2020-2021

Photography, Minor

Photography

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Photography is an art and a tool that engages not only the mind, but also the body's senses. This interdisciplinary minor provides students with a chance to gain experience in an area that complements a variety of majors and one that may turn out to be a lifelong source of pleasure.

  • A minor is earned in conjunction with a bachelor's degree.

    To receive a minor (18 - 24 units) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject matter areas with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. At least 12 units of the minor must be unique to that minor and not applied to any other minor.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

No more than fifty percent of the units used to satisfy minor requirements may be used to satisfy major requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion 18
Major GPA 2.5

Purpose Statement

The Minor in Photography combines the practice of creating images digitally or on film through industry-based software and exposure to studio lighting and on-location field instruction.
 
Coursework provides students a theoretical and technical sequence of instruction to professionally create, print and display photographic work; work in varied lighting situations; critically analyze photographic art; and experience Field location or Studio courses.
 
Photography minor graduates will leave this program with exposure to photographic communication in corporate, conceptual and editorial industries.

 
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will:

  1. Demonstrate working knowledge of industry standard business practices in commercial, fine art and editorial disciplines by:
    1. Competitively pricing products and services
    2. Competently negotiating fees and agreements with clients
    3. Handling image rights and model releases
    4. Developing profitable business and marketing strategies
    5. Selecting the best technology for each photographic project
  2. Produce photographic work that is consistent with high professional standards. Students will:
    1. Solve creative and technical problems that include project parameters and modeled client expectations
    2. Make creative decisions that optimize conceptual impact, cohesiveness and memorability of created images
  3. Demonstrate working knowledge of metering, lighting ratios, color compensation and digital workflow.
  4. Create works in a variety of lighting situations including: available light; studio lighting, both electronic and continuous; and location lighting. This will include but not be limited to the fields of advertising, public relations and print media.
  5. Articulate in verbal and written form the key technical, formal and conceptual issues in their creative work and the work of others.
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of the historical, political and social context in which photographic images are created and viewed.
  7. Critically analyze and evaluate examples of photographic art, and revise their work based on faculty and peer critiques.

Minor Requirements
  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.