General Course Listing

The courses that follow reflect the offerings for the 2024-2025 academic year. For additional course details please visit the Registrar page and click on the Graduate Course Listing.

DPG-5220

Digital Capture and Workflow

Fall semester: 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

Fall semester: 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

Fall semester: 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

Two semesters: no credit

These required biweekly lecture series feature 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

Fall semester: 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

Fall semester: 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

Spring semester: 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

Spring semester: 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

Spring semester: 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

Spring semester: 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

Summer semester: 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

Summer semester: 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

Summer semester: 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

Summer semester: 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

Summer semester: 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

Summer semester: 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

Summer semester: 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.

MPS Digital Photography Curriculum