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Department of Art, Film, and Visual Studies  

The Department of Art, Film, and Visual Studies (AFVS) at Harvard offers a graduate program in Film and Visual Studies leading to a PhD.

The Department also offers a secondary field in Film and Visual Studies for students already admitted to PhD programs in other departments in the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

The study of film at Harvard functions within the multi-disciplinary examination of audio-visual experience. From Hugo Münsterberg's pathbreaking forays into the psychological reception of moving images and Rudolf Arnheim’s seminal investigations of "visual thinking" to Paul Sachs’s incorporation of film into the academic and curatorial focus of the fine arts at Harvard and Stanley Cavell’s philosophical approaches to the medium, Harvard has sustained a distinguished tradition of engaging cinema and the cultural, visual, spatial, and philosophical questions that it raises. With their emphases on experimentation in the contemporary arts and creative collaboration among practitioners and critics, the Department of Art, Film, and Visual Studies (AFVS) and the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts provide a singular and unparalleled site for advanced research in Film and Visual Studies. The program aims to foster critical understanding of the interactions between the making of and thinking about film and video, between studio art, performance, and visual culture, and between different arts and pursuits whose objects are audio-visual entities. The Carpenter Center also supports a lively research culture, including the Film and Visual Studies Colloquium and a Film and Visual Studies Workshop for advanced doctoral students, as well as lecture series and exhibitions featuring distinguished artists, filmmakers, and scholars.

Interdisciplinary in its impetus, the program draws on and consolidates course offerings in departments throughout the Faculty of Arts and Sciences which consider film and other arts in all their various countenances and investigate the place of visual arts within a variety of contexts. Graduate students may also take advantage of the significant resources of the Harvard Film Archive (HFA), which houses a vast collection of 16mm and 35mm film prints as well as rare video materials, vintage film posters, photographs, and promotional materials. The HFA furthers the artistic and academic appreciation of moving image media within the Harvard and the New England community, offering a setting where students and faculty can interact with filmmakers and artists. In early 2003, the HFA opened a new Conservation Center that allows the HFA conservator and staff to accession new films as well as to preserve its significant collections of independent, international, and silent films.

Students and faculty in Film and Visual Studies are also eligible to apply to the Harvard Film Study Center for fellowships which are awarded annually in support of original film, video, and photographic projects. Established in 1957, the Film Study Center provides production equipment, post-production facilities, technical support, and funding for nonfiction works that interpret the world through images and sounds. Among the many important films to have been produced at the Film Study Center are John Marshall's The Hunters (1956), Robert Gardner's Forest of Bliss (1985), Irene Lusztig's Reconstruction (2001), Ross McElwee's Bright Leaves (2003), Peter Galison and Robb Moss’s Secrecy (2008), Ilisa Barbash and Lucien Castaing-Taylor's Sweetgrass (2009), Véréna Paravel and J.P. Sniadecki’s Foreign Parts (2011), Véréna Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor’s Leviathan (2013) and De Humani Corporis Fabrica (2022), Stephanie Spray and Pacho Velez’s Manakamana (2014), Mati Diop’s Atlantiques (2019), Ernst Karel and Veronika

Kusumaryati’s Expedition Content (2020), and Joana Pimenta and Adirley Queirós’ Dry Ground Burning (2022).

Images:  Instructions for a Light and Sound Machine  (2005), directed by Peter Tscherkassky, from a print in the collection of the Harvard Film Archive.

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• Academic Requirements
• Secondary Field in Film and Visual Studies
• Film and Visual Studies PhD Alumni:
• Graduate Program FAQs
• Courses in Art, Film, and Visual Studies -Fall 2024 (Spring 2025 COMING SOON!)

Graduate Contacts

Laura Frahm Director of Graduate Studies 

Emily Amendola Graduate Coordinator Film and Visual Studies Program (617) 495-9720 amendola [at] fas.harvard.edu  

FAQs about the Graduate Program

My native language is not english; do i have to take the an english language proficiency exam.

Adequate  command of spoken and written English  is essential to success in graduate study at Harvard. Applicants who are non-native English speakers can demonstrate English proficiency in one of three ways:

• Receiving an undergraduate degree from an academic institution where English is the primary language of instruction.*
• Earning a minimum score of 80 on the Internet based test (iBT) of the ...

When is the application deadline for admission to the Ph.D. program in Film and Visual Studies?

December 15, 2023

Where can I obtain an admissions application?

Applications are found on the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences website ( https://gsas.harvard.edu/admissions/apply ). 

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The UC San Diego Visual Arts PhD Program grants two PhD degrees: Art History, Theory and Criticism and Art History, Theory and Criticism with a Concentration in Art Practice . The program embodies the department's commitment to innovative research by embracing the close intersection of art, media, and design practice with history, theory, and criticism, and by offering training in the history, theory, and criticism of a range and mix of areas represented in our MFA faculty, including studio art, film, video, photography, computational media, performance art, public art, design, visual culture, and socially engaged art practice. Regional and cultural frameworks of study include European and Latin American art, Chinese art, nineteenth-century French visual culture, Mesoamerican, Native American, and Indigenous art and material culture, Medieval art and culture, queer and feminist art, material culture, science, technology, and art; and ocean, environmental, and land art.

The Art Practice Concentration degree, which must be applied for at the time of application to the PhD program, follows the same course of scholarly training, research, and writing as the Art History, Theory and Criticism degree, with additional requirements in research-based art practice that span all years of coursework, qualifying, and doctoral research. Two students are admitted to this concentration annually.

Information for Current and Prospective Students

Requirement overview, program requirements.

• Coursework, 88 units

Language Requirement

• Qualifying Materials and Exams

Dissertation and Defense

• For VA77 Only- Art Practice Project and Exhibition

Full Time Enrollment

In order to remain eligible for financial support all graduate students must be enrolled   in 12 units of upper-division (100-199) or graduate level (200 and above) courses each quarter during the regular academic year. Graduate students must also maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to maintain good academic standing. The majority of students will choose to complete the majority of their academic coursework for a letter grade.

Pre-Candidacy

Coursework should be chosen in consultation with the Advisor and should be taken in preparation for the Qualifying phase. During the first three years in the program, students should aim to fulfill the following requirements:

• MA en Route Requirements (if interested and eligible)
• Qualifying Materials and Exams (year 3)

Advancing to candidacy occurs when the student has passed all course, language, and qualifying requirements and is ready to research and write a dissertation. Doctoral candidates, sometimes referred to as “all but dissertation” or ABD, work on their dissertation with Advisor and Committee consultation and feedback for two or more years. During this time, Art Practice candidates additionally produce the required art practice components. Each quarter, most doctoral candidates typically enroll in 8-12 units of VIS 299 and/or 4 units of a 500, in consultation with their Advisor. Candidacy concludes when the candidate completes and successfully defends the dissertation (and, for VA77, the additional Art Practice requirements) and is awarded the doctorate.

Degree Paths

The program consists of two degree paths: Art History, Theory and Criticism (VA76) and Art Practice (VA77), a concentration designed for artists engaged in advanced research who wish to pursue their work in an environment geared to doctoral study, and to produce studio, media, performance or public facing work alongside a written dissertation. See Handbook for further details.

Interdisciplinary Specializations

Students within the PhD program who are interested in the opportunity to undertake specialized research may apply to participate in an interdisciplinary specialization. Students accepted into a specialization program would be expected to complete coursework in addition to those required for their PhD program. The department offers interdisciplinary specializations with the following campus programs.

• Anthropogeny:   for students with an interest in human origins
• Critical Gender Studies:   providing specialized training in gender and sexuality
• Interdisciplinary Environmental Research : for students interested in environmental solutions

Curriculum: VA76 Art History, Theory and Criticism

VA76- 22 courses, 88 units

GENERAL FIELD EMPHASIS

During the first year of study, students declare a general area of study in consultation with their Advisor and with the approval of the Faculty Director. This general field emphasis will be considered as they choose courses and, toward year three, plan their qualifying materials. See the Handbook for general field options.

CORE REQUIREMENTS (8 courses, 32 units)

Required (4 courses, 16 units):

• VIS 200- Methods and Theories
• VIS 204- Rethinking Art History
• VIS 500 (1 course, 4 units)- Apprentice Teaching
• VIS 502- Graduate Teaching in Visual Arts

Breadth (4 courses, 16 units), choose from 4 different areas with 3 different faculty:

• Medieval, Renaissance or Early Modern Art- VIS 251, VIS 252
• Modern and Contemporary Art- VIS 254, VIS 255
• Media Studies- VIS 256
• Meso-American Art or North American Indigenous Art- VIS 257, VIS 260
• Asian Art- VIS 258
• Latin American Art- VIS 259
• Material Culture- VIS 261
• Design Studies- VIS 262

ELECTIVE REQUIREMENTS (14 courses, 56 units), choose from the following options:

• Art History Seminars (VIS 230-269), a minimum of 6 MUST be taken for the elective area
• Graduate Research (VIS 299), during 1st year with provisional advisor
• Professional Practice Seminar (VIS 220)
• Art Theory/Practice (VIS 206, VIS 210-219), a maximum of 2 may be taken
• Other Department, a maximum of 3 graduate level courses may be taken 
• Reading Courses (approved undergrad courses), a maximum of 4 may be taken 
• Directed Group Study (VIS 298), a maximum of 1 may be taken
• Individual Studies (VIS 295), a maximum of 12 units may be taken with Advisor

Curriculum: VA77 Art History, Theory and Criticism- Art Practice

VA77- 22 courses, 88 units

CORE REQUIREMENTS (12 courses, 48 units)

Required (9 courses, 36 units):

• VIS 206- Seminar in Art Practice Research
• VIS 207 (repeat 3 times for 12 units)- Working Practice for Art Practice
• VIS 210-219, 1 course from Art Theory/Practice 

Breadth (3 courses, 12 units), choose from 3 different areas with 3 different faculty:

ELECTIVE REQUIREMENTS (10 courses, 40 units), choose from the following options:

• Art History Seminars (VIS 230-269), a minimum of 3 MUST be taken for the elective area
• Art Theory/Practice (VIS 210-219), a maximum of 2 may be taken
• Other Department, a maximum of 3 may be taken 
• Reading Courses (approved undergrad courses), a maximum of 2 may be taken 
• Directed Group Study (VIS 298), a maximum of 4 units may be taken

For the VA76 PhD students, competency in reading, understanding, and interpreting texts in two languages other than English is required before advancement to candidacy (Qualifying Exam stage), and competency in at least one language is expected at the time of application to the program. Art Practice Concentration students (VA77) will be required to satisfy competency in one language other than English before advancing to PhD candidacy. The student and their Advisor will jointly determine examination languages. 

The Program’s language requirement may be met in one of three ways: 

• Passing the department’s in-house Language Exam  
• Passing one approved graduate-level language course 
• Passing two approved upper-division undergraduate language courses 
• Passing a two-year sequence of approved undergraduate language courses in a single language  

Required Paperwork

For each language exam or course sequence taken to satisfy a language requirement, a Language Completion form must be completed by the student, the proctor/instructor and submitted to the Student Affiars Manager in order to receive credit for completion of the language requirement. Submitted forms are automatically routed via DocuSign for approval and processing.

In-House Language Exams

In-house Language Exams test ability in reading and comprehension (by translation into English) only, not writing or spoken fluency in the designated language. The exam consists of two short texts, one less difficult to be translated into English without a dictionary, and one more difficult to be translated with a dictionary. The dictionary may be either a printed volume or an on-line resource. One hour is allowed for each section (total test time: 2 hours). The translations may be written on a computer or by hand. Exams are corrected by the faculty member responsible for designing the exam, who also invigilates the test. If adequate reading knowledge is not demonstrated, the student’s Advisor will review with the student and the faculty setting the exam the steps necessary to master the language and a new exam will be scheduled within a reasonable amount of time. 

Students requesting an in-house language examination should consult with faculty responsible for particular languages:

• Chinese and Japanese : Professor Kuiyi Shen 
• French : Professors. Jordan Rose and John Welchman 
• German : Professor Alena Williams 
• Italian : Professor William Tronzo 
• Korean : Professor Kyong Park
• Mayan languages : Professor Elizabeth Newsome 
• Spanish : Professors Elizabeth Newsome and Mariana Wardwell 
• Turkish: Professors Memo Akten and Pinar Yoldas

Individual arrangements for determination of competency will be made for those languages that cannot be tested by department faculty . 

Committee Constitution and Management

About the committee.

This is the group of four faculty who agree to the student’s request for mentorship and evaluation during the qualifying and doctoral years. The Committee is chaired by the Advisor(s). In addition to mentoring and guiding the student’s research, this team serves as the Qualifying Committee and the Doctoral or Dissertation Committee, conducting the Qualifying Exam and the Dissertation Defense. The committee must be formally appointed by Graduate Division in the process outlined below.

Committee Constitution

The Committee Chair is the student’s Faculty Advisor/Co-Advisors and is selected by Year Two through mutual agreement with the student. The rest of the Committee is constituted through request and consent between the student and other faculty, with the guidance and approval of the Advisor(s). 

Makeup of the committee:

• 3 Visual Arts Faculty (including the Chair/Co-Chairs), 1 member may be a non-PhD faculty
• 1 tenured or emeritus faculty from outside the department

For each option, Assistant or Acting-Associate Faculty may serve as a general member or Co-Chair but not as sole Chair. The Graduate Division website has  additional information  about committees and a  Committee Membership Table  which may be helpful in determining what role a faculty member may serve on a committee.

Submitting Your Committee

After faculty have agreed to serve on the Committee, and the Faculty Advisor has approved the list, the student must complete and send the  Committee Constitution form  which will be routed to the Student Affiars Manager for processing.  This form must be approved by the Graduate Division by Week 5 BEFORE the Qualifying Exam .

Changing Your Committee

There are times when committee membership must change after the intial review and approval. All changes to committee membership need to be approved by the Department and then Graduate Division. Committee reconstitution must be completely reviewed and approved by Week 5, the quarter PRIOR to QE/Defense. When changing committee membership:

• Review the Committee Membership requirements 
• Discuss the change in committee membership with the Committee Chair/Co-chairs
• Discuss the change in committee with impacted committee members
• Complete the   Committee Reconstitution form   which will be routed to the Student Affairs Manager for processing.

Committee Management

It is the responsibility of the student, in consultation with their advisor/committee chair, to engage with and request feedback on drafts of written materials and (for VA77) documentation of artwork progress with all committee members during research and writing of their qualifying materials and dissertation. The student also must email final copies of all materials to their Committee prior to their Qualifying Exam and Dissertation Defense. 

Qualifying Exam, Advancement to Candidacy

About the qualifying process.

The Qualifying process occurs throughout Year Three. The student, under the supervision of the Advisor and with the advice of the Committee, prepares two bibliographies (one on the chosen field of emphasis and the second pertaining to the proposed dissertation); writes a qualifying paper and a dissertation prospectus; and takes written and oral examinations pertaining to these documents. The Art Practice PhD additionally requires a practice prospectus and a third bibliography.

Qualifying Exam

The Qualifying Examination has two parts: A Written Examination in which the student writes two essays over five days in response to questions provided by the Committee; and two weeks later,  a 2- or 2.5-hour Oral Examination led by the Committee, during which the student is asked questions and put in dialog about all of the qualifying materials.

Qualifying Timeline

A student must have completed all required course work and passed all language examinations before taking the qualifying examination, which will be held no later than the end of the third year. Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination, the student will be advanced to candidacy.

Qualifying Exam Administrative Checklist  

Qualifying Exam Failure

Should a student fail the examination, the Faculty Committee will clarify the weaknesses in the exam, so that the student can prepare to take it a second time. If a second oral examination is warranted, they will have to re-take and pass the exam prior to the end of the Pre-Candidacy Time Limit (or they need an extension approved to continue). They can always take a leave and return but if the PCTL is expired, they will have to advance before returning or an exception to extend the time would be need to be approved prior to retuning. If the student fails the oral examination a second time, their graduate studies in the department will be terminated.

MA en Route

• Five Art History seminars 
• VIS 200 Methods and Theories
• VIS 204 Re-Thinking Art History 
• One Theory/Practice seminar (chosen from VIS 210-219)
• Four breadth courses, from four different breadth areas

We do not offer an MA with an Art Practice concentration. Therefore, Art Practice concentration students must make a formal change in their degree aim to designate Art History, Theory, and Criticism (VA76). This change must take place at least two quarters prior to the Qualifying Exam. 

Note:   Students who wish to receive an MA as part of the Ph.D. program   must apply for master’s degree candidacy by the end of the second week of the quarter in which they expect to receive the degree.   Please see the Graduate Coordinator regarding this process.

Necessary Documents for the Qualifying Exam

• Report of the Qualifying Exam

Necessary Documents for the MA on the Way

• Application for MA (due week two) 
• Final Report for MA 

Best Practices for Completing the Report of the Qualifying Exam and Final Report via DocuSign:

• Ahead of your exam/defense ask faculty to add [email protected] as a “safe sender” so those emails are less likely to go to junk/spam. Although campus IT has taken steps to identify DocuSign as a safe sender, it is still recommended that individual users do so as well.
• At the end of your Exam/Defense ask your committee members to check their email for the DocuSign email with the link to the form and sign while you're all online together. 
• ask the faculty to check their junk folder, spam quarantine, or other spam folders
• next, ask them to log into their DocuSign account using their @ucsd.edu email address and SSO credentials to access the form/s directly (https://docusign.ucsd.edu) *some people have personal DocuSign accounts so ask them to ensure they are logging into the UCSD DocuSign account
• Get verbal confirmation of who has signed and who has not, then follow-up with the Student Affairs Manager to resolve any issues your committee members have with signing the form.
• Once the appropriate form is submitted to the Graduate Division, the appropriate fee will be charged directly to the student’s financial TritonLink account. 

About the Dissertation

Following successful completion of the qualifying examinations, the candidate will research and write a doctoral dissertation under the supervision of their Advisor and with the input of the Committee. Students in the art practice concentration (VA77) will submit a written dissertation that observes the same regulations and conventions as VA 76, except that the length requirement is slightly shorter and there must be one additional chapter devoted to discussion of the art practice. In addition, Art Practice candidates will additionally produce and exhibit a visual component. See the Handbook for details. 

About the Defense

After the committee has reviewed the finished dissertation (and art practice components, for VA 77), the candidate will orally defend their dissertation (and art practice work and exhibition), responding to questions from the Committee in a meeting that may be public (the student may invite visitors), as per university policy. The Dissertation Defense is the culmination of all of your work within the Ph.D. program. Please read all of the information on the Graduate Division's website about " Preparing to Graduate " and make an appointment to speak with the Student Affairs Manager one year prior to when you plan to defend.

Roles and Responsibilities for the Defense

Student will:

• Schedule the Dissertation Defense with their committee. This is normally scheduled for three hours. (You are responsible for reserving a room or scheduling the zoom meeting). 
• Complete the PhD Dissertation Defense Notification form which will notify the Student Affairs Manager of the date and time of the defense. This form is required so that the Final Report paperwork can be initiated and sent to your committee members on the date of the defense.
• Follow-up with your committee, the Graduate Division, and the Student Affairs Manager about any issues surrounding the completion of your degree.

Faculty Advisor will:

• Ensure the   policy   appropriate participation of all members of the committee at the Dissertation Defense. It is also helpful to remind all committee members to sign the forms by checking their inboxes for the DocuSign request to sign the forms. These sometimes end up in a person's spam folder.

Student Affairs Manager will:

• Fill out the Final Report form via DocuSign and route the form the morning of the exam/defense for signature to all committee members, the department chair, and the Graduate Division.
• Follow-up with committee members regarding signatures on the Final Report and general petition forms (if needed).
• Send out the announcement of the defense to department faculty and graduate students.

Additional Information and Tasks

Preliminary Dissertation Appointments with the Graduate Division: Students will schedule their preliminary and final appointments with Graduate Division Academic Affairs Advisors utilizing the online calendaring system they have in place:   https://gradforms.ucsd.edu/calendar/index.php

Committee Management : If you need to make any changes to your doctoral committee please follow the instructions above in the "Committee Management" drawer. 

Embargo Your Dissertation:   Talk to your faculty advisor about embargoing your dissertation. You may want to embargo your dissertation if you are planning to turn it into a book. The embargo will delay the university's publication of your dissertation and prevent other academics from using your research.   https://grad.ucsd.edu/_files/academics/DissertThesisReleaseTemplate.pdf

Necessary Documents for the Dissertation Defense

• Final Report (routed for signature by the Student Affairs Manager)

Best Practices for Completing the Final Report via DocuSign:

• At the end of your Defense ask your committee members to check their email for the DocuSign email with the link to the form and sign while you're all online together. 
• Get verbal confirmation of who has signed and who has not, then follow up with the Student Affairs Manager to resolve any issues your committee members have with signing the form.

Paying Associated Fees:  For students who will need to pay fees (advancement to candidacy, thesis submission fee, filing fee, re-admit fee), they will be charged on the financial TritonLink account once the form is received by the Graduate Division. There is no need for students to go to the cashier’s office.

Grades and Evaluations

Only courses in which a student received grades of A, B, or S are allowed toward satisfaction of the requirements for the degree. Note that a “C” is generally regarded as unsatisfactory within this department. In satisfaction of all program requirements and electives, A, A-, and B+ are regarded as acceptable grades for seminars and courses. Grades of B, B- indicate weaknesses and are cause for concern. Grades of C+ or below are regarded as unsatisfactory and may lead to academic probation. University policy states that any student with more than 8 units of “U” and/or “F” grades is barred from future registration including the next available quarter. It is not recommended that VIS 295/298/299 are taken for a letter grade.

Grade Point Average

A graduate student must maintain a minimum grade point average of at least 3.0 (B average) to continue in good standing. A student is subject to dismissal if the overall grade point average falls below 3.0 at any time.

Spring Evaluation

Every Spring quarter, Advisors (in the first year Provisional Advisors) will submit an evaluation of their advisee’s progress to Graduate Division. Students are expected to submit a summary of the past academic year to their advisor. These evaluations serve as an important tool for students and advisors in assessing student progress, while also providing suggestions and goals for students’ successful completion of their projects.   

The Graduate Division will review the evaluations when student/departments are making specific requests for exceptions

The duration of the Ph.D. program is five to eight years. University and departmental regulations stipulate that the maximum tenure of graduate study at UC San Diego or Total Registered Time Limit (TRTL) is eight years; while seven years is the limit for receiving any type of university financial support or a student's Support Time Limit (SUTL). For the Department of Visual Arts, the "normative" time to degree is 6 years. Students are expected to pass their qualifying exam and advance to candidacy in year three, but no later than year four which is the university's Pre-candidacy time limit (PCTL).

To learn more about time limits please visit the Graduate Division website.

Time Limits:  https://grad.ucsd.edu/academics/progress-to-degree/time-to-doctorate-policy.html

You can check your time limit by logging into the Graduate Student Portal.

Graduate Student Portal:  https://gradforms.ucsd.edu/portal/student/

PhD Current Students

Phd handbook.

The department website and catalog are great resources for students to learn generally about the PhD program and progress towards their degree. There are detailed instructions and robust program information available in the full PhD Handbook. Each student should refer to this resource throughout their academic career.

2023-24 Academic Year

2022-23 Academic Year  

2021-22 Academic Year

How to Apply

• Join our PhD Art History Program (VA76)
• Join our PhD Art Practice Program (VA77)

Photography Graduate Programs in America

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University of Washington College of Arts & Sciences

• Seattle, WA ·
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S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications

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Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts

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Lesley University

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• CAMBRIDGE, MA
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Rhode Island School of Design

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The New School

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Rochester Institute of Technology - College of Art and Design

• Rochester, NY ·
• Rochester Institute of Technology ·

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Tyler School of Art and Architecture

• Philadelphia, PA ·
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Parsons School of Design

• New York, NY ·
• The New School ·
• · Rating 4.55 out of 5   20 reviews

The New School ,

NEW YORK, NY ,

20 Niche users give it an average review of 4.6 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Parsons is truly a gem for anyone looking to specialize in a creative field. Whether you're into fashion, fine arts, graphic design, spatial design or any other creative discipline, Parsons has a... .

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College of Fine Arts- Ohio University

• Athens, OH ·
• Ohio University ·
• · Rating 5 out of 5   2 reviews

Ohio University ,

ATHENS, OH ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Niche User says Students are encouraged to teach undergraduate students and lead classes of their own during their time in graduate school. Graduate students seem to enjoy this more interactive experience. .

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College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts - University of Illinois at Chicago

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Pratt Institute School of Art

• Brooklyn, NY ·
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School of Art - California Institute of the Arts

• Valencia, CA ·
• California Institute of the Arts ·

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Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles

• Los Angeles, CA ·
• · Rating 4.54 out of 5   46 reviews

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46 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The professors are very professional and care about their students. The faculty and staff including the dean are very caring and interested in there there students. There business program is... .

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Massachusetts College of Art & Design

• Boston, MA ·
• · Rating 4 out of 5   3 reviews

BOSTON, MA ,

3 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says The MFA Program at MassArt provided a really formative space to boost my creative practice. Being in contact and having constant dialogue with a whole community of artists encouraged me to explore... During my time at MassArt, I had access to great facilities and I was able to expand my practice with the help of amazing faculty and staff. .

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Maryland Institute College of Art

• Baltimore, MD ·
• · Rating 4.59 out of 5   17 reviews

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17 Niche users give it an average review of 4.6 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says I absolutely loved my time at MICA, however I have heard it has changed significantly since I graduated on 2011. I cannot overstate how inspired I was by my professors, classmates, and community. I... .

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School of Visual Communication - Savannah College of Art and Design

• Savannah, GA ·
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College of Visual and Performing Arts - University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

• Dartmouth, MA ·
• University of Massachusetts Dartmouth ·
• · Rating 3 out of 5   2 reviews

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DARTMOUTH, MA ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 3 stars.

Academy of Art University School of Photography

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Columbia College Chicago

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New York Film Academy - Los Angeles

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Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences

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• Lesley University ·
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School of Visual Arts

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College of Arts and Sciences - Marywood University

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• Marywood University ·
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This website exists as an ongoing collaborative experiment in digital publishing and information sharing. Because this website functions as a wiki, all members of the School of Art community—graduate students, faculty, staff, and alums—have the ability to add new content and pages, and to edit most of the site’s existing content.

Content is the property of its various authors. When you contribute to this site, you agree to abide by Yale University academic and network use policy, and to act as a responsible member of our community.

Page last changed by: Lindsey Mancini

Photography

Photography (mfa).

Program overview

Photography is a two-year program of study admitting ten students a year. Darkroom, studio, and computer facilities are provided. Students receive technical instruction in black-and-white and color photography as well as nonsilver processes and digital image production.

The program is committed to a broad definition of photography as a lens-based medium open to a variety of expressive means. Students work both individually and in groups with faculty and visiting artists. In addition, a critique panel composed of faculty and other artists or critics meets weekly, as well as for a final review each term, to discuss student work.

Last edited by: Lindsey Mancini

Edit access: Everybody

Credit Requirements

Typical plan of study.

First year minimum credits

ART 845, Individual Criticism:… Fall: 6; Spring: 6

ART 828, Issues in Contemporary Photography:…Fall: 3; Spring: 3

ART 802b, Between Frames:… Fall: 0; Spring: 3

ART 949a, Critical Practice:…Fall: 3; Spring: 0

Academic or Studio Electives:…Fall: 3; Spring: 3

Total minimum credits for Fall Term: 15

Total minimum credits for Spring Term: 15

Second year minimum credits

ART 823a, Critical Perspectives:…Fall: 3; Spring: 0

ART 825b, Photo Book:…Fall: 0; Spring: 3

Academic or Studio Electives:…Fall: 6; Spring: 6

Department of Interdisciplinary Arts

• Graduate Programs

Department of Interdisciplinary Arts Ph.D. in Fine Arts

Ph.d. in fine arts.

We train public-facing, interdisciplinary scholars and artists

The arts are not silos or ivory towers. They are dynamic practices of give and take. Texas Tech University's unique Fine Arts Doctoral Program (FADP), which leads to a PhD in Fine Arts, encourages students to pursue creative-critical study of the arts as an energetic exchange between multiple disciplines. Our students work both deeply and broadly. They balance focused disciplinary investigation with more integrative research bringing together approaches from the arts, social and natural sciences, and/or humanities. The FADP serves two types of students: 1) those with interdisciplinary scholarly or practice-based research interests, and 2) those with disciplinary research agendas who also want to increase their breadth as educators or administrators in a variety of institutional contexts. Student dissertation projects vary widely—from the creation of a festival of theatre and performance art in shipping containers to evolutionary explanations for music and dance, from an analysis of medieval altarpieces as technologies of virtual reality to a feminist approach to voice-image relations in Iranian film.

Some of our students use different disciplinary practices to answer cross-disciplinary questions; others conduct research within a single discipline, but also want the broader knowledge necessary to be a leader in an institution serving diverse needs. Ultimately, interdisciplinarity does not disparage or deny the disciplines, but depends on them for their methods and insights, even as it reorganizes their commitments. The FADP sees interdisciplinarity as a performance of world-making aimed at both current and future cultural institutions. 

Programs by Track

Although the coursework is interdisciplinary, our students are situated within a specific track, making them more legible to hiring committees and facilitating the disciplinary components of the program. 

Students choose between four tracks: Theatre Arts (concentrations include acting/directing, design, arts administration, playwriting, and history/theory/criticism), Music (concentrations include musicology, music theory, music education, and arts administration), Art , or Interdisciplinary Arts , which allows students to choose two or three concentrations from different Schools or departments across the university. A Track in Arts Administration is currently in development.

track in Art

track in Arts administration

track in Interdisciplinary Arts

track in Music

track in Theatre

Program features.

Our program, which was started in 1972, prepares students for disciplinary excellence and interdisciplinary innovation. Our students ask big questions—about power dynamics, aesthetic forms, cognitive processes, the diversity of embodied experience, and the ethics of artistic creation—and have a wide variety of methodological tools at their disposal. Student experience is heavily customized to serve individual research interests. 

The FADP Interdisciplinary Core

A freshly redesigned set of Core Courses bringing together students interested in music, theatre, dance, and visual art

Research with Practice

Training in practice-based research serves students' passion for arts-making

Opportunities for collaborative, place-based, and community-engaged education

Student Support

Opportunites for teaching within and outside of students' primary disciplines

Research projects and travel supported through the TCVPA's Research and Creative Activity Awards (RCAA) and the TTU Graduate School's Research Awards and Dissertation Completion Fellowships.

Affiliated faculty from across the university to facilitate transdisciplinary research

Faculty members' wide-ranging expertise--from community engagement and the criticial posthumanities to data-driven approaches in arts research

Ad mission s

Applicants to the FADP Program will apply to the Graduate School.

Students will also choose a specific track within the arts based on interest.

• Music Track
• Theatre Arts Track
• Interdisciplinary Arts Track

Ph.D. in Fine Arts Coordinators

Heather Warren Crow Director, Fine Arts Doctoral Program; Coordinator, Interdisciplinary Arts Track

Divya Janardhan Coordinator, Arts Administration Track 

Kevin Chua Coordinator, School of Art Track

David Forrest Coordinator, School of Music Track

Andrew Gibb Coordinator, School of Theatre Track

Recent Graduates

Andrew Kagumba

Dissertation Orchestrating Social Competence: On the Transformative Work of Musicking in Two Ugandan NGOs (M-LISADA and Brass for Africa)

Track Music track, music education concentration

Dissertation Chair Janice Killian

Lina Kattan

Dissertation The Conflicted Living Beings: The Performative Aspect of Female Bodies' Representations in Saudi Painting and Photography

Dissertation Chair Jorgelina Orfila

Jared Stanley

Dissertation Working Through Grief: Continuing Bonds in the New Golden Age of Television 

Dissertation Chair Heather Warren-Crow

Collin Vorbeck

Dissertation Applying Event Schema Theory to the Evolving Dramaturgies of Dramatic Literature

Track Theatre track, History/Theory/Criticism and Acting/Directing concentrations

Dissertation Chair Andrew Gibb

Quest ions?

Contact student success.

Aaron Chavarria Academic Advisor

Film and Visual Studies

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Harvard has sustained a distinguished tradition of engaging cinema, media, and visual studies. This exciting, vital interdisciplinary program places you at the crossroads of creative and innovative fields of research.

You will experience a dialogue among the expanded field of moving image culture, visual arts, spatial studies, and media studies. You will be at the forefront of pressing research that represents the global future and can make a real difference, among scholars who are often artists and filmmakers, in a program that encourages a mix of artmaking and art-thinking.

The research pursued is at the center of the critical debates of our times. Examples of work published by alumni of the department include “Re-Vision: Moving Images Media, The Self, and Ethical Thought in the 20th Century” and “Land Cinema in the Neoliberal Age.”

Graduates of the program have secured faculty positions at prestigious institutions including Cornell University, UC Santa Cruz, Emerson College, Colgate University, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Others have gone on to start their own businesses and become artists, writers, and curators.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Film and Visual Studies and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies . 

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Film and Visual Studies .

Writing Sample

A writing sample is required as part of the application and must be between 15 to 20 pages, in 12-point font, double-spaced, with normal margins. The writing sample must be an example of critical writing (rather than creative writing) on a subject directly related to film, performance, and/or visual studies. You should not send longer papers with instructions to read an excerpt or excerpts.

Statement of Purpose

The statement of purpose should give the admissions committee a clear sense of your individual interests and strengths. You do not need to indicate precisely what your field of specialization will be, but it is helpful to know something about your aspirations, and how Film and Visual Studies at Harvard might help in attaining these goals.

Strong language background helps to strengthen the application, and students who lack it should be aware that they will need to fill this gap before they can take the general examinations.

While the overall GPA is important, it is more important to have an average of no lower than A- in courses related to film and visual studies or related fields. In addition, if you have not majored in film studies or a related field, it is important to have sufficient background to enter the graduate program.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Not Accepted

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Film and Visual Studies

See list of Film and Visual Studies faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

Best Photography colleges in the U.S. 2024

Do you have the ability to take any old random thing and turn it into a photographic work of art? Are you the person who takes a camera everywhere you go because you're fascinated with the idea of forever capturing the human journey? If you answered "yes", or even thought a confident "maybe", a degree in photography is definitely for you. Photographers must be more than creative; they must have a thorough understanding of the subject and the equipment. As a photography student, you will learn the basics of photography: the history of photography, lighting and composition, how to capture objects in motion, equipment operation and maintenance, and the use of computer applications to enhance images. Because the technology world is constantly changing, successful photography students must learn how to adapt to the changes. What you learn while earning your degree should complement your current photography knowledge.

You can go to school to become a photography generalist or you can have a specialty such as photojournalism, digital media, or portraits. Make sure to do in-depth research to find the school that best fits your goals. Keep in mind that fine arts specialty schools are typically more competitive than liberal arts colleges and typically require a strong portfolio. Most entry-level positions in photography require a bachelor's degree, while some technical positions may only require an associate degree; teaching photography generally requires a master's degree.

Best Photography colleges in the U.S. for 2024

Washington University in St Louis offers 1 Photography degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb.

University of Washington-Seattle Campus offers 2 Photography degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers 1 Photography degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 3 Photography students graduated with students earning 3 Bachelor's degrees.

New York University offers 1 Photography degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 50 Photography students graduated with students earning 50 Bachelor's degrees.

University of Houston offers 1 Photography degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 18 Photography students graduated with students earning 18 Bachelor's degrees.

University of Miami offers 1 Photography degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 1 Photography students graduated with students earning 1 Bachelor's degree.

Fashion Institute of Technology offers 1 Photography degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 1 Photography students graduated with students earning 1 Certificate.

American University offers 1 Photography degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 1 Photography students graduated with students earning 1 Bachelor's degree.

Northeastern University offers 1 Photography degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 1 Photography students graduated with students earning 1 Bachelor's degree.

Temple University offers 2 Photography degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 12 Photography students graduated with students earning 10 Bachelor's degrees, and 2 Master's degrees.

Find local colleges with Photography majors in the U.S.

List of all photography colleges in the u.s..

Ph.D. in Photography

• About Course

The Ph.D. program in photography offers students a unique opportunity to pursue academic research in the field. The Ph.D. program is typically eighty to a hundred thousand words in length and is designed to help photographers develop their practice. The Ph.D. will also help photographers establish their research credentials, which will enable them to submit their work to appropriate contexts. The process is challenging but rewarding - it will reward you with an incredibly high level of qualification.

The Ph.D. program in photography requires advanced study in the discipline. Graduates earn a doctoral degree based on their research, and they are expected to demonstrate their knowledge through a doctoral dissertation. The Ph.D. in photography is a rigorous and demanding program. The program does not focus on technical skills. Instead, it involves deep thinking about the practice. The goal is to create a body of work that exemplifies the creative process in the field.

A Ph.D. in photography requires an outstanding body of work and a substantial body of published research. This type of degree emphasizes innovative practice as research and builds a coherent research process. A Ph.D. in photography will demonstrate the researcher's critical appreciation of the contexts in which photography works and the siting of photographs. The Ph.D. in photography will also extend existing literature and make a significant contribution to the field.

Ph.D. in Photography Eligibility

Candidates who want to take admission in Ph.D. must have a post-graduate degree in Photography and its relevant discipline with at least 55% marks from a recognized university and must have passed the national level entrance examination or university level entrance examination. National level entrance exams like UGC NET / UGC CSIR NET / GATE / SLET or University entrance exams consist of written tests and personal interviews.

The Benefits of a Ph.D. in Photography

The Ph.D. in photography is a comprehensive degree in the field, with a strong focus on innovative practices. It helps to establish a coherent research process, and the work produced will be of high quality. The Ph.D. also enables photographers to submit their work to a variety of contexts and contribute to new knowledge. There are many advantages of pursuing a Ph.D. in photography. Here are some of them:

Ph.D. students must be continuously enrolled until graduation. If you need to take a break from your program, you must request a leave of absence. It can't be for more than two semesters, and you can't take a leave of absence more than once. If you need to take a leave of absence, you must apply again for admission. The deadline for the application is one month prior to the start of the program.

A Ph.D. in photography is one of the most popular programs in the field, with many benefits. It requires a master's degree and is recognized internationally. There are many institutions offering Ph.D. degrees in the field, so you can choose from many of them. The benefits of a Ph.D. in photography are many. It will give you the chance to work in your chosen field, and earn a doctorate.

Fees for research program for Photography

The average fee for Ph.D. in Photography degree is between INR 50000 and INR 500000.

Eligibility

Masters degree in relevant subjects + the candidates should have cleared the Entrance test conducted by the respective university.

Type of Course

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Can You Get a PhD in Photography? (Surprising Answers Revealed)

Are you considering getting a PhD in photography? Maybe youve heard it can open up career opportunities or give you the ability to pursue research in the field.

Or perhaps youre just curious to know what the requirements are and what a PhD in photography entails.

Whatever the case may be, youll be glad to know that the answers to these questions and more are revealed in this article.

Well explore all the nitty-gritty details of pursuing a PhD in photography, such as the benefits, requirements, cost, program contents, and career opportunities.

So, if youre looking for the surprising answers to whether or not you can get a PhD in photography, read on!.

Table of Contents

Short Answer

Yes, you can get a PhD in photography.

A PhD in photography is typically a research-based degree program in which students explore the history, theory, and practice of photography.

Students may focus on topics such as photographic media, photojournalism, digital photography, and more.

In order to obtain a PhD in photography, students must complete a research dissertation, which typically takes three to five years to complete.

What is a PhD in Photography?

A PhD in Photography is an advanced degree program designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the history and practice of photography.

It provides students with the opportunity to explore a variety of topics, such as photojournalism, digital media, and the history of photography.

Through research and critical thinking, students will gain an appreciation for the medium and its many aspects.

The program is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the theoretical and philosophical aspects of photography.

Through their studies, students will be able to develop their own unique and innovative approaches to the art of photography.

They will also have access to state-of-the-art facilities that will allow them to hone their skills and create their own works of art.

The curriculum for a PhD in Photography will focus on the research and critical thinking necessary to be successful in the field.

Students will explore the history and evolution of photography, as well as the development of digital media and its applications.

They will also gain a thorough understanding of the ethical and legal implications of photography, and the cultural, social, and economic aspects of the industry.

In order to complete the program, students will be required to complete a dissertation or other major project that demonstrates their mastery of the subject matter.

Students will also be able to choose a specialized area of study and develop their own projects.

This could include creating a portfolio, writing an article, or designing a website.

A PhD in Photography provides students with the opportunity to explore the history and practice of photography, while also developing their own unique and innovative approaches to the art of photography.

Through their studies, students will be able to gain a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical and philosophical aspects of the medium, and the importance of research and critical thinking in the field.

With the help of their faculty mentors, students will be able to hone their skills and create their own unique works of art.

What are the Benefits of Pursuing a PhD in Photography?

A PhD in Photography can be a great way to take your photography skills to the next level.

By taking advantage of the resources and expertise of a top-level institution, you can develop a unique and specialized approach to the field.

A PhD in Photography allows you to explore the theoretical and philosophical aspects of the medium and collaborate with other photographers to develop creative and innovative approaches.

With the help of your faculty mentors, you can hone your research and critical thinking skills, while also gaining access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.

In addition to advancing your knowledge in the field, a PhD in Photography can also open up new career opportunities and increase your earning potential.

With a PhD, you can become a professor or research specialist, or even pursue a career in the art world.

You can also become a consultant or pursue a leadership role in the photography industry.

A PhD can also provide you with the opportunity to travel and work abroad, as well as develop your own unique research projects and publications.

Finally, a PhD in Photography can also provide you with a great sense of personal satisfaction.

By committing to a PhD, you are taking a major step towards achieving your professional goals.

With the help of your mentor, you can explore your interests and passions, while also working towards a degree that will open up new opportunities and help you to make a real impact in the field.

What Are the Requirements for a PhD in Photography?

In order to obtain a PhD in Photography, applicants must meet the established requirements of the program.

Generally, applicants will need to have an undergraduate degree in photography or a related field such as art history, visual arts, or media studies.

Those who do not have an undergraduate degree in photography may still qualify for the program if they can demonstrate expertise in the field through professional experience.

Additionally, applicants will need to submit a portfolio demonstrating their photographic skills, which should include a range of images that showcase their unique style and aesthetic.

In addition to the traditional academic requirements, those pursuing a PhD in Photography will need to demonstrate their research skills and critical thinking abilities.

This may include writing a research proposal, presenting at a conference, or publishing original work in the field.

Applicants should also be prepared to demonstrate their dedication to the program by dedicating themselves to the development of their own personal research project.

Furthermore, a PhD in Photography requires an understanding of the history and practice of photography, as well as an appreciation for the importance of research and critical thinking in the field.

Students enrolled in the program will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and will be able to explore a variety of topics such as photojournalism, digital media, and the history of photography.

With the help of their faculty mentors, students will be able to develop their own unique and innovative approaches to the art of photography.

In conclusion, those who are interested in pursuing a PhD in Photography should have an undergraduate degree in photography or a related field, a portfolio of work demonstrating their photographic skills, and an understanding of the theoretical and philosophical aspects of the medium.

Additionally, applicants should be prepared to demonstrate their dedication to the program by dedicating themselves to their own personal research project.

With the help of faculty mentors and access to state-of-the-art facilities, students enrolled in the program will be able to develop their own unique and innovative approaches to the art of photography.

What Do PhD in Photography Programs Include?

For those who have a passion for photography, a PhD in Photography may be the perfect way to take their passion to the next level.

PhD programs in Photography provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the history and practice of photography, while also allowing them to focus on their own particular area of interest.

These programs typically include courses in photojournalism, digital media, and the history of photography, as well as classes in theoretical and philosophical aspects of the medium.

Additionally, many programs allow students to explore a variety of topics through independent research and critical thinking.

The faculty members in a PhD in Photography program are often experienced photographers and academics, who are committed to helping students develop their own unique and innovative approaches to the art of photography.

They provide mentorship and guidance to ensure that students are able to make the most of their learning experience.

The curriculum is designed to give students the opportunity to explore a variety of topics and to develop their own research projects.

The facilities available in a PhD in Photography program are often state-of-the-art and provide access to the latest technology.

This includes digital cameras, computers, and software, as well as a variety of printing options.

Additionally, many programs offer workshops and seminars to allow students to gain hands-on experience and develop their skills.

At the end of their program, students may be required to complete a dissertation that reflects their research and critical analysis of the field.

This is a great opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge and to share their ideas with the academic community.

With a PhD in Photography, graduates will have the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career in the field or to pursue further research.

What Are the Career Opportunities for a PhD in Photography?

The possibilities for those with a PhD in Photography are virtually limitless.

By obtaining a higher degree in the field, individuals open the door to a wide range of career opportunities.

Whether you are interested in teaching, research, or a combination of both, having a PhD in Photography can provide you with a number of options.

For those interested in teaching, a PhD in Photography can open the door to a variety of positions at universities and colleges.

With a PhD, you can teach undergraduate and graduate classes in photography, or even pursue a position as a professor.

You may also be able to teach courses in related fields, such as digital media and photojournalism.

Additionally, those with a PhD may be able to pursue a career as a photography consultant, or even start their own business.

For those interested in research, a PhD in Photography can provide you with the opportunity to explore various topics in the field.

You can pursue research related to digital media, photojournalism, or any other area of your interest.

You may even be able to conduct research related to the history of photography, or explore new methods and techniques for producing art.

With a PhD in Photography, you will have the opportunity to make a real difference in the field.

Finally, those with a PhD in Photography may be able to pursue a career in the arts.

You may be able to apply your knowledge of photography to create beautiful works of art, or even explore photography as a profession.

There are also opportunities to pursue a career as a fine art photographer, or even a freelance photographer.

With a PhD in Photography, you will have the opportunity to make a real impact in the world of photography.

So, can you get a PhD in Photography? The answer is an emphatic yes! With the right degree and experience, you can open the door to a wide range of career opportunities.

Whether you are interested in teaching, research, or creating art, a PhD in Photography can help you reach your goals.

What is the Cost of a PhD in Photography?

The cost of obtaining a PhD in Photography will vary, depending on the institution you are attending.

Typically, tuition fees for a full-time student can range from $15,000 to $20,000 a year, plus additional fees for books and materials.

In some cases, there may also be travel costs associated with field trips and other educational activities.

Additionally, some programs may require students to purchase their own photography equipment.

It is also important to note that some universities may offer financial assistance for students who are pursuing a PhD in Photography.

This could include scholarships, grants, and loans.

Additionally, some universities may offer reduced tuition rates for part-time students, or even offer online courses to help save on the cost of an on-campus education.

It is also important to consider any living costs associated with attending a university in another state or country.

This could include rent, food, transportation, and other living expenses.

Additionally, some universities may also offer research stipends to help offset the cost of your PhD.

Overall, the cost of a PhD in Photography will depend on the institution you are attending, as well as the type of program you are enrolled in.

It is important to research your options and consider all of the factors involved before making a decision.

With the right resources and commitment, you can find a program that fits your budget and provides you with the education and research experience you need to become a successful photographer.

Tips for Applying to a PhD in Photography Program

If youre interested in pursuing a PhD in Photography, there are a few tips you should keep in mind when applying to a program.

First and foremost, make sure youre prepared to commit to the rigorous demands of the program.

A PhD in Photography requires a great deal of dedication and hard work, and you should be prepared to dedicate yourself to the program in order to succeed.

Second, make sure you have a strong foundation in photography prior to applying.

Most PhD programs in Photography require applicants to have a strong understanding of the medium, its history, and its techniques.

Be sure to brush up on your knowledge of photography prior to applying, and consider taking a few courses at the undergraduate level to gain further expertise.

Third, make sure youre familiar with the faculty members of the program youre applying to.

Its important to do your research and make sure the program youre applying to is a good fit for you, and having a good understanding of the faculty members areas of expertise can help you make a more informed decision.

Finally, make sure youre prepared to submit a strong application portfolio.

A PhD in Photography requires applicants to submit a portfolio of their work along with their application, so make sure youre prepared to showcase your best work and demonstrate your commitment to the field.

By following these tips, you can be sure to make a strong application for a PhD in Photography.

Good luck!.

Final Thoughts

Obtaining a PhD in Photography is an exciting and rewarding journey that can open up a world of new opportunities.

With access to state-of-the-art facilities, a comprehensive understanding of the medium, and the chance to explore a variety of topics such as photojournalism, digital media, and the history of photography, a PhD in Photography is a degree that offers a unique combination of knowledge and creativity.

If you are considering pursuing a PhD in Photography, make sure to research the various programs available, the requirements for admission, and the cost of tuition.

With the right preparation, you can make the most of your PhD and embark on a career in a field that is constantly evolving and offering new and exciting opportunities.

James Braden

He is a reporter, collaborating with many famous sports newspapers. But in addition to sports and writing, Jonathon is interested in photography. He has taken several short courses in photography and is an active member of the city’s photography club.

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Photography PhD

University of gloucestershire.

What is PhotographyRead more A photography research degree offers you the opportunity to explore innovative practice as research through Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £5,100 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £3,400 per year (UK)

PhD (Communication Design & Photography)

University of south wales.

A PhD is a doctoral degree based on a significant and original individual research project which culminates in an in-depth thesis (or Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,716 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,358 per year (UK)

MPhil/PhD (Communication Design & Photography)

Course type:.

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• PhD in USA – A Guide for 2020/21
• Finding a PhD

A PhD in USA takes approximately 5 – 6 years of full-time study and can cost between $12,000 – $45,000 per academic year. PhD programs in USA differ from that in the UK and Europe in that students must first take taught classes, coursework and exams before starting their research project.

Why Do a PhD in USA?

The United States has long had some of the most distinguished universities and advanced PhD programmes in the world. Combined with curriculum flexibility, rigorous teaching methods, vast funding opportunities, breathtaking campuses and significant career prospects, it’s no wonder that it is one of the most sought-after study destinations for research students.

In addition to comprehensive training standards, here are a few other reasons why a student may choose to undertake their PhD in the United States:

• Longer learning timeframes – A PhD in the US lasts longer than a PhD in the UK or Europe. This allows students to more confidently transition from undergraduate to postgraduate studies; more commonly referred to as ‘graduate studies’ in the US. This gives you the opportunity to learn more about your subject, research methods and academic writing in general before starting your research project.
• World-class universities – It’s no secret that some of the most well-known higher education institutions that continue to dominate global rankings are based in the United States. Although many factors go into determining whether a position is right for you, a PhD at a high-ranking American university will undeniably have many benefits, from excellent learning standards to access to innovative equipment and deep expertise.
• International network – The US has long been a popular choice among PhD students around the world. As such, the US hosts a diverse and multicultural learning environment in which many research students will quickly feel at home.
• Opportunities – With over 4,000 universities in the US, we can safely say you will have plenty of opportunities to find the ideal combination of project, supervisor and university that works for you.

Universities in USA

Universities in the United States can be divided into two types: public universities and private universities.

Public universities are financed by the state in which they are based. Because of this, public universities charge less for students from within the state and more for students from outside the state, including international students.

Private universities are not financed by their state, but by private donors, research funds and tuition fees. For this reason, private universities generally charge higher tuition fees than public universities and require all students to pay the same amount, regardless of whether they come from out-of-state or abroad.

According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021 , eight of the top ten universities in the world are located in the United States. These are:

Method of Study

The main difference between a PhD in the US and a PhD in Europe lies in the program structure. Whereas a European PhD essentially consists of a single phase lasting three to four years , an American PhD consists of three different phases, each with its own time frame.

• Phase One – The first phase lasts approximately two years and focuses on building a basic foundation for the doctoral student. This phase consists largely of taught components such as lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions, in which the student learns more about theoretical concepts and research methods within their discipline.
• Phase Two – The second phase can be considered an assessment phase, which runs both periodically alongside and at the end of the first phase. Here, students complete coursework and take exams on the basis of the material they have covered of which they must pass in order to proceed to the third phase.
• Phase Three – The third phase lasts approximately three years and resembles the European PhD structure. During this period, the student undertakes an independent research project, including forming a research design, conducting experiments, writing a thesis (more commonly referred to in the USA as a dissertation) and sitting a viva exam.

Teaching Requirements

Besides structure, a key difference between a PhD program in the US and in Europe is the focus on teaching requirements. In the US, doctoral students are expected to lecture, lead tutorials, host laboratory sessions, mark coursework and provide office hours for undergraduate students. Although students studying in European will likely contribute to these at some point during their study, this would normally be on a voluntary basis and involve less time commitment.

Research Flexibility

Another difference is project flexibility. In Europe, students typically apply to a PhD project predetermined by a supervisor, and although there may be some scope to adapt the project, depending on the funding provider , it will usually be limited to how the project is carried out rather than what it is about. In the US, however, a student applies to become a doctoral candidate within a department rather than applying for a particular research project. This is because students are expected to decide on their thesis topic (also commonly referred to as a dissertation research topic) near the end of their first phase after they have developed a better understanding of their subject and know where their interests lie. Therefore, research students in the US generally have more flexibility and influence in the direction of their research than students in the United Kingdom or Europe.

PhD Admission Requirements in USA

PhD admission into US universities can be highly competitive, both because of the limited number of positions and the large number of annual applicants.

The eligibility requirements for a doctoral program in the USA can generally be divided into four sections:

• Grade Point Average (GPA) – in the US, a scoring system known as Grade Point Average is used to measure academic ability. A student’s GPA is calculated as a weighted score of the subjects they study during their undergraduate degree; an equivalent score is calculated by universities for international applicants. Although universities rarely set minimum GPA requirements for doctoral study, it’s worth being aware that a GPA of 3.0 is equivalent to a UK second class honours (2:1); the typical entry requirement for UK universities.
• Graduate Records Exam (GRE) – most universities will require you to take a series of examinations known as Graduate Records Exams, which are used to determine your suitability for graduate study. GREs will assess your analytical, reasoning and critical thinking skills as well as your depth of your subject.
• Student aptitude – in addition to academic ability, US universities also look for characteristics of a strong researcher. These include traits such as engaging in the subject in your own time, e.g. by attending talks and conferences, demonstrating a high degree of independence and enthusiasm, and a general passion for your subject.
• English Language Proficiency – international students whose first language is not English must sit language exams such as IELTS or TOELF to demonstrate their English language proficiency.

International students will also require a F1 student visa in order to study in the US, however, you would typically apply for this after you have secured a place into a doctorate program.

How to Apply for PhD in USA

When applying for a PhD position at a graduate school, the application process will differ between universities, however, they will all typically ask for the following:

• Academic CV – a short document summarising your educational background and current level of experience .
• Personal statement – a document which outlines why you believe you are suitable for PhD study and your passion for the subject.
• Academic transcripts – a complete breakdown of the modules and their respective marks you have taken as part of your previous/current degree.
• GRE scores – a transcript of your Graduate Records Exam results.
• Research statement – a condensed version of a research proposal outlining your general research interests, if required.
• Recommendation letters – references from several academic referees who endorse your qualities as a person, your abilities as a student and your potential as a doctoral researcher.

Application Deadlines and Fees

Since PhD programs in the United States have taught components, they commence at the same time as all other taught degrees, and therefore share the same application deadlines and start dates. This corresponds to an application period that typically begins in August and ends in February. Admission decisions are typically made in April, with successful students starting in August/September.

When you apply to a graduate school, you will be expected to pay a fee for each doctorate application to cover the school’s administrative costs for processing your application. The fee varies from university to university, but typically ranges from $50 to $100 .

Funding your PhD in USA

It’s very common for a PhD student to receive financial aid in the form of a PhD scholarship; in fact, this will be the case for the vast majority of students in the US.

PhD funding can be ‘fully funded’ covering the student’s graduate program tuition fees, accommodation and living costs, or ‘partially funded’ covering the student’s tuition fee only in part or full.

Besides funding, a graduate student can take on an assistantship, such as a graduate teaching assistant or research assistant, in which they take on a part-time salaried position at the university alongside their studies.

Due to the international and collaborate nature of American universities, there are also a number of international scholarships available, such as the Fulbright Scholarship and the AAUW International Fellowship .

PhD Duration in USA

In the US, a PhD takes approximately 5 – 6 years to complete if studying full-time, and 8 – 10 years if studying part-time.

If you already have a Master’s degree, your first phase can be shortened by one year at the discretion of the university.

Cost of a PhD in USA

The cost of a PhD program in the US can vary considerably depending on the type of university, i.e. whether it’s a public or private university, the doctoral course, i.e. whether it’s in a STEM subject such as computer science, engineering or a non-STEM subject, and whether you are a home or international student.

In general, however, the typical annual tuition fee for a PhD in the US is between $12,000 and $45,000 per academic year.

As with any doctoral degree, additional costs may include travel for collaborations, bench fees, accommodation and living expenses.

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Revisiting the Honors Program’s Inclusive Photography Workshop

The UHP follows up with workshop participants months later to see how they’ve been able to apply their new knowledge.

Exposing students to a wide variety of opportunities, events and activities meant to challenge predetermined perspectives and widen worldviews is one of the things the University Honors Program (UHP) does best.

Specially-crafted workshops are offered to Honors Program students relatively infrequently, especially when compared to the vast number of proffered performances, book clubs, outdoor activities, lectures, cultural excursions, and small group discussions, but when they are, they tend to make a big impact on those involved.

Traditionally, the UHP partners with other campus student services, such as the Office of Undergraduate Research, to offer skill-building, confidence-boosting workshops directly to Honors students. This past November, however, a student staff member on the UHP’s media team took the lead on designing a workshop for the benefit of not only his peers in the Honors Program, but also for himself.

Stratton Murphy, a rising third year double majoring in english (literature concentration) and political science (law & justice concentration) is the UHP’s staff photographer. When his media team supervisor, Meghan Teten, charged Murphy to do something this year for his own professional development, Stratton landed on the idea to develop a photography workshop for his peers in the Honors Program.

Knowing Murphy serves as a resident assistant for University Housing, however, Teten knew program development would not provide much additional professional development for Murphy, unless he took on a topic outside his comfort zone or photographic experience as a white photographer, so she challenged him to focus the workshop through the lenses of equity and inclusion.

Murphy immediately jumped on the opportunity, partnering with Tim Mensa, a Library Specialist who works for NC State Libraries with a passion and part-time pursuit of art and photography.

“I’ve wanted to do something with teaching photography for a while,” says Murphy, “and working with Tim and facilitating this workshop gave me that opportunity to share what I know while also broadening my own perspectives.

“Tim has a lot more experience with photography as an art form. He brought in a lot of techniques and equipment that I may not have thought to use myself; he knew of the equipment the Libraries have that students can rent whenever they want. Having Tim’s perspective as a black photographer definitely made a lot more of our workshop participants comfortable. He gave the whole workshop a great atmosphere that made everyone feel safe to work within.”

The workshop, entitled, “Inclusive Photography: Photographing People of Color,” was an application-based opportunity for Honors Program students offered in November 2023.

While students enrolled in Honors Forum in the Fall semester had the opportunity to earn Forum activity credit for attending, Murphy and Mensa did not want that to be the main incentive to participate. This inspired the application requirement, which allowed interested students to share their motivations for wishing to participate. The application yielded some enlightening responses for the workshop coordinators, demonstrating the importance of raising awareness around issues of equity and inclusion in fields like photography and art.

In her application for the workshop, participant Abinaya Lakshminathan, at the time a first year accounting student, shared, “As a woman of color, specifically one that has a darker complexion, I often find that when I take pictures with my friends, or even my senior portraits from high school, they don’t even look like me. It sometimes frustrates me that it’s so hard to capture what I naturally look like.”

Lakshminathan’s application response was a common one, shared by many of the workshop’s participants of color. Another workshop attendee applied with, “As a person of color, I’ve personally encountered the challenges of inaccurate representation in photography, particularly during significant moments like senior yearbook photos. This firsthand experience has fueled my passion for inclusivity and representation, not only in photography but in art and media as a whole. I believe that by gaining the skills and knowledge from this workshop, I can play a vital role in creating authentic and empowering visual narratives.”

The workshop began with a presentation, researched and delivered by Stratton Murphy and Tim Mensa, about the history of misrepresentation and technology-embedded racism in the photography industry. The workshop coordinators then presented some historical and modern photographic examples of people of colors’ skin tones being represented both poorly and well.

Tips were shared for adjusting settings in modern-day smartphones to improve the capture of darker skin tones in photos, and then all participants got to participate in an activity together to replicate some really well-done images of models of color in media today. Students were provided with various reflector screens and lighting options, available for rent from NC State Libraries, to manipulate the environment to best capture their peers’ different skin tones.

Jonathan Rogers is a rising second year studying Computer Engineering. He is also the UHP’s staff videographer. He reflected, “The workshop was extremely helpful in displaying how the position, intensity, and color of lighting can affect how people are seen through the camera lens. The workshop demonstrated specific examples of how this has been historically used to misrepresent people of color in the media and how this misrepresentation can appear accidentally without proper considerations taken into diversity.”

When asked how he would be able to use what he learned in his role as videographer for the Honors Program, Rogers stated, “Throughout the remainder of the year, I have been able to use the information to update the lighting configurations during the production of some of the content I have generated for the UHP. This is especially important as the students who are interviewed often come from various backgrounds and ethnicities, therefore, considerations are needed into how to film to factor in diversity. I often look back at the experience that I gained from the workshop due to the nature of my work. Although most of the content that I produced is in the form of video, similar standards and requirements apply as does with photography content.”

Murphy said that “by reading the original application responses for this workshop, I learned that this is a problem that a lot of people have had experience with in very personal ways. Having learned from Tim during the workshop itself, I can now approach my photography in a way that I had never considered, using techniques that I’ve never consciously thought about before, to be able to better include diverse groups in my work. I also learned how to approach the subject of inclusion in art and photography in a way that everyone can learn from it, providing a safe space to respect others and experiment with photography to get the best result for everyone.”

Deni Lewis just graduated from NC State and the Honors Program this May with her degree in Graphic Design and minors in Business Administration and Business Entrepreneurship. This workshop made such an impression on her that she chose to include it as a highly impactful personal experience in her senior portfolio, the final culminating requirement for completing the University Honors Program.

“I hope to take this knowledge with me in my professional career,” said Lewis. “It is important for designers to step outside of themselves to create for others in order to avoid malpractice and bias in their work. As someone with very fair skin, I want to improve my ability to photograph others who look different from myself. Everyone deserves the opportunity to have their appearance be well-represented.”

Workshop participants like Lewis are the type of people that those who work to raise awareness around diversity, equity and inclusion hope to attract to educational programming. With regard to who applied to participate in this workshop, students of color far outnumbered white applicants. While, undoubtedly, the participants of color benefited and learned just as much as their white peers, they are likely also already aware of the challenges faced by people of color often with regard to representation in media.

This is one of the many reasons why Murphy encourages his peers in the Honors Program to “sign up for stuff! You never know what opportunities are going to come your way. Things can surprise you. You can learn a lot from all these opportunities that may not necessarily be something that you would normally participate in. Put yourself out there to try new and different things.”

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Learn eclipse photography with USA Today Network photographers

J oin USA TODAY Network photographers on Wednesday, March 27 at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT to hear their tips and tricks for getting your best shots of the solar eclipse happening across North America on April 8. 

Topics will include safety, planning and the technical approach to getting great photos from the eclipse. Registration is free and the webinar will last an hour. Attendees will be able to ask the photographers questions. No DSLR needed — our photographers will also cover using your phone’s camera as well. 

Sign up for the webinar here.

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Meet the speakers

• Courtney Hergesheimer has been a photo and video journalist at The Columbus Dispatch, in Ohio, since 2008. While studying photojournalism, multimedia and Spanish at Western Kentucky University, she interned at the Los Angeles Times, the Birmingham News and the Burlington Hawkeye. She is deeply invested in telling the stories around her.
• Angela Piazza is a photo and video journalist for the Caller-Time in Corpus Christi. She’s worked as a photojournalist in South Texas for almost five years. Some of the most significant moments in her life occurred behind a lens, where she connected with her community and brought forth multimedia stories. Angela began her journalism career working as an intern for her hometown newspaper, The Arizona Republic.
• Albert Cesare has been a photojournalist at various newspapers for over a decade, spending the last half of that at the Cincinnati Enquirer. Seeing photojournalism as a great tool for recording history and bringing understanding of people, their experiences and emotions to the eyes of others. 
• Chris Pietsch is the director of photography for Gannett Newspapers in Oregon, The Register-Guard in Eugene and the Statesman Journal in Salem. He has been a photographer for The Register-Guard since 1988. Before that he worked for the Daily News in Moscow, Idaho and the Lewiston Morning Tribune in Lewiston, Idaho. He grew up in a newspaper family as the grandson of the publisher of the Sandpoint News-Bulletin in Sandpoint, Idaho.

What you need to take photos of the total solar eclipse

• Solar glasses to protect your eyes from the sun during the partial phases of the eclipse.
• Solar filter for your camera lens, shiny side facing the sun.  If shooting with a DSLR or mirrorless camera you can order a filter sheet and tape it to the front of your lens. If you attempt to focus on the sun without a filter, you could damage your camera.
• A sturdy tripod with an adjustable head. The heavier the tripod the better. An adjustable head will allow you to easily adjust the frame as the sun will move across the sky. A sandbag will help stabilize your tripod.
• A telephoto lens that is at least 200mm-300mm. However, the sun will not fill the entire frame the at this length. The longer the lens the bigger the sun will appear in your images. You do not need to go out and purchase a new lens for the eclipse. You can rent a lens or crop your image later.
• A remote shutter release or built-in timer will help eliminate camera shake. During totality you will not need your solar filter but your camera setting will change, slowing down your shutter. A release will allow you to fire your camera without touching it. This will result in a sharper image.
• Extra batteries, memory cards, tape and anything else you need to be fully prepared for the day.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Learn eclipse photography with USA Today Network photographers

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Ph.D. Program

Students entering through the Integrated Biomedical Sciences program have the opportunity to study with research faculty from the School of Medicine and across USC.

All of our Ph.D. students enter through the Integrated Biomedical Sciences program that includes primary core courses and research rotations that allow you to decide the exact research you want to conduct.

Research Areas and Faculty Mentors

Choosing your research mentor and research area will be two of the biggest decisions you will make during your Ph.D. program. While we encourage you to have an idea of who you would like to work with before you apply, we also give you the opportunity to explore all your options. 

Admission and Application

Admission into our program is on a rolling basis with submissions opening in the Fall semester and decisions being made in the Spring semester.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition and financial aid information for students applying to and entering the Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program.

PREP Program

USC PREP seeks to increase the number of applicants to biomedical graduate programs from under-represented communities by offering the opportunity to work for a year in a biomedical research laboratory while preparing for graduate school in the biomedical sciences.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.