Top Photography Schools
In the past few years, interest in the arts (which, of course, includes photography) has increased dramatically, and thus it has become easier for students to find places that offer degrees in photography. Though there are many colleges and universities in the United States that provide students with courses in photography, here are those considered to be on top of the list:
- American InterContinental University has campuses all over the United States in addition to its online component. Campus locations include Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, and Weston. Working professional photographers will be teaching the students about fashion, advertising, architectural photography, photo-journalism, and many other topics.
- The Academy of Art University in San Francisco is a private school that is large and accredited. It is known for its Pulitzer-Prize winning graduate, photographer Deanne Fitzmaurice.
- Briarcliffe College has two campuses in New York and was founded to meet the needs of career-oriented students and to help them succeed in the market. Its Visual Communications and Digital Photography departments offer various courses for the aspiring photographer.
- Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California, is a world leader in professional photographic education. It offers four programs for photography students, including Visual Communication, Visual Journalism and Professional Photography. Brooks advocates the philosophy of "learn by doing" and provides students with the artistic, business, and technical expertise needed to succeed in the future.
- The Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University offers a certificate program in professional photography and provides students with a wide variety of courses- everything from basic techniques to business skills for a future career in photography.
- Harrington College of Design in Illinois offers a program for the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Digital Photography. The course prepares students for future employment opportunities in photography, and projects concerning photojournalism and commercial photography allow students to find and build up their own artistic styles.
- The International Academy of Design & Technology is located in Tampa, Florida, and is a nationwide accredited arts school. It offers a degree in Digital Photography and teaches students various photographic techniques including using industry-standard cameras, software, lighting, and grip. The study course also covers career-related skills in commercial, portrait, advertising, and even wedding photography.
- The New York Institute of Photography in New York City takes pride in being the oldest and largest photography school in the world. More than 20,000 active students from over 50 countries are studying photography in this school which has a year-round enrollment program.
- The Ohio Institute of Photography and Technology prepares students to turn their talents into a realistic, future career opportunity. It offers degrees in professional, commercial, multimedia, portraiture, general applied, and biomedical photography, with both day and night classes available to the students.
Degrees in photography are also offered in Bennington College, the University of California, and the University of Southern California, among other schools. The cost of an education in photography varies greatly, so that an average figure would not provide much of an insight. Ultimately, it is up to the student to decide which school deserves to be on top of the list.