Photography

 
Why Photography?

The BA (Hons) in Photography offers an exciting specialist programme that aims to enable creative students to understand and appreciate photography as a means of visual communication and creative expression. The programme offers an opportunity to develop practical photographic and imaging skills underpinned by an understanding of critical and theoretical perspectives. This focus for study enables each student to develop their individual creative and technical abilities to a high level.

The programme is delivered within the specialist facilities of the Broadstairs Campus, which currently include specialist digital imaging and processing suites and well-equipped studios and darkrooms. Students benefit too from excellent editing, darkroom and printing facilities, technical support and the latest DSLRs, medium format, and large format equipment. The programme includes regular field trips, and exhibition and gallery visits and is supported by visiting professionals, enhancing further the teaching and learning experience.

Throughout the programme, emphasis is placed on the integration of practice and theory. All the modules are designed to develop students’ awareness of supporting theoretical concepts, informing their own practice and encouraging them to develop areas of specialism as they progress from Year 1 to an increasingly individualised programme of study in Year 3. Throughout all years emphasis is placed on preparing for a successful creative life after graduation.

What will I study?

In Year 1, both single honours and combined honours students are introduced to the creative practice of photography and to the critical approaches to studying photography, introducing imaging skills and techniques. This includes modules in Creative Photographic Practice, Photographic Studies, Photography in Context, Digital Imaging and Visual Research.

In Year 2, the modules taken vary according to whether the programme is studied as single honours or as combined honours. All students take a double module in Advanced Creative Photographic Practice with many additional optional modules to select from, including Advanced Analogue, Advanced Digital Imaging, Documentary, Professional Practice etc.

In Year 3, a greater emphasis is placed on independent learning. For example, students take a compulsory extended double Specialised Study by Practical Project, developing their individually negotiated projects and preparing for their final degree show. In addition, optional modules include among others Professional Practice in Photography, Community Practice in Photography, Independent and Art Photography and Mixed Media Production.

Learning and Teaching

Knowledge and understanding is acquired through workshops, lectures, seminars, tutorials, critical journals, demonstrations, exercises, group critiques and directed independent study. Intellectual/cognitive skills are promoted through lectures, workshops, demonstrations, critiques, seminars, exercises and tutorials. Subject specific skills are developed through lectures, seminars, demonstrations, practical workshops, exercises and tutorials. Graduate skills are embedded into the programme. Development of graduate skills is supported, in particular, through tutorials and the use of PDP.

Assessments

Knowledge and understanding is assessed via coursework including practical portfolios/projects, essays, studies, and critical journals. Intellectual skills are assessed through coursework. For example, the individual study by practical project at Level 6 demands high levels of intellectual curiosity and creativity, and the research and writing of the independent study at Level 3 provides the opportunity for the student to develop and demonstrate their cognitive/intellectual skills in a sustained and academically challenging way.

Assessment of subject specific skills takes place through coursework, written assignments, portfolios, critical journals and practical projects. Feedback on graduate skills is provided during workshops and tutorials, and through other types of support provided for PDP.

What can I do next?

The programme is designed to prepare the student for work within the creative visual industries. Successful students will have gained a full range of creative, theoretical, social, technological and administrative skills and resources appropriate for employment within the creative and cultural industries. Emphasis is placed on preparation for work-readiness throughout the programme including modules in Professional Practice.

Students may progress to professional employment in photography and digital imaging or more broadly into a very wide variety of settings where creativity, confidence, discipline and flair are important.

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