Taught to consider photography’s role in the present moment as well as the medium’s technical and aesthetic traditions, students explore visual story-telling as a means to a more insightful understanding of lived experience. Introduced to film and darkroom, as well as digital production, students are challenged to make objects which communicate with an audience beyond their immediate peers. Final critiques with practitioners outside the college ensure that many points of view are heard.

In the sophomore year, students learn to use medium and large format cameras with black and white film developed and printed in our darkrooms. Students achieve technical excellence in silver printing and begin to develop a personal vision. During the junior year, digital capture and wide-format inkjet printing are introduced as students learn to truly see and manipulate color. As seniors, the focus shifts to extended projects, portfolio development, and artist’s statements. Each semester, electives offer opportunities to explore specific themes or skills such as Landscape, Photobooks, Alternative Processes, Studio Lighting, Documentary, and Portraiture.

A highly respected group of practicing artists form the core professors. Their efforts are augmented by a remarkable group of visiting faculty. We are proud of our diverse and visionary faculty and staff, many of whom have received prestigious fellowships and who publish and exhibit extensively in the United States and worldwide.

Our graduates exhibit and publish their work with stunning regularity and win eminent awards and grants such as the Fulbright Fellowship and the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship.

BFA/MAT: Undergraduate students interested in teaching K-12 may also explore a five year program in which they major in Photography and in the fifth year undertake an MAT degree through our esteemed Art Education Department. Click here for more information on the BFA/MAT opportunity.

The Photography Department at MassArt is fortunate to confer the Gertrude Kasebier Awards each year.  The five prizes go to all three levels of undergraduate majors and include a travel award for a graduating senior.   An anonymous donor established the Gertrude Kasebier Photography Fund in 2018 to foster creativity, motivation, healthy competition, and attention to the qualities of the fine print within the Massachusetts College of Art and Design Photography Department. An awards ceremony takes place each May designed to build and strengthen a sense of community within the Photography Department and throughout the entire College community. The awards are juried both by MassArt Photography faculty and an outside juror who makes the final selection.