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Virginia Commonwealth University · Courses

PHTO

44 courses with the subject PHTO, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.

PHTO 233Elements of the Moving Image4

Semester course; 4 lecture hours. 4 credits. A survey of new media and their origins. An exploration of this visual phenomena and its relationship to modern society.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
4
Credits (max)
4
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 243Darkroom3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours. 3 credits. Manual 35mm film camera is required. Study of fundamental camera techniques and photographic processes including darkroom printing. Emphasizes professional standards, technical proficiency and individual artistic expression.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 253Darkroom for Non-Majors3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours. 3 credits. Manual 35mm film camera is required. Study of fundamental camera techniques and photographic processes including darkroom printing. Emphasizes professional standards, technical proficiency and individual artistic expression.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 260Experiments in Sequencing3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours (delivered online or face-to-face). 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHTO 243 or PHTO 281. Explores the history, contexts and applications of sequencing as a unifying artistic practice. Emphasis is placed on sequencing as it relates to visual communication and contemporary multimedia.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 275Film as Material3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours. Study of the fundamental techniques and processes of 16mm film production, including cameras, lighting and composition. Emphasizes technical proficiency and individual artistic expression.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 280Moving Pixels3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours. 3 credits. Introduction to digital video, computer imaging and interactive multimedia as tools of artistic expression and social inquiry.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 281Digital Imaging I3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours (delivered face-to-face or hybrid). Enrollment is restricted to students in the Department of Photography. Digital still image camera is required. Study of fundamental techniques and processes of digital image-making, including image capture, manipulation and digital printing. Emphasizes professional standards, technical proficiency and individual artistic expression.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 289Filmmaking for Non-majors1-3

Semester course; 1.5-4.5 studio hours (delivered online or face-to-face). 1-3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits. Digital motion picture camera is required. Study of fundamental techniques and processes of digital filmmaking including image and audio recording, editing and exporting digital media. Emphasizes media as a tool of artistic expression and social inquiry.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
1
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Repeatable
May be repeated for a maximum of six credits.
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 290Photography for Non-majors1-3

Semester course; 1.5-4.5 studio hours (delivered online or face-to-face). 1-3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits. Digital still image camera is required. Study of fundamental techniques and processes of digital image-making, including image capture, manipulation and digital printing. Emphasizes professional standards, technical proficiency and individual artistic expression.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
1
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Repeatable
May be repeated for a maximum of six credits.
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 295Revolutionary Cinema3

Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online or face-to-face). 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHTO 280. Investigates a range of experimental/underground/alternative moving image art forms and styles and covers key historical moments in the avant-garde. Emphasizes attentive viewing and critical analysis of works that challenge dominant media conventions.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 307Processes and Techniques3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHTO 243. Explores alternative photographic techniques with an emphasis on handmade printing. Places various photographic practices and aesthetics in a historical context. Students develop personal awareness of their creative process in the pursuit of a conceptually coherent body of work.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 340Lighting I: Studio3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: PHTO 243 and PHTO 281. Introduces controlled lighting for still photography in the studio. Students use continuous light sources and professional grade strobe equipment to explore tabletop and portraiture photography through lectures and studio assignments. Emphasizes professional standards, technical proficiency and individual artistic expression.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 350Concepts I3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: UNIV 200 or HONR 200, and PHTO 281. Students utilize the aesthetic and technical skills mastered in previous courses to explore photography as a conceptual tool. Emphasizes both historic and contemporary contextualizations of the medium and fosters development of a long-term, personal artistic project.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 352Concepts II: Junior Project3

Semester course; 4.5 studio hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHTO 350. Students complete a conceptually coherent body of work that engages with photography as an artistic medium. Course emphasizes advanced understanding of historical perspectives and critical theory as they relate to the development of a personal project.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 361Sound and Color3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: PHTO 280 and PHTO 281. Explores advanced concepts and techniques in sound design, editing, color grading and postproduction workflow for film, video and multimedia.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 362Lighting and Cinematography3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHTO 280. Explores theory and formal aspects of lighting, framing, composition, and camera function and movement for moving-image media in a range of genres. Students develop strategies for visual storytelling through hands-on workshops and exercises.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 377The Film Image3

Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online or face-to-face). 3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of nine credits. An examination of production techniques and problems encountered by the filmmaker in creating the motion picture image. A selected number of narrative, documentary, experimental and animated films are viewed as source material and dealt with from a production point of view. The films chosen for discussion vary from semester to semester.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Repeatable
May be repeated for a maximum of nine credits.
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 381Digital Imaging II3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHTO 281. Digital still image camera is required. Study of advanced techniques and processes of digital image-making, including advanced manipulation and color control and advanced digital printing. Emphasizes professional standards, technical proficiency and individual artistic expression.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 390Writing and Directing for the Screen3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours (delivered online or face-to-face). 3 credits. Prerequisite: UNIV 200 or HONR 200. Enrollment is restricted to majors in the School of the Arts. Explores basic theory and formal aspects of story, structure, performance and character through readings, workshops and writing exercises. Students develop skills specific to writing, preproducing, staging and directing a short fiction film.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 391Topics in Photography and Film1-3

Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours (delivered online or face-to-face). 1-3 credits. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 16 credits toward graduation. A variety of photography or film issues will be covered. See the class schedule for specific topics covered each semester.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
1
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Repeatable
May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 16 credits toward graduation.
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 392Film Animation3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours. 3 credits. Explores various materials and processes, analog and digital, involved in creating animated moving image works. Emphasizes studio technique and artistic exploration.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 394Documentary I3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHTO 280. Introduces strategies for developing, shooting and editing various types of documentary and nonfiction media including, but not limited to, the electronic essay, biography/portraiture, ethnographic film and new genres. Covers key historical moments and ethical issues related to the representation of the real world.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 420Senior Thesis I3

Semester course; 4.5 studio hours. 3 credits. Enrollment is restricted to students with senior standing in the Department of Photography. Critical analysis and development of a yearlong creative thesis project with emphasis on the completion of a conceptually coherent body of work. Course emphasizes professional standards, technical proficiency and individual artistic expression informed by historical perspectives and critical theory.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 421Senior Thesis II3

Semester course; 2 lecture and 3 studio hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHTO 420. Critical analysis and development of a yearlong creative thesis project with emphasis on the completion of a conceptually coherent body of work. Course emphasizes professional standards, technical mastery and individual artistic expression informed by historical perspectives and theory. This course is a capstone experience integrating effective oral, written and visual communication, critical thinking and advanced studio techniques.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 435Professional Practice3

Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online or face-to-face). 3 credits. Examines a range of business models, practices and tools applicable to building a career in photography and related artistic, commercial and media fields. Emphasizes practical skills, marketing, legal and ethical issues.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 436Senior Suitcase3

Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online or face-to-face). 3 credits. Examines a range of professional practices and tools applicable to building a career in the media arts. Students develop ancillary materials related to their overall student film portfolio. Emphasizes practical skills, marketing and audience-engagement issues.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 442Lighting II: Location3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHTO 340. Explores photography using lighting design on location. Students concentrate on balancing and matching available lighting with electronic flash and continuous lighting tools. Emphasis is on the technical, professional and logistical skills required of a photographer working on location assignments and on using creative approaches to lighting and image design.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 474Contemporary Critical Perspectives3

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHTO 352. Explores and interrogates multiple theories of representation and the aesthetic, ideological, ethical and cultural issues raised by contemporary photography and related media. Students will view work, read contemporary criticism, engage in discussion and produce original, critical writing.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 475Advanced Production Workshop3

Semester course; 4.5 studio hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHTO 390. A practical, intensive workshop in which students work collaboratively in standard industry crew positions to complete a single project. Students explore craft, aesthetics, storytelling and production issues at an advanced level.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 484Thesis Film I3

Semester course; 4.5 studio hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHTO 475. Students complete writing, pre-visualization, preproduction and initial production on their thesis films. Students engage in workshops, screenings and critiques to further develop their professional identities and to advance their understanding of the methods and tools deployed by independent film and media artists.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 485Thesis Film II3

Semester course; 2 lecture and 3 studio hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHTO 484. Students complete all production, editing, sound design and outreach materials for their thesis films. Students engage in workshops, screenings and critiques in order to further develop their professional identities and to advance their understanding of the methods and tools deployed by independent film and media artists. This course is a capstone experience integrating effective oral, written and visual communication, critical thinking and advanced studio techniques.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 491Topics in Photography and Film1-4

Semester course; 1.5-6 studio hours (delivered online or face-to-face). 1-4 credits. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 12 credits toward graduation. A studio course that intensively engages photography, film and related-media subjects, including, but not limited to, a range of historical and contemporary photographic/cinematic practices, trends, theories and concerns within a wider artistic and art historical context. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics covered each semester.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
1
Credits (max)
4
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Repeatable
May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 12 credits toward graduation.
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 492Independent Study in Photography and Film1-3

Semester course; variable hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing as a major in photography and film, and approval of department chair and instructor. Individual instruction and supervision of a special project. Learning experiences should be designed with the supervising faculty member in the form of a contract between student and instructor. This course is limited to those students who have demonstrated an exceptional level of ability and intense commitment to their discipline.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
1
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Repeatable
May be repeated for a maximum total of 6 credits.
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 493Teaching Practicum in Photography and Film1-3

Semester course; variable hours. 1-3 credits. Repeatable for a maximum of 6 credits. Prerequisites: senior standing in the department and a minimum GPA of 3.0. Advanced students in photography and film are mentored in the classroom while serving as teaching apprentices. Specific duties are negotiated between the student and the mentor and approved by the department chair. Duties will typically include regular classroom attendance, peer tutoring and assistance in technical demonstrations of equipment and/or software.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
1
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 494Documentary II3

Semester course; 1 lecture and 3 studio hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHTO 394. Students will explore advanced concepts and techniques in documentary and nonfiction media creation through in-class exercises, screenings, independent productions and group critiques.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 495Photography and Film Internship1-6

Semester course; 1-6 practicum hours. 1-6 credits (30-40 work hours per credit). May be repeated for a maximum of nine credits. Enrollment is restricted to students with consent of the internship supervisor and academic adviser. Practical work experiences are coordinated with professionals in the field of photography, film and various arts disciplines. A grade of PR will be assigned for an internship that extends past the grading period.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
1
Credits (max)
6
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Repeatable
May be repeated for a maximum of nine credits.
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 621Directed Research1-3

Semester course; 1-3 research hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of nine credits. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students in the M.F.A. in Fine Arts concentrations; nonmajors can enroll with permission of the instructor. Approval of supervising faculty member and department chair necessary prior to registration. Learning experiences will be designed with the supervising faculty member in the form of a contract between student and instructor.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
1
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Repeatable
May be repeated for a maximum of nine credits.
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 670Graduate Studio6

Semester course; 9 studio hours. 6 credits. Repeated for a total of 24 credits. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students in the M.F.A. in Fine Arts photography and film concentration. Primary emphasis is placed on individual creative projects and on discussion of individual creative projects with regular exposure to the critical attention of other graduate students in the department, under the direction of the teaching faculty. Special emphasis is given to the development of personal expression through individual research and criticism.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
6
Credits (max)
6
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 681Candidacy Research. 13

Semester course; 1.5 or 4.5 studio hours. 1 or 3 credits. Must be repeated for a total of six credits. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students in the M.F.A. in Fine Arts photo/film concentration. This course comprises the process of producing work to achieve candidacy, a crucial qualifying step in which student’s academic achievements are reviewed, and the student’s readiness to proceed to the final research phase of the degree program is determined.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hour
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 690Graduate Seminar3

Semester course; 3 seminar hours. 3 credits. Must be repeated for at least six credits and no more than 12 credits. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students in the M.F.A. in Fine Arts photography and film and kinetic imaging concentrations. Weekly seminar for the purpose of examining contemporary issues within the field of fine art, broadening critical discourse and considering artists’ work within the context of a creative practice.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 691Special Topics Studio3

Semester course; 4.5 studio hours. 3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of nine credits. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students in the M.F.A. in Fine Arts concentrations. A studio course that focuses on specific issues, theories or historical events in relationship to students’ research and studio practice.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Repeatable
May be repeated for a maximum of nine credits.
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 692Independent Studio3

Semester course; 4.5 studio hours. 3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of nine credits. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students in the M.F.A. in Fine Arts concentrations. An independent studio course that allows students to develop specific skills or explore techniques. Approval of supervising faculty member and department chair necessary prior to registration.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Repeatable
May be repeated for a maximum of nine credits.
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 693Fieldwork, Internship. 36

Semester course; 6 or 12 studio hours. 3 or 6 credits. May be repeated. Professional field experience in the theoretical and practical applications of photography and/or film through cooperative organizations. Formal arrangements will be made with state agencies, industries, community organizations, and professionals in the field.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
6
Credits (max)
6
Credit unit
Hours
Type
course
Repeatable
May be repeated.
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu
PHTO 699Thesis. 13

Semester course; 1.5 or 4.5 studio hours. 1 or 3 credits. Must be repeated for a total of six credits. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students in the M.F.A. in Fine Arts photography and film concentration. This course comprises the process of producing work for and exhibiting it in the thesis exhibition; a written thesis; and an oral presentation by second-year M.F.A. students, a crucial qualifying step for students to complete the program. Graded as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.

Subject
PHTO
Credits (min)
3
Credits (max)
3
Credit unit
Hour
Type
course
Edition
2026-2027
Catalog
Bulletin 2026-27
Source
bulletin.vcu.edu

Source: Virginia Commonwealth University's catalog, linked per course · table learning_unit · CourseShelf publish 59