Photography, Area of Concentration in Art + Design (AFA)
Award: Associate of Fine Arts Degree
No. of credits required: 61
For more information: Contact Assistant Professor Jeff Rollinger, 443-412-2350, jrollinger@harford.edu; Associate Professor Kenneth Jones, 443-412-2326, kjones@harford.edu; or Admissions, 443-412-2109.
Program Description
The Art + Design program offers students an Associate of Fine Arts degree (A.F.A) and preparation to transfer with junior status to a B.F.A. Art + Design program. This program prepares students with an intensive, hands-on, studio-based curriculum that stresses the development of art-making skills and critical thinking. Classes are taught by professional, exhibiting artists who have expertise in their disciplines. This program also provides the community with the opportunity to study for personal enrichment.
The Photography concentration is designed to train students in a broad range of photographic applications, including traditional black and white and color photography, digital photography, and studio lighting, with an emphasis on technical fundamentals and the development of a personal artistic vision. This concentration prepares students for continued study in B.F.A. programs at some four-year institutions, or for a career in various commercial fields of photography. The A.F.A degree is a pre-professional degree. In comparison with an A.A. in Art + Design, there is a higher concentration of studio classes and fewer general education courses. Students wishing to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) at a private art college, or who need more intensive development of their portfolios for transfer to any institution, should choose this degree. Students planning to transfer to a state institution may want to consider enrolling in the Associate of Arts (A.A.) Art + Design degree. Please consult with an advisor. The B.F.A. is the best choice for students who plan on pursuing their M.F.A.
Program Goals
Upon completion of the Associate of Fine Arts in Art + Design degree students will be able to:
- Create works with proper use of design elements.
- Create works with a demonstrated proficiency in the use of materials, tools, techniques, and processes.
- Clearly communicate and demonstrate critical thinking to articulate ideas in visual, verbal, and written forms.
- Demonstrate good habits and behaviors of self-reflection, motivation, confidence, and work ethic.
- Create work that shows the clear evolution of concept development and increasing sophistication.
- Successfully transfer to a four-year B.F.A. Program.
Transfer Information
HCC graduates have successfully transferred to art schools and universities, both in and out of Maryland. Students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should check the requirements of that institution. If they are significantly different from the courses listed, students should consult with an advisor for academic guidance. Some art schools require portfolios for admission and financial aid consideration. HCC faculty are well-versed in these requirements and assist students in portfolio preparation.
Employment Information
In 2021 arts and culture added $1.016 trillion to the US GDP, according to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA). The creative workforce in the US was 4.9 million in arts and cultural jobs, $504 billion in wages and accounted for 3.2% of all US jobs. Artists and designers are 3.6 times more likely to be self-employed and 63% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, and creativity, originality and initiative is the number five skill predicted to be in demand for 2025. For more information, visit the following websites: NASAA and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report for photographers.
Field Trip Statement
Courses in this discipline may require field trip(s).
Degree Requirements
Recommended Course Sequence
| First Semester | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| PHOT 101 | Black & White Photography I | 3 |
| ART 101 | Fundamentals of 2D Design | 3 |
| ART 120 | Digital Foundations I | 3 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition (GE) | 3 |
| Behavioral/Social Science Elective (GB) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PHOT 131 | Digital Photography I | 3 |
| PHOT 102 | Black & White Photography II | 3 |
| ART 111 | Studio Drawing I: Observation | 3 |
| PHOT 209 | The History of Photography (GH) | 3 |
| Mathematics Elective (GM) 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| ART 107 | Fundamentals of 3-D Design | 3 |
| ART 160 | Time-Based Media | 3 |
| ART 201 | History of Art-Ancient and Medieval (GH) (D) | 3 |
| PHOT 206 | Studio Lighting | 3 |
| PHOT 231 | Digital Photography II | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| ART 202 | History of Art-Renaissance to Modern (GH) (D) | 3 |
| PHOT 105 | Through the Lens: Exploring Documentary Photography | 3 |
| PHOT 202 | Alternative Photographic Processes | 3 |
| ART or PHOT Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Biological/Physical Science Elective (GS) 3 | 3 | |
| Physical Education Elective | 1 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 61 | |
- 1
A four credit course in mathematics (GM) may be substituted.
- 2
Any 3+ credit courses with the prefix ART or PHOT may be used to fulfill this requirement, as advised for transfer or your personal interest.
- 3
A four credit Biological/Physical Science Lab (GL) course may be substituted.
Additional Information
Students who wish to pursue further study in photography may, with instructor permission, enroll in Independent Study.
General Education Degree Requirements
Note: The following codes identify courses which satisfy the General Education Degree Requirements:
Behavioral/Social Science (GB)
English Composition (GE)
Arts/Humanities (GAH)
Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues (GI)
Biological/Physical Laboratory Science (GL)
Mathematics (GM)
Biological/Physical Science (GS)