2023 Best Online Photography Degrees
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Overview Online Degrees Courses Careers BenefitsPhotography involves the artistic production and manipulation of images. An online photography degree prepares students to use their creativity, technical ability, and equipment to succeed in the industry. Photography professionals understand the role that lighting, composition, shape, shadow, negative space, and background play in their discipline. There is no specific accreditation agency for photography, but the Council for Higher Education Accreditation provides a list of accrediting agencies and accredited schools. Those interested in transferring credits or going on to pursue graduate studies should also pay close attention to accreditation status when researching an online photography degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that the photography industry will grow by 17% in the next decade, so once you have a degree from an accredited school, you can begin your career.
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List Of Accredited Online Photography Schools
School | Online Enrollment | Annual Tuition |
---|---|---|
Southern New Hampshire University Online | ||
Arizona State University | 33,410 | $24,413 |
Academy of Art University | 2,911 | $23,412 |
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design | 851 | $19,670 |
Savannah College of Art and Design | 598 | $38,075 |
Lindenwood University | 494 | $18,100 |
Mount Saint Mary's University - CA | 162 | $42,792 |
Southern New Hampshire University Online
- Annual Tuition: $9,600
- Locations: Manchester (NH)
- Accreditation: NECHE
Southern New Hampshire University Online (SNHU Online) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Bachelor of Arts in Digital Photography totaling 120 credit hours. Full-time students generally spend at least four years completing this program. SNHU Online’s acceptance rate is 94%, and it has a 40% graduation rate.
SNHU Online facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning on the learning management system (LMS) called D2L Brightspace. The school's digital photography program helps students develop the technical skills for digital camera operation and post-production image editing. Sample courses include Social Media, Lighting for Photography, and Innovations in Digital Imaging. Online students must also meet the program’s digital photography technical requirements and purchase Adobe Creative Cloud software. Some potential career opportunities for graduates are portrait photographers, commercial photographers, and video editors.
Arizona State University
- Annual Tuition: $24,413
- Locations: Tempe (AZ) (and 4 others)
- Accreditation: HLC
The Arizona State University (ASU) is a large, public institution. The university offers an online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with a Digital Photography concentration and focuses on artistic and creative expression. This degree program requires 120 credit hours, and students can finish it between three to four years with a full-time schedule. Some core classes for the Digital Photography concentration include History of Photography, Advanced Digital Photography, and Photography as the Constructed Image, along with a final capstone project. After graduating, students may work as film editors, photo lab specialists, and art professors.
At ASU, students use Blackboard to access their coursework, which is entirely online. ASU’s online students have access to all university resources.
Academy of Art University
- Annual Tuition: $23,412
- Locations: San Francisco (CA)
- Accreditation: WSCUC
The Academy of Art University (AAU) is a medium-sized, private institution that offers an online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography. The program requires 132 credits, and students can complete it in four years with a full-time schedule. Students can choose to focus on commercial, editorial, fine art, or documentary courses. Some of these classes include Physics for Artists: Light, Sound, and Motion; Perspective Journalism; and Photography Principles and Techniques. Graduates go on to work at companies such as Williams Sonoma, Google, and Gap.
At AAU, students use Brightspace to access their coursework, which is fully online. At AAU, online students have access to all university resources.
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
- Annual Tuition: $19,670
- Locations: Lakewood (CO)
- Accreditation: HLC
At Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) — a private, for-profit institution — prospective students can pursue an online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography, which requires 123 credit hours. Future students can expect to take four years in order to finish the program. RMCAD accepts 100% of applicants, and 34% of students earn their degrees.
This online fine arts degree teaches photography fundamentals — like lighting, digital imaging, portraiture, and post-production editing. Online students complete photography coursework at their own pace, which is especially useful for working professionals attending school part time. The program is divided into four sections: (1) Liberal Arts, (2) Foundations, (3) Photography, and (4) Electives. Some prospective careers for graduates are photojournalists, fashion photographers, and filmmakers.
Savannah College of Art and Design
- Annual Tuition: $38,075
- Locations: Savannah (GA)
- Accreditation: SACS COC
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is a medium-sized, private institution. SCAD offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Photography requiring 180 credit hours. This program teaches visual literacy, analog methods, and digital technology to prepare their graduates for careers as advertising photographers, gallery directors, and digital technicians. Some core classes in this program include Camera Exploration & Technique and Business Practices for Photography. This major can be completed in four years with a full-time schedule, including a project seminar and internship.
At SCAD, students use Blackboard to access their coursework, which is entirely online. Online students have access to all university resources.
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By OnlineU Staff Writers | 8/28/2023