Photography

The short version

Darkroom, digital studio, alternative processes, and a professional lighting lab.
No camera needed. Start with ART 368 Introduction to Photography, where the department lends DSLRs.

Photography covers the darkroom and the digital studio. Students work in black and white film and alternative processes, and in commercial, product, and portrait photography in the professional lighting lab.

Required course flowWhat opens what, from freshman year to the BFA Seminar

Each course below opens the next one. Arrows follow the prerequisites listed in the JSU catalog.

START HERE · FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE YEARSArt foundations

ART 134 Drawing I
ART 233 Design I
ART 234 Drawing II
ART 240 Design II
ART 111 Survey of Art I and ART 112 Survey of Art II
ART 335 Figure Drawing
ART 341 Digital Literacy for Artists/Designers or ART 302 Introduction to Graphic Design

NO PREREQUISITEART 368 Introduction to PhotographyHybrid class that meets once a week.

FALL OF SOPHOMORE YEARART 298 Portfolio ReviewZero credit hours, pass/fail, offered each fall. Take it once you have finished Drawing I and II (ART 134, 234), Design I and II (ART 233, 240), and ART 111 or 112, and while you’re taking or have finished ART 368. Passing it gets you into the BFA program and is required before any 400-level studio.

OFFERED SPRINGART 369 Black and White PhotographyPrerequisite: ART 368.

OFFERED FALLART 470 Alternative Processes in PhotographyPrerequisite: ART 368.

ART 469 Intermediate Digital PhotographyPrerequisite: ART 368. Can be taken at the same time as ART 369 Black and White Photography or ART 470 Alternative Processes in Photography.

ART 471 Advanced PhotographyPrerequisite: ART 368, ART 369 or ART 470, and ART 469 Intermediate Digital Photography.

ART 475 Studio LightingPrerequisite: ART 469 or permission of instructor.

SENIOR YEARART 488 BFA SeminarRequires acceptance into the BFA program and senior standing. Includes portfolio presentation, the BFA exhibition, and a senior paper.

All six photography courses are required. There are no concentration electives. ART 476 Video for Photographers (prerequisite ART 469 or permission of instructor) is a good studio elective for anyone adding video.

Photography minor18 hours, for students outside the Art major

Students outside the Art major can minor in photography: 18 hours made up of ART 368, ART 369 or ART 470, ART 469, and nine more hours from ART 369, 371, 390, 467, 470, 471, 473, 475, and 476. The minor isn’t available to Art majors. Start with ART 368 in the fall of your sophomore year. Photography minor in the catalog.

The rest of the majorArt history, studio electives and the hours breakdown

Requirement	Hours
Art foundation core courses	24
Photography concentration	18
Upper division art history: three courses from the approved list	9
Upper division studio electives: nine courses in at least two other studio areas	27
ART 488 BFA Seminar	3
Major total	81
Jax MIX general education	41
Degree total	122

Getting into the BFA program

Pass Portfolio Review in the fall of your sophomore year, with at least a 2.50 GPA overall and a 3.00 in the major. You also need a C or better in every major course. Foundations covers what to take first.

Source: JSU Catalog 2026-2027, Photography (Bachelor of Fine Arts). Meet with your advisor every semester, and check the catalog year that applies to you.