Media Arts B.A. or B.F.A (Photography)

The B.A. or B.F.A. in Media Arts with a concentration in Photography is designed for students interested in using photography as a tool for visual communication. Courses are career-oriented, and areas covered include studio and commercial photography, photojournalism, portraiture, documentary photography, and portfolio preparation. Students learn to capture, manipulate, and print photographic images in digital labs as well as a traditional darkroom.

Graduates go on to careers in advertising, marketing, photojournalism, studio and commercial photography, documentary photography, and portfolio preparation. Jobs include art director, creative director, photographer, photojournalist, and documentary filmmaker.

Contact Information

Helena Vanhala 
Department Head
vanhala@rmu.edu
412-397-6202 phone
Wheatley Center 313

4-Year Course Plan (B.A.)

Freshman, Fall

• ARTM1010 Foundation Studio (3)
• ARTM1020 2D Studio (3), and co-req ARTM0102 2D Studio Lab (0)
• ARTM2005 Intro to Photography (3)
• Core 1: MATH (3)
• Core 2: CSEN 1 (3)
• Freshman seminar (1)

Freshman, Spring

• ARTM1011 Concept Studio (3)
• ARTM1021 3D Studio (3), and co-req ARTM0121 3D Studio Lab (0)
• ARTM2020 Digital Imaging (3)
• Core 3: CSEN 2 (3)
• Core 4 (3) (e.g., HUMA1010) 

Sophomore, Fall

• ARTM2410 Intro to Multi-Camera Studio (3) and co-req ARTM0241 Intro to Multi-Camera Studio Lab (0)
• ARTM3310 Adv Digital Photography (3)
• Core 8: CSCM 2 (3)
• Open Elective 1 (3)
• ARTM3340 Photojournalism* (3) (*if selected from “pick two of three: ARTM3320, ARTM3330, ARTM3340”);
  • If ARTM3340 not elected: take Open Elective 

Sophomore, Spring

• ARTM2410 Intro to Multi-Camera Studio and co-req ARTM0241 Intro to Multi-Camera Studio Lab
• ARTM3310 Adv Digital Photography
• Core 8: CSCM 2
• Open Elective 1
• ARTM3340 Photojournalism

Junior, Fall

• ARTM2110 Intro to Graphic Design (3)
• ARTM3350 Commercial Photo I (3)
• Core 9 (3) (e.g., INFS1020)
• Open Elective 2 (3) (OE 3 if no ARTM3340)
• Open Elective 3 (3) (OE 4 if no ARTM3340)

Junior, Spring

• ARTM4350 Commercial Photo II (3)
• ARTM2110 Intro to Web Design (3)
• MARK2000 Principles of Marketing (3)
• Open Elective 4 (3) (OE 5 if no ARTM3340)
  • or ARTM4903 Internship (3)
• Core 10 (3) (e.g., ECON1010) 

Senior, Fall

• COMM4800 Media Management (3)
• Core 11 (3) (e.g., HIST/POLS)
• Pick 1-2 courses from:
• ARTM3320 Portrait Photography (3)
• and/or ARTM3330 Documentary Photography (3)

Senior, Spring

• ARTM4090 Portfolio (3), and co-req ARTM0400 Professional Practices Lab (0)
• Core 12 (3) (e.g., Natural Science)
• Core 13 (3) (e.g., SOCI1010)
• If ARTM4903 not completed, take: ARTM4903 Internship (3)
  • Open Elective 8 (3)
• If ARTM4903 completed, take:
  • Open Elective 7
  • Open Elective 8

4-Year Course Plan (B.F.A)

Freshman, Fall

• ARTM1010 Foundation Studio (3)
• ARTM1020 2D Studio (3), and co-req ARTM0102 2D Studio Lab (0)
• ARTM2005 Intro to Photography (3)
• Core 1: MATH (3)
• Core 2: CSEN 1 (3)
• Freshman seminar (1)

Freshman, Spring

• ARTM1011 Concept Studio (3)
• ARTM1021 3D Studio (3), and co-req ARTM0121 3D Studio Lab (0)
• ARTM2020 Digital Imaging (3)
• Core 3: CSEN 2 (3)
• Core 4 (3) (e.g., HUMA1010)

Sophomore, Fall

• ARTM1022 4D Studio (3), and co-req ARTM0122 4D Studio Lab (0)
• ARTM1870 History of Photography (3)
• ARTM2010 Idea Development, Writing & Storyboarding (3)
• ARTM3300 Digital Photography (3)
• Core 5: CSCM 1 (3)
• Core 6 (3) (e.g., PSYCH1010)

Sophomore, Spring

• ARTM1030 Survey of Art History I (3)
• ARTM2410 Intro to Multi-Camera Studio (3) and co-req ARTM0241 Intro to Multi-Camera Studio Lab (0)
• ARTM3310 Adv Digital Photography (3)
• ARTM____ Media Arts Elective 1
• Core 7: CSCM 2 (3)

Junior, Fall

• ARTM2110 Intro to Graphic Design (3)
• ARTM2480 Aesthetics of Cinema (3)
• ARTM3320 Portrait Photography (3)
• ARTM3350 Commercial Photo I (3)
• Core 8 (3) (e.g., ELIT)
• Core 9 (3) (e.g., INFS1020)

Junior, Spring

• ARTM2210 Intro to Web Design (3)
• ARTM3340 Photojournalism (3)
• ARTM4350 Commercial Photo II (3)
• MARK2000 Principles of Marketing (3)
• Core 10 (3) (e.g., HIST/POLS)

Senior, Fall

• ARTM3330 Documentary Photography (3)
• ARTM4010 Senior Studio (3)
• ARTM____ Media Arts Elective 2 (3)
• Core 11 (3) (e.g., ECON1010)
• COMM4800 Media Management (3)
  • or Core 12 (3) (e.g., Natural Science)

Senior, Spring

• ARTM4090 Portfolio (3), and co-req ARTM0400 Professional Practices Lab (0)
• ARTM____ Media Arts Elective 3 (3)
• ARTM4903 Internship (3)
• COMM4800 Media Management (3)
  • or Core 12 (3) (e.g., Natural Science)
• Core 13 (3) (e.g., SOCI1010)