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Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2026-2027

Photography and Film

School of the Arts

Concentration(s):
Filmmaking, Photography
Program description

The Department of Photography and Film offers a variety of basic, intermediate, and advanced photography and filmmaking classes leading to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Film.


The program provides students with the ability to intelligently express, investigate or document using photography and/or film, and to interpret meaning in still and moving images. Emphasis is placed on photography and film as contemporary fine arts. The department promotes a fundamental and effective philosophy that students maintain creative freedom, have access to resources, and are enrolled in courses in which they can refine their voices and skills through traditional and contemporary media, tools, and professional working methods. All student work in the program will culminate in an in-person exhibition or film screening in the fourth year.

Career opportunities

Graduates are well prepared to enter the industry as commercial, freelance, industrial and staff photographers and videographers, independent filmmakers, exhibiting artists, media content providers, gallery managers, advertising associates, art educators, film editors, producers and studio, location and production technicians. In addition, they enjoy careers as social media content providers and managers, film festival and museum curators/programmers; film commission and television station personnel.

Change of major requirements

Completion of the Art Foundation Program is a prerequisite for entry into all fine art and design departments.

Students are required to submit their application and required portfolio here.


Typical application deadlines are November 1 (for spring applicants) and April 1 (for fall applicants).

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Exhibiting Artist
  • Independent Filmmaker
  • Advertising Associate
  • Film Commissioner
  • Film Editor
  • Gallery Manager
  • Media Content Providers
  • Social Media Content Manager
  • Staff Photographer
  • Studio Technician
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Arts Educator
  • Commercial Art Director
  • Museum Curator
  • Professional Artist
Professional associations and resources
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • Quantitative Foundations requirement only
Science required
  • Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
Transfer Maps

Contact information

Department name:
Department of Photography and Film
Building/room location:
Pollak Building, Room 206
Phone:
(804) 828-1695
Email:
photofilm@vcu.edu
https://arts.vcu.edu/academics/departments/photography-film/
Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):
Monroe Park
Major map compass icon
Major map

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living-learning community.
  • Connect with Global Education Office to explore leadership and intercultural communication skill-building programs and review resources such as Global Learning's Major Advising Sheets, study abroad fairs or complete Rams Abroad 101. to explore studying abroad opportunities and other global learning opportunities.
  • Consider applying to the Honors College.
  • Create a profile on RamsConnect to explore student organizations and get involved, meet people, and develop your interests.
  • Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations (BSPS Student club, Chemistry, etc.)
  • Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.
  • Apply for the Fall Undergraduate Juried Student Exhibition at the Anderson.
  • Check out the VCUarts Calendar.
  • Connect with current Photo + Film majors on social media: @vcuartsphotofilm on Instagram and @VCUarts Photography + Film on Facebook.
  • Subscribe to the Lamp Post to get a weekly newsletter of visiting artists, grants, scholarships, internship opportunities and more!
  • Visit local art galleries, both nonprofit and commercial.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
  • Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services.
  • Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
  • Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
  • Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app.
  • Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones.
  • Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.
  • Apply to the Virginia Museum of Fine Art Fellowship and ask to be added to Photo+Film’s regular emails promoting exhibition, screening, and funding opportunities.
  • Contact the Photo+ Film Department for internship recommendations.
  • Prepare your Major Declaration materials which includes your digital portfolio and writing sample.
  • Understand VCUarts research and grant opportunities.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
  • Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
  • Meet and talk to upper-class art students about their projects and research.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
  • Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship.
  • Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
  • Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.
  • Attend student art openings on and off campus.
  • Consider studying abroad: many Photo + Film students study abroad in their junior year and begin planning in their sophomore year.
  • Get involved with the Commonwealth Times and Ink Magazine.
  • Volunteer at local art non-profits and museums and, very importantly, continue your involvement throughout your years at VCUarts.
  • Attend OMSA Social Justice Conference.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
  • Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake.
  • Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
  • Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
  • Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
  • Attend Creative Mornings RVA and hear about the careers and lives of local, creative professionals.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
  • Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
  • Meet with a coach at the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
  • Research artists and organizations with whom you'd like to work and start reaching out to potential internships and employers.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
  • Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
  • Consider electives that will deepen your skill set and enhance your portfolio.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions.
  • Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning.
  • Design a community-engaged research project.
  • Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
  • Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities.
  • Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.
  • Apply for scholarships, fellowships, and undergraduate grants through VCUarts and community organizations.
  • Join student-run, issue-oriented organizations and associations to meet new friends and build your self efficacy in transforming your community.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
  • Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor.
  • Update your ePortfolio.
  • Apply to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship and other exhibition, screening and funding opportunities.
  • Talk to faculty, instructors, alumni, and visiting artists about the many careers and jobs they have held in the creative fields.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center.
  • Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
  • Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
  • Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. 
  • Research essential resources for creative freelancers and small business owners and begin to build your own website, narrow down time-tracking and invoicing software, identify freelance jobs board, communication and collaboration tools, and social media management software.
  • Research job titles and roles in different fields like journalism, commercial and editorial photography, film production, advertising, institutional communication offices, assisting artists and photographers, and art institutions like galleries, museums, and nonprofits.

Excel
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree.
  • Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Consider electives that might seem “weird” to give you a unique experience or perspective.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships.
  • Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners.
  • Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field.
  • Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.
  • Attend an annual conference of the Society for Photographic Education (SPE) or volunteer to work at the conference to enhance networking opportunities.
  • Get involved with local civil society organizations and nonprofits doing work you are passionate about.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, or AmeriCorps.
  • Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers.
  • Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity.
  • Drop in to see your academic advisor about your shortlist of grad schools and how you can boost your MFA application.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
  • Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey.
  • Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
  • Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
  • Develop your professional website and portfolio and ask for feedback from peers, faculty mentors, and working artists.
  • Tailor your social media platforms to match your professional identity.
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2026-2027

Photography and Film

School of the Arts

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living-learning community.
  • Connect with Global Education Office to explore leadership and intercultural communication skill-building programs and review resources such as Global Learning's Major Advising Sheets, study abroad fairs or complete Rams Abroad 101. to explore studying abroad opportunities and other global learning opportunities.
  • Consider applying to the Honors College.
  • Create a profile on RamsConnect to explore student organizations and get involved, meet people, and develop your interests.
  • Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations (BSPS Student club, Chemistry, etc.)
  • Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.
  • Apply for the Fall Undergraduate Juried Student Exhibition at the Anderson.
  • Check out the VCUarts Calendar.
  • Connect with current Photo + Film majors on social media: @vcuartsphotofilm on Instagram and @VCUarts Photography + Film on Facebook.
  • Subscribe to the Lamp Post to get a weekly newsletter of visiting artists, grants, scholarships, internship opportunities and more!
  • Visit local art galleries, both nonprofit and commercial.
  • Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
  • Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services.
  • Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
  • Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
  • Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app.
  • Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones.
  • Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.
  • Apply to the Virginia Museum of Fine Art Fellowship and ask to be added to Photo+Film’s regular emails promoting exhibition, screening, and funding opportunities.
  • Contact the Photo+ Film Department for internship recommendations.
  • Prepare your Major Declaration materials which includes your digital portfolio and writing sample.
  • Understand VCUarts research and grant opportunities.
Experience Year 2
  • Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
  • Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
  • Meet and talk to upper-class art students about their projects and research.
  • Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
  • Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship.
  • Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
  • Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.
  • Attend student art openings on and off campus.
  • Consider studying abroad: many Photo + Film students study abroad in their junior year and begin planning in their sophomore year.
  • Get involved with the Commonwealth Times and Ink Magazine.
  • Volunteer at local art non-profits and museums and, very importantly, continue your involvement throughout your years at VCUarts.
  • Attend OMSA Social Justice Conference.
  • Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
  • Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake.
  • Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
  • Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
  • Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
  • Attend Creative Mornings RVA and hear about the careers and lives of local, creative professionals.
  • Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
  • Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
  • Meet with a coach at the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
  • Research artists and organizations with whom you'd like to work and start reaching out to potential internships and employers.
Year 3
  • Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
  • Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
  • Consider electives that will deepen your skill set and enhance your portfolio.
  • Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions.
  • Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning.
  • Design a community-engaged research project.
  • Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
  • Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities.
  • Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.
  • Apply for scholarships, fellowships, and undergraduate grants through VCUarts and community organizations.
  • Join student-run, issue-oriented organizations and associations to meet new friends and build your self efficacy in transforming your community.
  • Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
  • Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor.
  • Update your ePortfolio.
  • Apply to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship and other exhibition, screening and funding opportunities.
  • Talk to faculty, instructors, alumni, and visiting artists about the many careers and jobs they have held in the creative fields.
  • Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center.
  • Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
  • Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
  • Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. 
  • Research essential resources for creative freelancers and small business owners and begin to build your own website, narrow down time-tracking and invoicing software, identify freelance jobs board, communication and collaboration tools, and social media management software.
  • Research job titles and roles in different fields like journalism, commercial and editorial photography, film production, advertising, institutional communication offices, assisting artists and photographers, and art institutions like galleries, museums, and nonprofits.
Excel Year 4
  • Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree.
  • Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Consider electives that might seem “weird” to give you a unique experience or perspective.
  • Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships.
  • Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners.
  • Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field.
  • Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.
  • Attend an annual conference of the Society for Photographic Education (SPE) or volunteer to work at the conference to enhance networking opportunities.
  • Get involved with local civil society organizations and nonprofits doing work you are passionate about.
  • Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, or AmeriCorps.
  • Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers.
  • Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity.
  • Drop in to see your academic advisor about your shortlist of grad schools and how you can boost your MFA application.
  • Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
  • Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey.
  • Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
  • Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
  • Develop your professional website and portfolio and ask for feedback from peers, faculty mentors, and working artists.
  • Tailor your social media platforms to match your professional identity.