Photography major
Photography: courses, careers, and where to study
Photography combines technical camera and lighting craft with visual storytelling and post-production, suited to students who want to build a portfolio across editorial, commercial, or fine-art work.
A Photography major, usually offered as a BFA or BA, covers camera operation and exposure, studio and location lighting, color management, digital post-production, and the history and theory of the photographic image. Coursework moves from black-and-white and digital fundamentals into specialized areas such as portrait, commercial/product, documentary, photojournalism, and fine-art photography, and most programs require a sustained portfolio or thesis body of work plus a critique-based studio sequence.
Graduates build a portfolio and typically work as freelancers or in studios, agencies, publications, and in-house creative teams, shooting, editing, retouching, and managing client and licensing relationships. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of photographers is projected to grow 1.8% from 2024 to 2034. A college degree is not a strict requirement to enter the field, though a degree program is the common path for building craft and a body of work; advancement into teaching photography at the college level generally requires a graduate degree (often an MFA).
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Photography maps to CIP 50.0605, Photography, within the VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS family. The official definition:
A program that focuses on the principles and techniques of communicating information, ideas, moods, and feelings through the creation of images on photographic film, plates, and digital images and that may prepare individuals to be professional photographic artists. Includes instruction in camera and equipment operation and maintenance, film and plate developing, light and composition, films and printing media, color and special effects, photographic art, photographic history, use of computer applications to record or enhance images and applications to the photography of various subjects.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What you'll study
- Camera operation, exposure, and lens selection (aperture, shutter, ISO)
- Studio and location lighting setups and modifiers
- Color management, RAW workflow, and digital post-production (Lightroom, Photoshop)
- Black-and-white, darkroom, and alternative process fundamentals
- Specialization tracks such as portrait, commercial/product, documentary, or photojournalism
- History and theory of photography and visual analysis
- Image editing, retouching, sequencing, and print/output preparation
- Portfolio development, critique, and a senior thesis body of work
Typical careers
- Photographers
- Photojournalist
- Commercial / Product Photographer
- Portrait / Wedding Photographer
- Photo Editor / Retoucher
- Studio / Camera Assistant
Typical salary range: BLS reports a 2024 median annual wage of $42,520 for photographers; informational, not a CampusPin estimate.Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Photography. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.
Before you commit to a Photography major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Photography program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Photography department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Photography program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Photography programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Related majors
Graphic Design
Graphic Design teaches students to communicate ideas visually through typography, layout, and imagery, suiting people who want to combine creativity with craft across print and digital media.
Film Production
Film Production teaches the craft of making moving images, from screenwriting and directing to cinematography, editing, and sound, for students who want hands-on, collaborative creative work.
Journalism
Journalism teaches students to report, write, and verify news across print, broadcast, and digital media, suiting people drawn to research, storytelling, and the public interest.
Fashion Design
Fashion Design teaches the craft of conceiving and constructing apparel and accessories, suited to students who pair visual creativity with hands-on technical and production skills.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.