As an art form, photography holds a unique place encompassing not only aesthetics, but also cultural, political, historical, and personal issues. The Fine Art Photography concentration at Appalachian State is designed to educate our students to think of photography as a visual language, as well as to provide them with the technical and formal skills they need in order to express their ideas.

After the core photography classes shared by entire BFA Photography program, the Fine Art concentrations offers a range of classes, black and white wet darkroom and alternative processes to conceptual development and expanded forms. Our students integrate photography into a larger, interdisciplinary artistic practice through studio art electives and seminars, and focus on developing a personal voice within the medium, while examining how images function in contemporary culture.

Students leave with a strong balance of technical skills, critical and conceptual thinking, and a broad knowledge of the medium of photography that open up numerous career paths. Recent graduates have gone on to work photographing for Rolling Stone magazine and Fender Guitars, work in arts organizations combining photographic knowledge and art education training, manage galleries, attend graduate school, and become faculty at App State and other institutions.