CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES

We welcome applications to the Photography BFA. Admission is competitive, work closely with photography faculty during classes and signal your interest. We rarely accept students without having worked with them in a class context. To be accepted as a major in the Photography BFA program a student must provide evidence of the following:

  • A portfolio showing knowledge of basic photographic techniques and procedures and the ability to make good aesthetic judgment.
  • Some knowledge of historic and contemporary photographic activity and an understanding of professional standards of quality.
  • Ability to understand and discuss concepts relative to photographic criticism and issues in the field.

It is recommended that a student have taken at least one photography course beyond Basic Digital Photography at SUNY New Paltz.

In order to apply, the student must turn in the material listed below.  The Spring 2024 application deadline is Friday October 25th at 12noon (Room 204, leave in front of door). Please email  Andrea Frank at franka@newpaltz.edu with any questions you may have; we are here to help you.

Your application should include an envelope or portfolio containing:

  • A concise portfolio of 15-20 prints – any size is fine, submit very large work rolled up. Include project descriptions where appropriate.
    Please note that Photo club offers help with making selections for your portfolios!
    Your portfolio should consist of your strongest work and be well finished. Each image or series should be accompanied by a short project/class assignment description. We are interested in your artistic voice and technical, creative, and conceptual qualities in the work.
  • A completed application form with required statements.
  • Your transcript and/or progress report.

DOWNLOAD the BFA Application Form

Here is the BFA Plan of Study for your information


YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A PHOTO BFA

  • You agree to maintain a responsible leadership role in the program. We expect you to be the best and most committed student in your photography classes.
  • Attend and/or participate in all extracurricular educational opportunities offered by the photography program including all scheduled BFA critiques, field trips, guest lectures, workshops, visiting artists, etc.
  • You are expected to be the most responsible user of the labs and to aid both the professors and the head technician in running the labs. We entrust you with aspects of running the labs by allowing you to work unsupervised during after-hours.
  • We highly recommend you participate in the Photo Club and the Student Arts Alliance. Connections forged there will last a lifetime.
  • Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • There are a lot of great artists and photographers practicing today. You will need to work hard to achieve your fullest potential and to be a skilled and competitive professional as you leave this college. We will help you to our fullest in attaining your educational goals. We will advise you at length, find and support internships and independent studies, and create extracurricular educational opportunities as mentioned above.

After your graduation, we commit ourselves to helping you with entering employment and graduate school. And we hope you will be a productive alum who becomes a credit to this program and keeps in touch with us.