The University of Central Missouri in suburban Kansas City has 11,351 undergraduate and graduate students. There is a six-month job-placement rate for undergraduates of 92 percent. Students interested in a photography degree have many choices at the University of Central Missouri. They can receive a Bachelor of Science in photography in four different concentrations: commercial, media, technical and portrait.
Students have the opportunity to use state-of-the-art photography classrooms and laboratories including dark rooms, processing labs, photo studios and digital imaging and printing facilities. There is a 17-1 student-faculty ratio in this program. Students have the experience of producing works for an annual Photo Expo; attending workshops, conventions and professional meetings on photography; and becoming a member of the UCM Photographic Society. Courses in the program include foundations of professional photography, editorial photography, color imaging and digital imaging. General education classes are also required. The program is housed in the School of Technology.
Washington University in St. Louis is an independent university situated by Forest Park in downtown St. Louis. The school has a mission of teaching, research and service to society. The U.S. News & World Report undergraduate category of school rankings for 2009 ranked Washington University in St. Louis 12th among national universities. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education ranked the school eighth for black student graduation rate.
A Bachelor of Fine Arts in digital imaging and photography is offered at the school. Students will learn the technique, history and a contemporary critical perspective of photography. The opportunity to learn large-format studio photography, digital photography, and classic nonsilver techniques is offered within the program. Students receive studio experience in their junior year and then proceed to an independent research study with a senior thesis portfolio in their final year of undergraduate study.
Webster University in St. Louis is an independent institution with opportunities for study at international campuses in London, England, and Vienna, Austria. Classes at Webster University range in size from 15 to 25 students. Webster University's photography program believes in giving students a hands-on approach. Students concentrate on a particular area of photography ranging from studio photography to photo journalism. Student work is housed in the May Gallery and the Small Wall Gallery. Students have the chance to have an internship that will prepare them for a career in photography. The photography program at Webster University is also offered at the international campuses of Thailand, Geneva, Leiden, London and Vienna.
The Kansas City Art Institute is a four-year, independent college focusing on art and design. The school offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in a variety of different art disciplines. The photography program at the school focuses on aesthetic and conceptual perspectives. Students will learn photography forms of landscape, portrait, documentary, narrative, and other expanded works including installations. Courses available in the program include digital photography, color photography workshop and lighting for photographers. Students must also take liberal arts classes required by the school. Darkroom and lightroom production is an essential part of the photography program. The program offers a faculty that is highly regarded in their field and some are former students of the program.