MPS Digital Photography Curriculum

Note: Departmental requirements are subject to change by the department chair if the chair deems that such change is warranted.

Degree Requirements

• Successful completion of 30 credits, including all required courses and the thesis project. Documentation of all thesis projects must be on file in the Digital Photography Department to be eligible for degree conferral.

• Three semesters of residency (fall, spring and summer). Students must complete their degree within two years, unless given an official extension by the provost.

• Students are required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) in order to remain in good academic standing. Only course grades of B- or higher will be applied toward the degree. Students who receive a grade below B- may have to repeat the course (or an equivalent course that satisfies a degree requirement). Grades of less than B- are awarded credit and are used to calculate term and cumulative GPA.

Course Requirements

Fall Semester

DPG-5220 Digital Capture and Workflow

DPG-5250 Color Management and Output

DPG-5310 Editorial Photography

DPG-5350 i3: Ideas, Images, Inspiration I

DPG-5420 Advanced Image Processing

DPG-5470 Contemporary Image

Spring Semester

DPG-5355 i3: Ideas, Images, Inspiration II

DPG-5480 Business Practices

DPG-5520 Motion, Sound and Video

DPG-5600 Thesis Development

DPG-5620 Design Essentials

Summer Semester

DPG-5810 i3: Ideas, Images, Inspiration III

DPG-5820 Thesis: Exhibition Printing

DPG-5910 Thesis: Electronic Portfolio

DPG-5920 Thesis: Book and Brand

DPG-5930The Exhibit

DPG-5960 Professional Communication Essentials

General Course Listing

The following reflects the 2025-2026 course offerings. For further details on individual courses, such as meeting days and times, please refer to the Graduate Course Listing.

DPG-5220

Digital Capture and Workflow

3 credits

This course is a comprehensive survey of the terms, tools and technology of digital-image capture, lighting and workflow. Students will learn how to evaluate and improve image quality, understand and apply critical technical analysis to sensor, lens and workflow components, and how to manage image files from capture and download to processing, editing and archiving. The second half of the course addresses the creative and technical workflow that commercial and fine art illustrators use to make compelling photo montages and composite images.

DPG-5250

Color Management and Output

3 credits

This course tackles the most prominent problem of making a print—accurately and consistently reproducing the photographer’s vision. Topics will include: creating files that are color managed from input to output, properly sharpened for a wide selection of media substrates, working with a variety of color management systems and equipment, taking advantage of Photoshop soft proofing and experimenting with a wide variety of papers and output options to achieve predictable and repeatable results.

DPG-5310

Editorial Photography

3 credits

This intensive seminar will simulate real-world, magazine and multimedia assignments. Students will develop story ideas and learn how to edit the work for final submission. Students will complete a body of work for either print or online publication and most importantly garner valuable inside knowledge of how prominent editors and photographers think about and execute highly sought after magazine assignments.

DPG-5350 / DPG-5355

i3: Ideas, Images, Inspiration I and II

No credit 

This required biweekly lecture series features leading-edge digital fashion, editorial and fine-art photographers. Industry experts, including editors, curators, art directors and retouchers, as well as hardware and software developers bring unique and current insights about the ever-changing field of digital photography and content creation.

DPG-5420

Advanced Image Processing

3 credits

Advanced creative and production techniques are the focus of this course. Issues addressed include managing, processing and enhancing a wide variety of still and video files, developing a professional workflow, exploring the creative digital darkroom, advanced masking and retouching techniques. This course also addresses the creative workflow that commercial and fine art illustrators use to make compelling photo montages and composites.

DPG-5470

Contemporary Image

No credit

This biweekly seminar addresses photographic issues, practices and influencers from 1950 to the present. Providing an overview of contemporary photographers, significant exhibits and publications, we will delve into the changing role of photography and what being a photographer in the 21st century entails. Seminal photographers and processes will be addressed, to afford students a deeper appreciation of the history of photography and enrich the thesis process.

DPG-5480

Business Practices

3 credits

Being a successful photographer requires more than talent and good fortune. This course will examine proper business practices in the photography industry that include budgeting, financial planning; negotiating and pricing concerns; image use, copyright, and copyright registration; developing the correct and proper paperwork needed, such as invoices and a variety of model and property releases. This class provides the foundation needed to build a solid photography business.

DPG-5520

Motion, Sound and Video

3 credits

From concept to capture and editing, this course addresses the skills and techniques photographers need to add effective motion and sound elements to their images, along with producing professional video content. We will examine the essential attributes of successful video productions, including planning, collaboration, lighting, rigging, sound recording, color grading and editing.

DPG-5600

Thesis Development

3 credits

Dedicated to developing the thesis body of work that demonstrates the highest creative and technical standards, this course will concentrate on the written thesis proposal, media research and exploration, thesis project development, rigorous critique and a survey of electronic, book and exhibit image distribution and display options.

DPG-5620

Design Essentials

3 credits

This course concentrates on the design and software skills used in branding page layout and web design that are essential for the successful completion of the thesis project. Working with the Adobe Creative Suite, students will learn how to work with type and will be introduced to the fundamentals of logo design, page layout, web design and publishing portfolios to tablets.

Summer Semester

DPG-5790

Handmade Book

No credit

This two session, hands-on workshop addresses working with basic bookbinding methods, including gatefold and pamphlet binding, and essential gluing and stitching techniques to explore sequencing and pacing of images within the bound book. Working with handmade papers and linens, students will create unique books with photographs and texts, which are bound or boxed together in completed form.

DPG-5810

i3: Ideas, Images, Inspiration III

No credit

This required biweekly lecture series features leading-edge digital fashion, editorial and fine-art photographers. Industry experts, including editors, curators, art directors and retouchers, as well as hardware and software developers who bring unique and current insights about the ever-changing field of digital photography and content creation.

DPG-5820

Thesis: Exhibition Printing

2 credits

In this course students will select, prepare and fine-tune their images for exhibition-quality printing. Topics addressed include refining digital input, choosing an appropriate print size, optimizing sharpening techniques and understanding proofs in relationship to size, substrate and color. Students will work with wide-format printers to create final color and black-and-white prints.

DPG-5910

Thesis: Electronic Portfolio

2 credits

Students will explore the grouping, sequencing, distributing and presenting of their images via a website, video or tablet delivery. Since this is a digital process, students have tremendous freedom to publish their images as well as to experiment with the most effective way to present and sequence images for a wide variety of on-screen portfolio options.

DPG-5920

Thesis: Book and Brand

2 credits

In this course students will experiment with the layout of their thesis images and provide the writing that may accompany their images. Students will produce a final book design, including image selection and writing, and then print it using digital book publishing services or by creating their own handmade book. Additionally, students will design and print their branding, business and marketing materials.

DPG-5930

The Exhibit

No credit

Working in a gallery space is a creative and often collaborative challenge. The number of images shown, their size, their presentation, delivery, insurance, hanging and removal are all issues an artist must face. This class concentrates on contemporary fine art issues and collaboratively developing the thesis exhibition name and brand.

DPG-5960

Professional Communication Essentials

No credit

Being a successful artist requires that you present yourself with polished and professional written and verbal eloquence. Students will learn how to write an effective résumé, cover letter and artist statement. Additionally, students will learn how to plan and execute a professional verbal presentation suitable for interviews, pitches and public speaking events.