• Photography MFA

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  • Contact Us

    [email protected] 
    212.229.5150 (U.S. only)

    Program Contact
    James Ramer, Program Director
    Arthur Ou, Associate Director

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  • The MFA Photography program prepares you to become a practicing artist and scholar, redefining the creative role of the photographer in contemporary culture. The program challenges you to move beyond current paradigms, anticipating and setting trends rather than following them. Parsons’ long-standing ties to New York City's photography and art communities provide access to world-class partners for internships, exhibitions, research, and representation.

    Program Highlights

    • Intensive Summer Sessions

      Begin your studies with an eight-week summer session at Parsons, the first of three, in which you attend lectures by and meet with visiting artists, curators, and critics.

    • Connect to Local Practitioners

      Benefit from rigorous critiques and program-sponsored conferences that help situate your work in historical and theoretical contexts and contemporary issues.

    • Renowned Guest Artists

      Recent visitors include Elinor Carucci, Lisa Oppenheim, Eva Respini, Anna Ostoya, Charlotte Cotton, Tehching Hsieh, Matthew Buckingham, Baseera Khan, and Louise Lawler.

    • Creative Collaboration

      Work alongside students in related programs in Communication Design, Fine Arts, Design and Technology, and Illustration, fostering interdisciplinary projects.

    • Degree Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
    • Format Full-time, on campus
    • Credits 60
    • Duration 2 years (26 months)

  • Curriculum

    In the fall and spring semesters, students engage in faculty-supervised independent study and fulfill course requirements on campus or online. Annual graduate thesis exhibitions and publications extend students’ reach into art communities.

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  • Career Paths

    Graduates go on to publish, exhibit internationally, and work in related positions. They pursue careers such as commercial photography, editorial photography, fashion photography, documentary production, and fine art.

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    Explore Our Community

    Discover what our students, alumni, and faculty are doing in NYC and worldwide.

    amt.parsons.edu/mfaphoto

  • Student Work

      See Our Work

    • Parsons faculty represent a broad range of expertise and are acknowledged as leading practitioners and scholars in their fields. The program also welcomes a number of visiting artists each year.

    • Beyond the Classroom

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        Research Labs

        Research is integral to the Parsons learning experience, and students and faculty work together to challenge existing paradigms and advance emerging scholarship and practice. Explore the thematic research laboratories housed at Parsons and throughout The New School.

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        Industry Engagement

        Connect to the organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs driving global creativity and commerce. In classes, internships, and extracurricular projects, you gain marketable problem-solving skills in sectors ranging from government and nonprofits to tech and creative industries.

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        Internships

        New York City’s thriving creative industry and cultural institutions are part of your Parsons education. Our Career Services Office is enmeshed in the art and design industries and can help you advance your career with industry-oriented internships. 

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        Funded Opportunities

        Funds are earmarked for graduate travel, research, and work to support your study. Opportunities include paid teaching assistantships, research fellowships and assistantships (including ones offered throughout The New School), ample student employment, and other grants available to U.S. domestic and international students alike.

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        Facilities

        Parsons has extensive making resources for photography students; including traditional black-and-white, non-silver, and alternative processes darkrooms; two state-of-the-art digital labs; a Durst Theta Digital-C printer, and five shooting studios.

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      • Take The Next Step

      Submit your application

      Undergraduates

      To apply to any of our undergraduate programs (except the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs) complete and submit the Common App online.

      Undergraduate Adult Learners

      To apply to any of our Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

      Graduates

      To apply to any of our Master's, Doctoral, Professional Studies Diploma, and Graduate Certificate programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.