How to Get an MFA, EdD, or PhD in Photography

Looking for an intensive fine-arts education? A graduate degree in photography gives you a chance to improve your portfolio under the direction of professionals with experience in the field. Consider earning your Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Education (EdD), or Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Photography to spend dedicated time focusing on your work.

The first step when considering any graduate degree is the research process. Don't commit to a PhD, EdD, or MFA program in photography without first considering the range of degree programs available to you. Your degree should match your career goals and educational needs.

Earning Your MFA in Photography

The MFA in Photography is a terminal degree; the highest level of education one can receive in the field. Although PhD, EdD, and DFA degrees do exist in photography and related fields, employers consider the MFA as the highest standard of education for photography. Therefore, graduates from MFA programs:

• Teach photography, art history, and related courses at the college level
• Use an MFA as a credential for high-level salaried positions in photography
• Enjoy earnings often equivalent with PhD graduates in fine arts education

MFA programs in photography generally require two years of focused study culminating in a thesis project. The result is a strong portfolio, a collaborative connection with your peers, and a strong sense of your future as a photographer.

Campus or Online MFA in Photography

When you're considering graduate degrees in photography, consider earning your master's or doctoral degree online. Deciding between a campus-based and online MFA in Photography is a matter of determining your needs and priorities. Consider the benefits of earning an online MFA in Photography:

• Complete degree work without having to physically go to a classroom
• Interaction with a wider geographical range of colleagues
• Prioritize your studies to work with the work and family obligations in your life

If you work primarily with digital photography, attending school online offers the unique opportunity to explore online tools and methods that could further enrich your art. From online galleries to graphic design software, an online degree program may be ideal.

A campus-based MFA or doctorate degree program also has advantages such as:

• Face-to-face interaction with peers and professors
• Access to developing labs and campus galleries
• Interaction with a personal community of artists

The type of doctoral or MFA degree you choose should depend on your medium, research interests, equipment needs, and location. Research both campus and online MFA photography programs before committing to one or the other.

Earning Your Campus or Online PhD in Photography

While a broad PhD in Photography is somewhat rare in the U.S., specialized photography doctoral programs are possible in a range of fields. Focus your research on your desired specialty for the best results. Potential specializations within photography, both at the master's and doctoral degree level, can include:

• Photojournalism
• Studio Arts
• Film Technology
• Digital Photography

Doctoral degrees in photography typically include both research and portfolio requirements. Depending on your existing portfolio, previous coursework, and publication or presentation history, you may be exempt from certain advanced degree requirements.

Related Theoretical, Professional, and Artistic Doctorate Degree Programs

If you're looking for a doctoral degree in photography, you may want to consider alternative PhD programs in art design, such as typography, information design, or design theory. Coursework can prepare students to research and work as educators in the artistic world as it relates to concepts beyond photography, including:

• Design and architecture
• Advertising and marketing
• Business and branding
• Journalism and photojournalism

The goals of a PhD program vary strongly based on individual schools. Most PhD programs include a high level of theory and theoretical writing, but a creative PhD in Photography could look much like an MFA degree in photography. As always, choose programs based on your needs and career goals.

Educational Leadership EdD in Art Education

If your career goals focus on administrative leadership positions in education, consider a EdD in Art Education or Photography. The degree encompasses photography, visual arts, and education, and it prepares graduates to work in the following types of positions:

• Leadership positions in art schools
• Art departments in higher education
• Art education government programs
• Government art education programs

An EdD in Art Education or Photography Education provides the opportunity for candidates to perform original research and theoretical writing on the subject of education. Like any doctoral degree, the goal of the EdD is to create a publishable body of work related to a specific element within the field.

Earning a DFA in Photography

The Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) in Photography is experiencing some popularity as an alternative doctoral degree for students interested in the practical application of photography. Found largely online, DFAs in Photography resemble the MFA degree and focus on a practical development of skill over theoretical research. DFAs in Photography can include a dissertation, which is quite a bit more involved than a standard master's thesis.

The DFA in Photography or Visual Arts is sometimes an honorary degree awarded to individuals who make an important contribution to the field. Rather than an alternative degree choice, the DFA can be a symbol of unique artists and advocates at the top of the industry.

Relevant Photography Terminal Degree Links

As you continue your search for the best photography degree program for your goals, turn to online sources for detailed and useful information. The Web offers hundreds of free resources for potential students researching graduate degree programs in photography. Check out a few of the most relevant resources in your photography degree research:

• WorldWideLearn.com offers a listing of photography degrees at all levels. Use the site to easily research and make contact with individual schools.
• The College Board offers a searchable database of graduate schools in photography. Narrow your search to tailor your results. Campus size, specializations within photography, and even college setting are searchable functions on the site.
• The U.S. News and World Report ranks the top photography graduate schools nationwide. Use their list to find the latest data on schools and information on enrollment numbers and program details.

These sites offer valuable--and free--resources for anyone considering a fine arts degree program at the graduate level. Use them to find a list of doctoral and master's degree programs in photography.

Narrowing Photography Graduate Degree Programs

Once you have a basic list of potential doctoral and master's degree programs in photography, you can begin narrowing your options. Use the following list as a starting point for the components you should consider:

• Accreditation: The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the leading accrediting body for photography programs. NASAD's goal is to keep high standards in photography and design education. As a photography student, look to the NASAD and other regional accrediting bodies when choosing potential schools. Be sure to consider whether or not an accredited program is a must-have for your career goals.
• Degrees Offered: As noted above, a range of degrees are available. Determine your ideal career path and potential degree based on your interest in photography, design, theory, and fine arts specializations. A working photographer might benefit most from an MFA in Photography, for example, while a department chair of a photography school might best use an EdD in Arts Education or similar.
• Qualifications: Every degree is different, and every department has different qualifications for its students. Photography master's and doctoral degree programs may require slides, letters of intent, or recommendation letters from applicants. Programs also include application fees, making it an even better idea to narrow the list of potential schools before applying.
• Faculty: Research faculty members at your prospective schools. Look for photographers with work experience you appreciate; photojournalists, portrait photographers, or fine art photographers, for example, all bring different things to a degree program. The more faculty members interested in your specialty, the more likely you can receive advice and instruction tailored to your specific goals.
• Competition: Artistic MFA and doctoral programs are often very competitive and the best schools generally have large numbers of applicants and high levels of competition.
• Funding: Considering ways to fund your education? Schools that offer funding to their graduate students usually have the most competition for admissions. Research individual schools for teaching possibilities, department scholarships and grants, and other funding options. Federal funding should also be available for accredited schools.
• Graduate Placement: Each school should have statistics and information on their alumni. Learn where graduates go after leaving school, including faculty placement rates and job placement success.

Contact individual schools for more details on these categories. Using WorldWideLearn.com is a simple way to get your information to multiple colleges and universities you're considering; from there, begin to focus your options. Doing the research ahead of time means you can save time and money during the application process.

Other Resources Available from WorldWideLearn.com

WorldWideLearn.com offers an excellent free listing of master's and doctoral programs in photography. However, that's not the only resource you can find on this site. Consider the following tools and resources:

• Returning to school as an adult? Use the Education Resources page to learn more about distance learning, adult learning, part-time students, and other essentials of the educational world.
• Choosing your major? Check out the Guide to College Majors page for more information on majors and minors in photography, fine arts, and beyond. Find more information on master's and doctoral degrees.
• Paying for school? Navigate to the Financial Aid section for more information on applying for federal financial aid, securing photography scholarships, and more.
• Wondering about your career? Browse the Career Assessment page for useful career-based articles and quizzes. Check out interviews and advice about the working world after school.

With WorldWideLearn.com, the journey back to school doesn't have to be mystifying. Use free resources like this site as a way to educate yourself on higher education. Whether you're heading to graduate school from your undergraduate years or returning to school after a long time away, online tools can help streamline the process.

Become a Part of the Photography Community

Graduate students and professionals alike are encouraged to join the worldwide community of photographers found in professional organizations, conferences, journals, and magazines. Becoming aware of these professional publications and organizations gives you a chance to network, meet fellow professionals, and learn more about your art and industry. Check out these great resources:

• Professional Organizations: The Advertising Photographers of America, American Society of Media Photographers, American Society of Picture Professionals, British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies, and Canadian Association of Photographers & Illustrators in Communications
• Conferences: The Photo Marketing Association Imaging Show, Society for Photographic Education Conference, International Congress of Imaging Science, AIPAD Photography Show, Color Imaging & Engineering Conference, and Photo LA/NY/SF
• Journals & Magazines: Aperture, B&W Magazine, BlindSpot, Camera Arts, exposure, Photo Life, Photo Review, PhotoMedia Magazine, and Nature Photographer Magazine

For students of photography, a graduate degree offers much more than credentials in the form of a diploma. The study of photography at the graduate level allows you time and space to improve your portfolio, learn more about photography from a global perspective, and network with professionals as you find your niche in the community. Whether you're interested in a photography MFA or a doctoral degree in a related field, higher education allows you to focus on the art that moves you.

Sources

• American Society of Picture Professionals, Industry Events
• American Society of Picture Professionals, The Picture Professional
• Carnegie Mellon Design, PhD in Design
• International Directory of Design, Photography Conferences & Festivals
• National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Accreditation
• U.S. News and World Report, Fine Arts Specialty Rankings: Photography