MCC Enhances Visual Arts Program

MANCHESTER, CT 2014 — Manchester Community College has expanded its Visual Fine Arts associate degree program to include a photography certificate, college officials said Monday.

The photography certificate is an 18-credit program that prepares students to take a direct route to the work force, officials said. It can be obtained in conjunction with any other major at MCC.

For example, Amy Lord, a resident of Willington, who will graduate in May 2018, will pair the photography certificate with her associate degree in graphic design.

“These skills paired together will give me more opportunities in today's job market,” Lord said. “By providing the photography certificate option, MCC has allowed me to broaden my academic career, enabling me to integrate photography within my graphic design coursework, and demonstrate my skills diversity to prospective employers.”

The photography certificate enhances the Visual Fine Arts program, which already included a photography option — a transfer-orientated 60-credit associate degree that introduces "foundational photographic concepts, techniques and skills and an overview of the cultural and historical significance of the medium. This program prepares students to continue their studies on the baccalaureate level."

Students on both the photography option and certificate paths will learn traditional black-and-white processes in a large well-equipped darkroom and digital capture, and editing techniques utilizing Adobe Photoshop in a state-of-the-art Mac lab, officials said.

In addition, students will have the opportunity to work in the MCC lighting studio, work with medium format cameras, and make large-scale prints. All analog cameras can be borrowed via the college’s unique camera loan program, officials said.

For more information, visit www.manchestercc.edu/ visual-fine-arts.

Photo Credit: MCC