Tompkins Cortland Community College
Degree Programs

Photography — Fine Arts Emphasis

A.S. Degree

Photography is used to illustrate, advertise, communicate, and express. Emerging digital technologies are expanding the realm of what is possible in photography and, at the same time, fueling the demand for outstanding creative images. In the Photography program, you will master black and white photography, color photography, digital photography, and video production.

The curriculum emphasizes the study of photography as a fine arts activity and provides a traditional broad base of study in art. The program covers both traditional techniques and historical perspectives and emphasizes artistic expression and creative image making.

Fine Arts Emphasis

The fine arts emphasis in photography is grounded in the liberal arts and emphasizes the study of photography as a fine arts medium. The goal of the program is to prepare you to meet the increasing demand for creative photography. The program covers both traditional techniques and historical perspectives and emphasizes artistic expression and creative image making.

Career Opportunities

Photography is a profession that requires technical competence, creative artistic vision, and many varied interpersonal skills. Our program provides a broad introduction to the art and craft of image making. There are many areas of concentration and job classifications within the field of photography that graduates can consider.

Among the areas of concentration are:

  • Architectural photography
  • Medical/scientific photography
  • Stock photographer (freelance and agency)
  • Fine arts photographer
  • Photojournalism and press photography
  • Fashion photographer
  • Commercial photographer
  • Advertising and editorial photographer

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Transfer Options

Graduates can transfer to four-year institutions offering B.S. and/or B.F.A. degrees in photography and related visual arts fields. Our graduates have transferred to:

For specific transfer information, contact the Counseling, Career, and Transfer Services office.

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Program Requirements

Program requirements by semester are detailed in the Degrees and Certificates (pdf, 1.6MB) section of the TC3 college catalog.

All sections of the current college catalog are available online.

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Program Chair / Faculty

Nicolai Klimaszewski

Program Chair
Associate Professor (Art)

B.S. , SUNY College at Buffalo; M.F.A. , University of Pennsylvania. Awarded recognition and support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Rockefeller Foundation. Exhibited nationally, numerous "best of show" awards. 2004 Chancellor's/Trustee's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities.
E-mail Professor Klimaszewski

Keith Millman

Associate Professor (New Media)

B.F.A. , University of Oregon; M.F.A. , California College of Arts and Crafts. Received grant from the council of the Arts at Cornell, and is in the permanent collection of the Portland Art Museum and the Preus Fotomuseum (Norway). Exhibited nationally.
E-mail Professor Millman

Chris Xaver

Associate Professor (Communication and Media Arts)

B.S. , Broadcast Journalism, Newhouse School of Communication at Syracuse University; M.A. , Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse University; Ph.D., Capella University. Professional clients include NBC, Time Warner, and Fox.
E-mail Professor Xaver

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