Black and white photography, film development, and printing.
Digital Photography: Digital image capture, editing, and printing.
Studio Lighting: Artificial lighting techniques for portraiture and product photography.
Conceptual Photography: Exploring photography as a means of artistic expression and social commentary.
Mixed Media: Combining photography with other art forms, such as collage, sculpture, and installation.

Capstone Studio

This curriculum includes the capstone studio for seniors in any BFA program in the College of Art. The capstone studio brings together all seniors in the studio areas and separately in the communication design and fashion areas for critical dialogue beyond disciplinary boundaries and to guide preparation for each area's culminating BFA exhibition.

The MFA in Visual Art Program

The MFA in Visual Art program professionally prepares students in a diversified approach to studio practice in the field of contemporary art. It provides a rigorous and supportive environment for art-making and studio research, facilitated by individual mentoring and group critique. A multidisciplinary program, the MFA in Visual Art welcomes all lines of inquiry: spatial, lens-based, 2-dimensional, interactive, sound, and the performative. The program culminates in the MFA in Visual Art Thesis: an exhibition of creative work at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, a substantial thesis text, and a professional artist talk.

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The MFA curriculum holds both things in balance. In the Graduate Studio, students work independently with the guidance of a primary faculty mentor as well as a broad range of other faculty and visitors. Group Critique is the heart of the curriculum. A mix of first- and second-year students meets for rigorous weekly critiques to share new work and engage in lively, constructive discussion. A sequence of required Graduate Seminars engages students in research methodologies and prepares them for professional careers in the arts. MFA-VA students can enroll in Electives across the School and the University that build upon their research interests. Students also participate in Workshops, like Fox Fridays, to build essential technical and professional skills.

60 credits are required for the MFA degree. Students must complete a minimum of 38 credits of studio work in Graduate Studio, Graduate Critique, Independent Summer Project, and Workshops; 13 credits of required seminars including 1st Year Colloquium, Professional Practice in Art, Research for Practice, and Thesis and Exhibition Prep; and 9 credits of electives in studio or academic courses. Electives must be taken at the 300-level or higher and require pre-approval by the program chair.Credits may not be transferred from another institution into the MFA VA program.

Key Components of the MFA Program

Graduate Studio: Credits in Graduate Studio are earmarked for independent artmaking and studio research facilitated by individual mentoring sessions with faculty, faculty mentors, and visiting artist and critics.
Group Critique: The foundation of the MFA-VA experience is the production of artwork in the context of dialogue and critique within a community of peers. 1st and 2nd year MFA-VA students participate in mixed groups, engaging in rigorous peer review of finished work.
Summer Independent Project: During the summer following the first year of study, MFA-VA students create projects supported by independent research. These can be accomplished in the Sam Fox School studios, or by engaging in partnerships or residencies with arts organizations. In alternating years, students have the opportunity to participate in our Sommerakademie in Berlin. Students develop a project proposal in spring of their first year and exhibit their work in the fall.
1st-Year Colloquium: This seminar introduces MFA in Visual Art students to one another, the MFA-VA program, the Sam Fox School, the Kemper Art Museum, the university, and the city of St. Louis. The course includes field trips and introductions to local institutions and builds pathways for cross-disciplinary work.
Professional Practice in Art: How do artists prepare for a meaningful and sustainable life in the arts, now and in the future? This seminar is a hands-on, comprehensive, and speculative approach to life as a professional artist.
Research for Practice: What does it mean to conduct research in the often-indescribable process of art-making? This seminar explores an array of methodologies artists use to engage with content, builds tools for presenting a distinct voice in writing, and assists students in developing a map of their MFA-VA creative work and thesis text.
Thesis + Exhibition Prep: This seminar provides tools negotiating conceptual and practical matters related to the thesis exhibition, facilitates the process of writing the thesis text, and prepares candidates for their thesis artist talks. It also introduces students to key issues in preparing for exhibition in the museum setting.
Elective Coursework: Students earn elective credits from course offerings across the School and the University including academic courses, studios, or seminars, based on their individual research interests.
Faculty Mentors: Faculty Mentors act as guides and advisors, provide feedback and critique, and facilitate the review process. They also serve to model professional responsibility, demystify the graduate school experience, and coach professional development.
Reviews: All students in the MFA VA program are reviewed at the end of each semester to assess their work and to ensure satisfactory progress through the program, to determine advancement, and ultimately to award the Master of Fine Arts degree.
Thesis: The master’s thesis in the MFA in Visual Art program has three components: the thesis artwork exhibited at the Kemper Museum, the thesis text, and the artist talk.

Facilities and Resources

The Sam Fox School provides access to a wide range of facilities and resources, including:

Expansive, high-tech facilities and studios serve as a think tank for intellectual and material experimentation across disciplines.
Wood and metal shops
Ceramics studio
Printmaking studio
Digital fabrication lab
Darkroom and digital photography studios
Textile studios
University Libraries: The University’s system of 12 libraries.
A professional media production center
Two observatories
An environmental field station

Opportunities Beyond the Classroom

Study art

Our students develop their artistic practices while pursuing diverse academic interests in science + medicine, design, and the humanities.

Office for Socially Engaged Practice

There are numerous options to expand studies through the Office for Socially Engaged Practice, including opportunities like the Counterpublic triennial fellowship and the Berlin Sommerakademie study abroad program. In alternating years, students have the opportunity to participate in our Sommerakademie in Berlin.

Engagement with the City of St. Louis

Students also have opportunities to engage with the city of St. Louis, which serves as both an extension of the studio and a site of activation for art and artists.

Destination Imagination

In Destination Imagination (DI), students work together in teams to solve open-ended STEAM challenges designed to teach our Creative Process.

Faculty

Our faculty are equally committed to their own studio practice and to your development as an artist. Their expertise varies widely in medium and subject matter, but they all care deeply about teaching. As a studio art major at WashU, you will be working alongside peers whose interests in and out of studio vary widely. Every first-year student is mentored by a dedicated academic advisor who guides them in shaping the educational path they desire. This includes course selection and scheduling. Whether you want a studio-intensive or a broader liberal arts-focus, we will help you find the right choice for you.

Notable Alumni

Daniel Shieh, BFA ‘16, creates installations that seemingly lead to otherworldly places, altering the viewer’s perception of each other and their surroundings. Virgil Marti, BFA ‘84, is an artist known for his works in sculpture and installation - which have been described as flamboyant and psychedelic - as well as his many years spent as a master printer.

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