Photography BS

Major: Photography
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits:
180.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 50.0605
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code:
27-4021

About the Program

The Drexel University Photography Program is one of the most elite of its kind in the United States. The students who have completed the Bachelor of Science Photography degree at Drexel have gone on to win The Pulitzer Prize for Photojournalism and The John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship for the arts. Their work has also been featured at AIPAD, one of the world's most prestigious annual photography events and in Times Square, New York City. In the Spring of 2020, Hannah Beier’s Senior Thesis project, “Time Apart,” was featured on the cover of Time Magazine. Along with the cover, she had a portfolio of images that were featured inside the magazine. 

In addition, alumni have had their work featured in the New York Times Magazine, Time Magazine, Philadelphia Magazine, Architectural Digest, Martha Stewart Living, Newsweek, and Italian Vogue. Along with being included in these publications, our alumni have their work included in the permanent collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and PAFA. The Drexel University Photography Program is without peer in regard to the student outcomes we have achieved.

Our Photography major is unique in the United States because of our teaching approach which blends a high degree of visual literacy together with cutting edge lessons in technology. We prepare our students for the marketplace by teaching every aspect of the medium, beginning in the darkroom, moving on to complex still digital techniques, and incorporating motion and video. Couple all these lessons with the value of having a six-month co-op in the industry and three courses dedicated to photographic business practices and you have the reason why our students have such a high placement rate after graduation.

The College's extensive photographic facilities are available to every photography major at Drexel. 

Additional Information

For more information about this major, visit the College's Photography website.

Degree Requirements 

General Education requirements
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development *1.0
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
MATH 119Mathematical Foundations for Design4.0
UNIV A101The Drexel Experience2.0
Required Arts and Humanities-students elect a minimum of 9.0 credits9.0
Required Natural Science-students elect a minimum of 7.0 credits7.0
Required Social Science-students elect a minimum of 9.0 credits9.0
Free electives30.0
Visual Studies requirements
ARTH 101History of Art I3.0
ARTH 102History of Art II3.0
ARTH 103History of Art III3.0
VSST 101Design I4.0
VSST 102Design II4.0
VSST 110Introductory Drawing3.0
VSST 111Figure Drawing I3.0
Visual Studies electives12.0
Students select three additional Visual Studies (VSST) courses as electives.
Photography requirements
PHTO 120Film Photography I3.0
PHTO 141Digital Photographic Post Production3.0
PHTO 220Film Photography II3.0
PHTO 230Color Photography I3.0
PHTO 233Large Format Photography4.0
PHTO 234Studio Photography4.0
PHTO 236Photojournalism3.0
PHTO 240Digital Photography II3.0
PHTO 253Fine Black & White Printing3.0
PHTO 275 [WI] History of Photography I3.0
PHTO 276 [WI] History of Photography II3.0
PHTO 334Advanced Studio Photography4.0
PHTO 340Digital Photography III4.0
PHTO 361Advanced Photography4.0
PHTO 392Junior Project in Photography3.0
PHTO 451Photography and Business3.0
PHTO 452 [WI] History of Contemporary Photography3.0
PHTO 453Photography Production3.0
PHTO 492Senior Thesis in Photography I3.0
PHTO 493Senior Thesis in Photography II3.0
PHTO 495Senior Thesis in Photography III3.0
Photography elective6.0
Students select two courses from the following:
Looking at Photographs
Portraiture
Landscape Photography
Fashion Photography
Palladium Printing
Marketing for Photographers
Exhibition
Total Credits180.0
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

 

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.



 

Sample Plan of Study

4 year, 1 co-op

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ARTH 1013.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0ARTH 1023.0VACATION
ENGL 101 or 1113.0PHTO 1203.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
PHTO 1413.0VSST 1024.0MATH 1194.0 
UNIV A1011.0UNIV A1011.0PHTO 2203.0 
VSST 1014.0Natural Science elective4.0Natural Science elective3.0 
 14 15 16 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ARTH 1033.0COOP 1011.0PHTO 2303.0PHTO 2363.0
PHTO 2334.0PHTO 2344.0PHTO 2763.0PHTO 4513.0
PHTO 2533.0PHTO 2403.0VSST 1113.0Arts & Humanities elective3.0
VSST 1103.0PHTO 2753.0Free elective3.0VSST elective*4.0
Free elective3.0Free elective3.0Social Science elective3.0 
 Social Science elective3.0  
 16 17 15 13
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCEPHTO 3344.0Arts & Humanities elective3.0
  PHTO 3923.0Free electives6.0
  VSST elective*4.0VSST elective*4.0
  Social Science elective3.0 
 0 0 14 13
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
PHTO 3614.0PHTO 3404.0PHTO 4953.0 
PHTO 4523.0PHTO 4533.0Free elective6.0 
PHTO 4923.0PHTO 4933.0Photography elective*6.0 
Arts & Humanities elective3.0Free electives6.0  
Free elective3.0   
 16 16 15 
Total Credits 180
*

See degree requirements.

Co-op/Career Opportunities

Photographers pursue careers in a wide variety of fields. Primary choices among Drexel graduates include journalism, illustration, fashion and advertising, and fine arts.

Positions

  • Advertising Photography
  • Editorial Photography
  • Wedding Photography
  • Fine Art Photography
  • Fashion Photography
  • Sports and Event Photography
  • Art Director and Photo Editor at Magazines
  • Curatorial Assistant at Photography Galleries and Museums
  • Teaching Assistants in public schools
  • Digital Technician and Retoucher

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.

Program Level Outcomes

  • Demonstrate a diverse working knowledge of various photographic processes from historical to digital with a strong emphasis on the most current digital practices
  • Apply the technical skills necessary to thrive in any chosen area of photographic practice including fashion, advertising, photojournalism and fine art
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the contributions of major photographic artists, commentators and movements within the history of photography
  • Effectively adapt techniques learned in the classroom to the professional setting
  • Demonstrate the ability to write and think critically about the craft of photography as well as the student’s own work
  • Produce a high quality, technically relevant, coherent body of work to a professional standard and presents this in a well-conceived portfolio
  • Communicate ideas clearly and confidently using appropriate professional terminology
  • Apply problem solving skills to keep pace with emerging technology and continually evolving standards and practices

Photography Faculty

Michael Froio, BS (Drexel University). Adjunct Instructor. Photography; intermediate photography and fine black and white printing.
George McCardle, BS (Drexel University). Adjunct Instructor. Digital Photography III
Andrea Modica, MFA (Yale University). Professor. Photography; portraiture, photojournalism, palladium printing, and thesis.
Joy Moody, BS (Drexel University). Adjunct Instructor. Portraits
Eddy Rhenals, MFA (University of Delaware). Adjunct Instructor.
Diana Rossi, M.Ed (Arcadia University). Adjunct Instructor. Photography and intermediate photography.
Paul Runyon, BFA (The University of New Mexico) Program Director, Photography. Associate Professor. Studio photography, view-camera photography, studio lighting, business aspects of photography.
Ashley Smith, MFA (School of Visual Arts). Adjunct Instructor. Photography
Amanda Tinker, MFA (Temple University). Associate Teaching Professor. Photography, history of photography, historical and alternative processes, and intermediate photography.
L. Kylie Wright, BA (University of Virginia). Assistant Teaching Professor. Photography; digital photography, and master printing.
Matt Zugale , BS (Drexel University ). Adjunct Instructor. Studio Photography