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Photo- & Lens- Based Design Application Information

HIGH SCHOOL PREP
for the PRE-MAJOR
For the PRE-BFA
for the BFA

HIGH SCHOOL PREPARATION

While still in high school, you can do the following things to prepare for the Photography program at BYU:

  • Take any art courses offered at your high school- AP Art, Photography, Art Foundations, etc. While these courses will not be counted as a pre-requisite to the Photography program, faculty members recommend prospective students to take advantage of any courses offered prior to high school graduation as they can provide valuable practice.
  • Apply for a Design Dept Talent Award Scholarship in November. These applications are available 30 days prior to the deadline, Dec 1st, and are available to prospective BYU students. In addition, if you are granted a talent award, you automatically bypass the first application process. In addition, if you are granted a talent award scholarship, you automatically bypass the first application process.This means you would be recognized as a pre-BFA students and you would simply take DESPH 116, DESPH 120, and DESPH 260 before applying to the BFA program in June. For more information about Talent Awards and Department Scholarships, please visit our Financial Aid page.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Admissions
Prospective BYU students wishing to be admitted into the Photo- & Lens- Based Design BFA program for Fall semester must first apply to BYU through BYU Admissions. Admission to BYU does not guarantee admission into the Department of Design degree Programs.

Faculty
Our program has excellent experienced faculty who will work personally with you as you progress through the program. Professors will be mentors, offering advice and direction. Our faculty are all award-winning, established photographers with years of teaching professional experience. Visit our faculty page to see individual bios, contact information, or work they have completed.

Software/Hardware
Incoming BYU design students are asked to purchase a computer for their own convenience and to maximize their academic experience. Pre-major courses can be completed with the use of university labs, however most students prefer having their own computer. Certain advanced photography workflows will require specialized software and hardware that is provided in department labs and classrooms.

The Department recommends the following configurations for photo- & lens- based design students: Apple MacBook Pro (or equivalent Windows PC) with sufficient capacity to support Adobe Creative Cloud (including Adobe Photoshop and Premier). The BYU Store carries a full line of discounted computers, accessories and discounted software subscriptions.

HOW TO BECOME A PRE-MAJOR

As a new student to BYU and prospective Photo- & Lens- Based Design major, you must declare your major as Pre-Photo- & Lens- Based Design. This status does not guarantee admission into the program and can be changed at any time, but gives you access to the first pre-requisite course, DESPH 116. To declare as a Pre-Photo- & Lens- Based Design student, please visit MyMAP or contact the Advisement Center at (801) 422-3777.

After declaring yourself as a Pre-Major, register for the pre-requisite, DESPH 116. Keep in mind that it takes a couple hours and sometimes days to register your Pre-Major status, so do well in advance to the day you hope to register for courses.

During DESPH 116, your professor will give you more information on what the Pre-BFA application will require. These applications will be open 3 times a year and you will have the opportunity to apply one additional time if unaccepted during your first review.

If your portfolio review is successful, you will then be granted Pre-BFA status.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Software/Hardware
Photo- & Lens- Based Design Majors should purchase an Apple MacBook Pro (or equivalent Windows PC) with sufficient capacity to support Adobe Creative Cloud (including Adobe Photoshop and Premier). The BYU Store carries a full line of discounted computers, accessories and discounted software subscriptions.

Admissions
Prospective BYU students wishing to be admitted into the Photo- & Lens- Based program for Fall semester must first apply to BYU through BYU Admissions. Admission to BYU does not guarantee admission into the Department of Design degree Programs.

Transfer Students
Transfer students applying for admittance to the Department of Design are asked to submit a portfolio on the department's application portal, which are reviewed year round. To find out more information, please visit our transfer student page or contact our office.

Faculty
Our program has excellent experienced faculty who will work personally with you as you progress through the program. Professors will be mentors, offering advice and direction. Our faculty are all award-winning, established animators with years of teaching professional experience. Visit our faculty page to see individual bios, contact information, or work they have completed.

PRE-BFA APPLICATION DEADLINES: 2024: April 16, June 17, December 10

Link to more application information: Photo- & Lens- Based Design Pre-BFA Application Information

Application Information will be available 30 days prior to the application deadline.

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If you are not accepted into the program after your first application, you have another opportunity to submit your portfolio the next portfolio review. If unaccepted the second time, faculty members will then recommend you to pursue another major.

IF YOU GET INTO THE PRE-BFA

After being granted Pre-BFA status, you will then have access to the next 2 pre-requisite courses: DESPH 120 and DESPH 260, which are only offered winter semester. Complete these two courses prior to applying for the Photo- & Lens- Based Design BFA program.

BFA portfolio reviews and applications are reviewed once a year in June, and more information on the application process will be available as the deadline approaches. You may review the current requirements for the BFA application, but keep in mind that it is subject to change.

BFA APPLICATION

June 17, 2024

2024 Application Information will be available at the end of winter semester 2024

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Students may apply for the Photo- & Lens- Based Design BFA degree program only after first obtaining Photo- & Lens- Based Design Pre-BFA status.

BFA portfolio review and applications are reviewed once a year in June, and more information on the application process will be available 30 days prior to the application deadline. You may review the current requirements for the BFA application, but keep in mind that it is subject to change.

If you are not accepted into the program after your first application, you have another opportunity to submit your portfolio the next portfolio review in June. If you are unaccepted after applying a second time, faculty members will then recommend you to pursue another major.

BFA PORTFOLIO INFORMATION

The portfolio should consist of 15-20 best, most current examples of artwork. This artwork should be a curated sampling of projects mainly created outside of the classroom, but may include classwork from DESPH 120, and 1 video from DESPH 260.

IF YOU ARE ADMITTED TO THE BFA

During your time in the Photo- & Lens- Based Design program at BYU, you will have the opportunity to take courses on lighting, filmmaking, art history, visual storytelling, stop-motion, and others. Students in the Photo- & Lens- Based Design program are required to complete an internship in order to graduate and students are often placed in prestigious studios. For more information about the Photo- & Lens- Based Design Major Academic Plan, please visit the Photo- & Lens- Based Design Undergraduate Catalog.