Photography Minor


Student uses large camera

The Minor in Photography emphasizes visual literacy, critical thinking, and creative and professional practice. Successful candidates will cultivate an advanced visual language in support of their major studies and exit the program with a working technical and conceptual grasp of photography as an expressive and communicative medium.

Total Required Credit Hours, 300+ Level (jr/sr) Credit Hours:

The Minor in Photography requires 18 credit hours of coursework, at least 12 of which should be 300+ credit hours.

Residency Requirement:

At least 9 credit hours of coursework required for the minor must be completed at KU.

Required Graduation GPA, Minimum Grade Requirements:

A minimum GPA of 2.0 must be met or exceeded across all required courses for the Minor in Photography in order to earn the minor. Most courses for the minor require minimum semester grades in order to count toward the minor. When applicable, the minimum required semester grade for a course is listed in its description.

Specific Course Requirements:

Foundation Requirements (6 credit hours):

PHTO 200 (Digital) or PHTO 205 (Darkroom) - 3 credit hours

PHTO 210 (Understanding Photographs) - 3 credit hours

 

Elective Requirements (12+ credit hours from these options):

ADS 320 (KU Design Symposium) - 1 credit hour

HA 380 (History of Photography) - 3 credit hours

PHTO 303 (View Camera) - 4 credit hours

PHTO 304 (Advanced Digital PHTO) - 4 credit hours

PHTO 313 (Lighting Studio) - 3 credit hours

PHTO 314 (The Moving Image) - 3 credit hours

PHTO 315 (Experimental Processes) - 3 credit hours

PHTO 360 (The Photobook) - 3 credit hours

PHTO 560 (City as Subject) - 3 credit hours

ADS 560 (Portraiture from Within) - 3 credit hours

ADS 532/533 (PHTO in London & Paris) - 3 credit hours

Notes: 

  • Students interested in the Photography Minor must have successfully completed or be currently enrolled in PHTO 200 or PHTO 205 when applying for admission to the Minor. Students may also enroll in PHTO 210, HA 380 and ADS 320 regardless of the status of their admission to the Minor.
  • ADS 320 can be taken up to three times for credit toward the PHTO Minor
  • Admission to the Minor in Photography is prerequisite to enrollment in PHTO courses numbered 303 and above.
  • Space in PHTO courses at the 300+ level is carefully managed with priority for students in the Photography major. Students admitted to the Photography Minor must work with our academic advisor and the Director of the Photography program regarding their specific enrollment plan.
  • If a student takes PHTO 101 prior to PHTO 200 or PHTO 205, PHTO 101 may be allowed to count in place of the PHTO 210 requirement.

Application Requirements

Admission to the Minor in Photography is selective and competitive. Submitting an application for admission to the minor does not guarantee admission to the minor. 

Applications to the Minor in Photography are reviewed in the spring semester each year and are due by midnight on the night of April 17, 2024. Applications should include the following:

  • A short essay (200-400 words) responding to the following questions:

    • Why do you want to pursue the Photography Minor?
    • How do you see the Photography Minor complementing your area of study?
  • A portfolio of your 10 strongest images
  • A PDF of your advising report (available at My KU > Academics > My Progress in the lower right-hand corner)

Application for Photography Minor

 

Important Notes

  • Students interested in the Photography Minor must have successfully completed or be currently enrolled in PHTO 200 when applying for admission to the Minor. Students may also enroll in PHTO 210, HA 380 and ADS 320 regardless of the status of their admission to the Minor.
  • Admission to the Photography Minor is prerequisite to enrollment in PHTO courses at the 300+ level. Admission to the Photography Minor is competitive, and is subject to availability of space in PHTO coursework. 
  • Space in PHTO courses at the 300+ level is carefully managed with priority for students in the Photography major. Students admitted to the Minor in Photography must work with our academic advisor and the Director of the Photography program regarding their specific enrollment plan.

Elise Kirk, Program Coordinator and Instructor: elisekirk@ku.edu

Joan Weaver, Admissions Coordinator (Admissions/Application Questions): jweaver@ku.edu

Addison Kingsbury, Academic Advisor: akingsbury@ku.edu 

The Minor in Photography emphasizes visual literacy, critical thinking, and creative and professional practice. Successful candidates will cultivate an advanced visual language in support of their major studies and exit the program with a working technical and conceptual grasp of photography as an expressive and communicative medium.

Total Required Credit Hours, 300+ Level (jr/sr) Credit Hours:

The Minor in Photography requires 18 credit hours of coursework, at least 12 of which should be 300+ credit hours.

Residency Requirement:

At least 9 credit hours of coursework required for the minor must be completed at KU.

Required Graduation GPA, Minimum Grade Requirements:

A minimum GPA of 2.0 must be met or exceeded across all required courses for the Minor in Photography in order to earn the minor. Most courses for the minor require minimum semester grades in order to count toward the minor. When applicable, the minimum required semester grade for a course is listed in its description.

Specific Course Requirements:

Foundation Requirements (6 credit hours):

PHTO 200 (Digital) or PHTO 205 (Darkroom) - 3 credit hours

PHTO 210 (Understanding Photographs) - 3 credit hours

 

Elective Requirements (12+ credit hours from these options):

ADS 320 (KU Design Symposium) - 1 credit hour

HA 380 (History of Photography) - 3 credit hours

PHTO 303 (View Camera) - 4 credit hours

PHTO 304 (Advanced Digital PHTO) - 4 credit hours

PHTO 313 (Lighting Studio) - 3 credit hours

PHTO 314 (The Moving Image) - 3 credit hours

PHTO 315 (Experimental Processes) - 3 credit hours

PHTO 360 (The Photobook) - 3 credit hours

PHTO 560 (City as Subject) - 3 credit hours

ADS 560 (Portraiture from Within) - 3 credit hours

ADS 532/533 (PHTO in London & Paris) - 3 credit hours

Notes: 

  • Students interested in the Photography Minor must have successfully completed or be currently enrolled in PHTO 200 or PHTO 205 when applying for admission to the Minor. Students may also enroll in PHTO 210, HA 380 and ADS 320 regardless of the status of their admission to the Minor.
  • ADS 320 can be taken up to three times for credit toward the PHTO Minor
  • Admission to the Minor in Photography is prerequisite to enrollment in PHTO courses numbered 303 and above.
  • Space in PHTO courses at the 300+ level is carefully managed with priority for students in the Photography major. Students admitted to the Photography Minor must work with our academic advisor and the Director of the Photography program regarding their specific enrollment plan.
  • If a student takes PHTO 101 prior to PHTO 200 or PHTO 205, PHTO 101 may be allowed to count in place of the PHTO 210 requirement.

Application Requirements

Admission to the Minor in Photography is selective and competitive. Submitting an application for admission to the minor does not guarantee admission to the minor. 

Applications to the Minor in Photography are reviewed in the spring semester each year and are due by midnight on the night of April 17, 2024. Applications should include the following:

  • A short essay (200-400 words) responding to the following questions:

    • Why do you want to pursue the Photography Minor?
    • How do you see the Photography Minor complementing your area of study?
  • A portfolio of your 10 strongest images
  • A PDF of your advising report (available at My KU > Academics > My Progress in the lower right-hand corner)

Application for Photography Minor

 

Important Notes

  • Students interested in the Photography Minor must have successfully completed or be currently enrolled in PHTO 200 when applying for admission to the Minor. Students may also enroll in PHTO 210, HA 380 and ADS 320 regardless of the status of their admission to the Minor.
  • Admission to the Photography Minor is prerequisite to enrollment in PHTO courses at the 300+ level. Admission to the Photography Minor is competitive, and is subject to availability of space in PHTO coursework. 
  • Space in PHTO courses at the 300+ level is carefully managed with priority for students in the Photography major. Students admitted to the Minor in Photography must work with our academic advisor and the Director of the Photography program regarding their specific enrollment plan.

Elise Kirk, Program Coordinator and Instructor: elisekirk@ku.edu

Joan Weaver, Admissions Coordinator (Admissions/Application Questions): jweaver@ku.edu

Addison Kingsbury, Academic Advisor: akingsbury@ku.edu