The photography area at San Francisco State University is dedicated to instruction in the methodologies of photography in context of contemporary art practice. These processes include black-and-white chemical based photography as well as digital technologies. Assignments are instrumental in providing aesthetic discussion and professional preparation for the photographic artist. There is an active Photo Guild, a student cooperative that stages exhibitions, lectures and workshops.
Facilities for photography include black-and-white and digital labs. For black-and-white processes, there is a twenty-station group darkroom with 4x5 enlargers for processing prints, individual darkrooms for processing film, a group area for processing film. The digital labs consist of 12 Macintosh based work stations that are networked to two 24" wide Epson printers. There is a specialized lab for working with extra large media up to 44" with directly linked Macintosh computers.
What you need to graduate with an emphasis in Photography:
- 21 Units (seven courses) in PHOTOGRAPHY
- Six other courses that are upper division: numbers 400 and above.
- All courses 500 and above can be REPEATED but some less than others; check!
- Art 460: Photo 2 (B&W Darkroom) (prerequisite: Art 260)
- Art 560: Photo 3 (B&W Darkroom) (prerequisite: Art 460)
- Art 660: Photo 4 (B&W and/or Digital) (prerequisites: Art 560)
- Art 562: Color Photo 1 (Digital Camera Raw and Printing) (prerequisite: Art 560)
- Art 662: Color Photo 2 1 (Digital Camera Raw and Printing) (prerequisite: Art 562)
- Art 563: Ways of Seeing (Digital World 1) (prerequisite: Art 560)
- Art 563: Photo as Critical Tool (Digital World 2) (prerequisite: Ways of Seeing or Color Photo 1)
- Art 563: Still Life (Studio Lighting) (B&W or Digital) (prerequisite: Art 560, 562)
- Art 563: Document (B&W or Digital) (prerequisite: Art 560)
- Art 563: Alternative Photo Processes (prerequisite: Art 560 & Ways of Seeing or Color Photo 1)
- Art 663: Honors Seminar In Photography (prerequisite: Art 660)
- Art 685: Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (by faculty approval)
- Art 699: Special Studies (Independent Study) (by faculty approval)
- 1 unit in Art Productions (Art 509 or 539). Generally spent in the photo area helping with the lab and facilities administrated by the Graduate Assistant.
- 12 Units (four courses) outside your major studio area, any studio area in the art department or PRODUCTION based courses in other Creative Arts majors.
- 3 units (or one course) must be a 200 series course, then any combination of lower or upper division after that.
- 12 Units (four courses) in Art History. 6 units can be lower division, 6 units must be upper division.
- Two subject matter areas are required: at least one course in Non-European Art History and at least one course in Contemporary Art History.
One course must be: Art 260: PHOTO 1 (B&W Darkroom) or transferred equivalent. Note that 2 year college courses do not transfer above 200 series courses!
The courses we offer in this department are as follows:
Please visit the course descriptions for more information on each course listed above.
Remember the 60 unit rule: if you take 60 units or over in Art Studio courses, you will be asked by the University to take an equivalent amount in University-wide courses! WHAM!
