Students accepted into the Art Department at New Paltz are automatically enrolled as Visual Arts majors in the Bachelor of Science (BS) program.
The BS degree requires 30 credits of studio electives beyond Foundation courses. Students who do a concentration in photography take at least 18 of the 30 studio elective credits in photography. Of these 18 credits, at least 9 credits should be in intermediate photography courses and at least 3 credits should be in one of the two Capstone courses (ARS450 - The Document; ARS451 - Contemporary Issues in Photography).
In each of these courses, students produce an original body of work which contributes to a cohesive portfolio. Students in the BS program graduate with a Visual Arts degree, with their transcript documenting the extent of their course work in photography.
BS Degree Requirements
Freshman Art Foundation courses (15 credits)
Photography and other art studio courses (30 credits)
(at least 18 of which have to be completed in photography for a concentration)
ARS491 - Creative Art Projects: BA/BS (3 credits)
(writing intensive)
Art History courses (18 credits)
ARH201 - Art of the Western World I
ARH202 - Art of the Western World II
ARH358, ARH 359, or ARH 515
(one course in 20th century art)
Art History electives
General Education requirements and elective courses
Total: 120 credits, including 45 upper division credits
Suggested Course Sequence for a Photography Concentration
Option I
ARS250 - Basic Photography
ARS230 - Basic Digital Photography
ARS332 - The Large Format Image
ARS350 - The Constructed Image
ARS450 - The Document
Studio Electives
Option II
ARS230 - Basic Digital Photography
ARS331 - Photographic Books and Installations
ARS334 - Digital Video
ARS333 - Advanced Digital Color Photography
ARS451 - Contemporary Issues in Photography
Studio Electives
Option III
ARS250 - Basic Photography
ARS230 - Basic Digital Photography
ARS333 - Advanced Digital Color Photography
ARS350 - The Constructed Image
ARS450 - The Document
ARS451 - Contemporary Issues in Photography
Studio Electives
