Photography
Associate of Science
Division: Arts and Humanities
Division Chair: Stephen Burke, sburke@sunyrockland.edu
Department Chair: Eileen MacAvery Kane, emacaver@sunyrockland.edu
Department Support Staff: Amy Frank, afrank@sunyrockland.edu
Educational Support Staff: Lili Grady, lgrady@sunyrockland.edu, Lena Hyun, lhyun@sunyrockland.edu
Department Office: Cultural Arts Center, Room 7111, Phone: 845-574-4268
Why Study Photography?
Our AS Photography program teaches the fundamentals of analog film photography and the black-and-white darkroom, studio and natural lighting techniques, digital photography and image editing through Photoshop and Lightroom, and fine art printmaking and bookmaking. We encourage our students to work with new forms of media and multimedia to set themselves apart as the next generation of image-makers. Graduates of this program are well prepared to pursue bachelor's degree or begin working in a wide range of careers including photojournalist, entrepreneur, photo editor, artist, photography producer, studio manager, digital photo tech, visual brand marketing, fashion and commercial photographer, as well as scientific and forensic photographer.
Related disciplines include Art and Graphic Design.
Degrees Offered:
Occupational Objectives:
The U.S. Department of Labor reports a projected 13 percent increase in employment opportunities for photographers from 2010 to 2020. Graduates of this program are prepared to pursue a bachelor’s degree or they may find entry positions in fashion or product photography, fine art, photojournalism, architectural or other related areas such as forensic and scientific photography.
5 Top Reasons
To Study Photography at RCC:
- VALUE: Affordable tuition, financial aid, scholarships. Loaner cameras and most equipment and developing supplies are provided free.
- FLEXIBILITY: Part-time study. Weekend, night and online courses. Onsite childcare.
- SUPPORT: Small class sizes provide individual attention (many art courses limited to 14). Plenty of supervised open lab hours for photo development.
- TRANSFER: Equivalent to the first two years of most Fine Arts bachelor’s degrees. This degree meets the core requirements for several four-year degrees.
- FACULTY: Learn from instructors with the rare combination of practical work experience in the field and advanced academic degrees.
Opportunities at Rockland Community College:
RCC art students prepare a portfolio of their best work for admissions to major art schools and other institutions of higher education. High-achieving students may continue their studies at institutions like the School of Visual Arts, FIT and Hunter, as well as SUNY schools such as New Paltz and Purchase. There are travel courses for credit like Art in Paris and Art in London. Students with a 3.0 GPA or higher can study at Cambridge University.
There are more than 40 student clubs to choose from, including Art, Photography, Video Game & Animé. Club events include field trips to NYC museums and galleries and guest artists. There are award-winning student publications like Outlook newspaper, and Impulse, the annual publication to highlight original student art and writing.
Program Goals:
This degree provides talented and motivated artists with the knowledge and skills needed to help shape their future and best fulfill their passions and abilities. Students will learn how to effectively communicate with audiences through visual media; and they will learn how to evaluate and critique photography culminating in a cohesive portfolio of their work for use in the workforce and future studies.
Program Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Recognize and analyze through oral and written communication the contributions photographers have made from a variety of global perspectives including diversified cultures and societies throughout history
- Apply creative and technical abilities in a variety of photography processes and methods including analog and digital cameras and other photographic equipment
- Use critical thinking to produce effective visual media through theory and form
- Evaluate and analyze visual media according to established criteria using appropriate terminology
- Create a portfolio for personal and professional use in the workforce or future studies