Our master of fine arts (M.F.A.) degree program in art photography attracts students who have established a strong body of work and are committed to further their engagement with contemporary photographic practices. You work closely with our faculty along with distinguished scholars throughout Syracuse University to further your artistic research.
Admission + Portfolio Requirements
As a program, we are not interested in promoting a single philosophy or aesthetic; rather, we select students who have begun to crystallize an original perspective. Our goal is to create artists with unique visual voices. Through an intensive study that includes tutorial and group critique along with courses in history, theory, and criticism, you benefit from an intense and passionate learning environment that emphasizes contemporary art and practice. In addition, most of our M.F.A. students have the opportunity to teach their own classes.
Art photography students benefit from a close affiliation with Light Work, a world-class photo gallery, publisher, and artist residency housed on the Syracuse campus. This relationship allows you to interact with a roster of international photographers through lectures, internships, and classroom visits. Many of our graduate students are offered a semester assistantship to work directly with their staff and visiting artists. You can use production facilities at Light Work, in addition to the analog and digital facilities for art photography graduate students within the Department of Film and Media Arts.
You will draw inspiration and insight from the resident and visiting artists who come to the art photography program, the film and media arts department, and Light Work each year. Past artists have included Shimon Attie, George Awde, Lucas Blalock, Elinor Carucci, Liz Cohen, Kelli Connell, Stan Douglas, Mitch Epstein, LaToya Ruby Frazier G’07, Curran Hatleberg, Anouk Kruithof, Justine Kurland, Dana Lixenberg, Zora Murff, Richard Renaldi, Alessandra Sanguinetti, Mark Steinmetz, Zoe Strauss, Raymond Meeks, Stanley Walukau Wanambwa, Carrie Mae Weems, and Letha Wilson.
Student Work
Curriculum
The art photography M.F.A. degree program requires 60 credits. Below are the general program requirements.
View full M.F.A. art photography curriculum.
Major studio: 24 credits
Studio electives: 12 credits
Art history or related academics: 12 credits
Free electives: 6 credits
Graduate seminar: 3 credits
Final presentation: 3 credits
Total Credits: 60
Length of Residency 3 years