Master of Fine Art in Photography

at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth USA

The Management major prepares you to succeed in environments that require initiative, professionalism, and the ability to work independently. You'll develop your analytical and leadership skills and gain knowledge in how to supervise others, develop and implement strategies, and advance organizational goals.

UMass Dartmouth's Management degree offers 2 study options that enable you to refine your management skills in your area of interest:

Small Business and Entrepreneurship option
You'll focus on how to identify, plan, and start a new venture—either as a start-up or an as an initiative within an existing business.

You will complete 3 core courses in Management, and elective courses that cover topics such as the identification of new products and services and the development of comprehensive business plans.

Leadership option
Organizational leaders plan and coordinate the activities of others, as well as doing hands-on work themselves. As a general manager, you'll combine day-to-day operations with special projects, personnel decisions, customer relations, and budgeting.

You will complete 3 core courses in Management, and elective courses that cover topics such as career development and human resources management.

English is an exciting discipline that challenges you to explore both literature and writing. Pursue your interest in literature by choosing the literature and criticism option. You'll learn how to:

• Read and think critically
• Engage with literature—and the world—thoughtfully and analytically
• Identify and analyze formal literary genres and schools of literary criticism
• Communicate effectively through literary analysis, persuasive argument, critical exposition, and presentation

Our award-winning faculty members specialize in a wide and diverse range of fields such as creative nonfiction, drama, fiction, poetry, world and British literature, and many more.

The skills you'll develop as an English major are essential in today's competitive job market and can lead to rewarding careers in communications, editing, freelance writing, grants writing, journalism, public relations, publishing, teaching, technical writing, screenwriting, and many other fields. You'll also be prepared for graduate study across many disciplines, such as creative and professional writing, education, law, and library/information science.

Mathematicians are problem solvers and precise thinkers, applying their knowledge and skills in academia, government, industry, research, and technology.

UMass Dartmouth's mathematics program provides a foundation in both the theoretical and applied aspects of mathematics, preparing you for a variety of careers, including: actuary, algorithm design, biostatistician, computer information systems, data science, defense analyst, economics, education, finance, game developer, government, insurance, manufacturing, medicine, mathematical modeling consultant, psychology, science computing, software development, and statistician.
You'll also be well-prepared for graduate studies in math or in areas that emphasize math, such as economics, engineering, and the sciences.

The mathematics program is designed to provide a solid foundation in the theoretical and applied aspects of mathematics necessary for a variety of professional careers. The flexibility within the third and fourth years is established to enable mathematics majors to concentrate in areas of their interest. Students can choose their curricula so as to emphasize that role of mathematics which will be useful to them in later years, whether in K-12 school teaching, graduate school, a career in the public or private sector, a career in industry, or graduate study in areas that emphasize math, such as economics and the sciences.

As a music major, you'll develop your performance abilities and explore the world's musical heritage from the Americas to Africa, Asia and Oceania, Europe, and the Middle East/West Asia.

The BA in Music program provides opportunities for intensive study in applied music, the history of music, music education, and theory. Grounded in the importance of cultural, geographical, and social contexts, our curriculum is distinguished by its focus on the study and performance of music from diverse cultures, including jazz and world music.

Technology is an important part of the curriculum, emphasizing skills for contemporary music and its integration with time-based arts such as computer music, dance, theater, video/film, and the visual arts.

Your studies in music at UMassD will prepare you for careers in composition, education, performance, recording, and sound design—as well as for advanced study in music and related disciplines.

As a photography major, you will gain expertise in both traditional and digital techniques and explore photographic imagery in all contexts. When you pursue your BFA in Art + Design: Photography, you will develop your own photographic vision and deepen your expressive communication.

The BFA is a professional degree with concentrated areas of specialization, so you will take more art courses than you would in a BA program. At UMass Dartmouth, you also have the advantages of a university education where you can diversify your studies and expand your career opportunities.

Your studies will include:

• Black & white darkroom photography
• Color digital imaging & printing
• Large format photography
• Studio lighting
• Video
• The history of photography
• Contemporary practice

Your work will culminate in a gallery exhibition and a portfolio that demonstrates your individual style, technical proficiency, and aesthetic sophistication.

A degree in photography will prepare you for a career as a fine art and commercial photographer, photojournalist, videographer, photo editor, gallery or museum director, curator, image consultant, multimedia designer, photo educator, photo archivist, studio manager, filmmaker, web designer, lab technician, and professional printer.

The Mechanical Engineering Department offers the MS degree in mechanical engineering. Course offerings and faculty interests span the entire range of the mechanical engineering field.

The MS program provides advanced education enabling students to solve complex engineering problems.

Program objectives
Through your master's level studies, you will gain:

• An advanced level of understanding in the general areas of mechanical engineering
• Depth of knowledge and an understanding of advanced topics in your chosen area of specialization

You will have the ability to:

• Identify and formulate complex engineering problems
• Develop solutions to complex engineering problems
• Communicate technical material effectively both orally and through technical reports and publications

The need for advanced degrees in civil and environmental engineering is both regional and global.

UMassD's Master of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering provides professionals with the skills needed to handle today's challenges, with opportunities to specialize in:

• Structural and geotechnical engineering
• Environmental and water resources engineering
• Transportation engineering

Through faculty consulting and student projects, the civil and environmental engineering program has forged strong bonds in southeastern Massachusetts, one of the state's fastest-growing regions. The program:

• Contributes to the growth of regional industries, businesses, and governmental agencies
• Addresses problems related to development and infrastructure
• Provides an accessible source of graduate education for the region's engineering employees

Faculty also address environmental problems that impact economic development, including:

• Water quality and quantity issues
• Lake eutrophication
• Hazardous waste handling
• Preservation of the ecological health of the bays
• Industrial wastewater treatment
• Solid waste handling
• Leachate collection and treatment

The program offers:

• Small classes
• Close contact with faculty who have a diverse set of research interests and industry experiences
• Access to well-supported research facilities
• State-of-the-art computational and experimental research facilities
• Opportunities for full-time or part-time study
• Convenient class schedule for students who are employed

Our program is based on the belief that photography has a unique ability to merge new technologies as well as cultural and historical influences with artistic production.

Placing our degree within the Design context allows the MFA Photo candidate to gain access to a broader array of faculty conversant with new technologies and design theory which in turn enables candidates to acquire and utilize a more professionally oriented degree and skill set.

MFA candidates develop a thesis project based on their own unique research. The thesis requires both visual and written components which are intellectually, formally, and technically rigorous. Students form a committee based on their thesis topic, choosing from faculty who provide a wide variety of viewpoints and expertise.

In addition to access to the photographic facilities on the main campus—which include a state of the art media lab with 48” Epson color printer, black and white darkrooms and professional lighting studio—MFA students are supplied with graduate studios at our Star Store campus in New Bedford. This downtown arts campus houses all disciplines in graduate study, fostering a communal artistic environment in which multi-discipline projects and collaborations are possible.

Opportunities both to exhibit and curate exhibitions are available at the Star Store's 244 Gallery for graduate students.

The Computer Science MS program gives graduates a broad and deep knowledge of computer science by offering a strong core program with a wide selection of elective courses.

The program maintains a balance between theory, systems, and applications—with an emphasis on software development.

You'll gain the ability and confidence to use your knowledge by working on realistic-scale, graduate-level projects. Your experience will include:

• Work as a member of a team
• Situations where you will be responsible for the entire project, from problem specification to solution
• Independent research
• Presentation of research results in oral and written forms

You will graduate with the knowledge and skills required to develop and design high-quality computer systems and application software—and the ability to follow the rapid changes in the field of computer science.

Innovation, invention, and independence are the cornerstones of CVPA's Sculpture program. As you pursue your BFA in Art + Design: Sculpture, you'll be inspired to cultivate your visual voice.

The BFA is a professional degree with concentrated areas of specialization, so you will take more art courses than you would in a BA program. At UMass Dartmouth, you also have the advantages of a university education where you can diversify your studies and expand your career opportunities.

You will be exposed to the many possibilities of contemporary sculpture as you explore both theory and practice. You'll learn to think critically as you develop a practical skill set directed by your interests and goals.

Sculpture students gain experience in a broad spectrum of 3D art-making approaches and genres through focused, disciplined studio practice.

Individualized instruction at every level will guide you through the almost limitless possibilities with materials, processes, and emerging genres available to three-dimensional artists today. Our goal is to create well-prepared, broadly informed artists who can fluently express their ideas three-dimensionally.

You'll participate in numerous exhibitions of your work, culminating with the capstone BFA Exhibition in a professional museum or gallery setting.

The sculpture program prepares you for a career as a professional artist with opportunities in areas such as 3D design, fabrication, film and video industries, galleries, museums, theaters, and education, as well as for graduate study.