The Canadian Photo Education Programs
Most of the college level photography courses offered in Canada is found in the Province of Ontario in two year programs at junior colleges, which are called colleges of applied arts and technology. Some offer fields such as multimedia production and film production, which include courses related to photography. These colleges include:
- Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology 140 Main Street Ottawa K1S 1C2
- Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology P.O. Box 398 Thunder Bay P7C4W1
- Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology 1460 Oxford Street London 95W5H1
- Humber College of Applied Arts and Technology (photo lab tech) 205 Humber College Boulevard Toronto M9W 5L7
- Loyalist College of Applied Arts and Technology (photojournalism) P.O. Box 4200 Belleville K8N 5B9
- Sheridan College of Applied Arts and Technology 1430 Trafalgar Road OakvilleL6H2LI
- Ryerson Poly technical Institute 350 Victoria Street Toronto M5B 2K3
- Alberta College of Art and Design 1407 Fourteenth Avenue NW Calgary, ALT2N4R3
- University of Victoria P.O. Box 1700 Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2
In addition to degree and certificate programs, there are a number of outstanding short workshop programs available on most every facet of photography.
Some schools operate short term programs that provide concentrated training in photography. For example, the Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula, Montana, offers a "Summer Intensive Program" covering seventeen specific topics. Individual courses consist of 4 to 32 classroom hours of instruction, totaling 261 hours over an eleven week period.
These summer courses include:Basic Photographic Studies (20 hours), Basic Black and White Darkroom (20 hours), Field Class (25 hours), History of Photography (8 hours), Advanced Photographic Studies (20 hours), Advanced Darkroom (16 hours), Zone System of Exposure (8 hours), Introduction to Medium Format (8 hours), Introduction to Large Format (8 hours), Photographic Lighting (32 hours), Photography of People (16 hours), Business and Marketing (16 hours), Portfolio (20 hours), Special Topics (Guest Instructors) (32 hours), Stock Photography (4 hours), Hand coloring (4 hours), Introduction to Digital Imaging (4 hours)
Scholarships And Financial Aid
The rapid rise in college expenses over the last decade has far outstripped the rise in most other living costs, and the spiral at this time seems endless.
A student going to a public university, if he or she is a resident of the state, will typically spend a total of approximately $7,000 to $10,000 per year. In some cases, the outlay will run substantially higher. Basic yearly charges at private universities average $15,000 to $20,000 or more. Books, clothing, transportation, and other expenses can add another $2,000 to $3,000 to the basic costs. Since the cost of supporting educational institutions is going up yearly, it would be best to write to the colleges or universities you would be interested in attending to get the latest tuition rates and charges for room and board.
Tuition Assistance
Although costs have risen considerably, the College Scholarship Service reports that it is now easier for families of all income levels to qualify for government subsidized student loans through the Stafford Loan program Most leading banks have further details on these low interest educational loans. Several other loan and grant programs are available for those demonstrating financial need.
Economic trends have helped to increase the popularity of two year community colleges, where students can live at home. They also have increased the pressure for more scholarships for students, as well as more government aid to colleges and universities.
Due to the surprising number of financial aid programs and scholarships, along with the increasing opportunities to obtain work while going to school, it is safe to say that serious students can manage some way to work and borrow themselves through al most any course of education they choose to pursue.
Most schools offering photography courses also have qualifications information for applicants on scholarships. These will gladly be explained for the asking.
The Photographic Society of America (PSA) annually awards stipends to provide tuition assistance in the amount of $1,500. Those stipends are available to photo career freshmen at both the Brooks Institute of Photography and the Rochester Institute of Technology. Full time students at either school may apply through the school for these scholarships in the spring of their freshman year. Both a written application and a portfolio of the individual's work are requested.
Other Scholarships and Grants
Not all scholarships are tied into college tuition. Many states have a Council on the Arts or similarly named groups that offer annual monetary grants for individuals working in various artistic fields, including photography and film making. Check references in your local library to determine the name, or names, of any groups in your state and write for information. You might qualify for a grant, scholarship, or research fellowship.
Photo Contests
Numerous photographic contests are conducted by various organizations each year. Some offer quite respectable cash prizes or equipment. State fairs have contests for many different subjects, including photography. You will never know just how good your own photography is until you enter some prints to be judged by qualified experts.
Internships
Internship programs are offered to a few selected students by:
- The International Center of Photography 1130 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10028
- The International Museum of Photography George Eastman House 900 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607
Kodak Scholarships
The Eastman Kodak Company has awarded endowed scholarships to several major photographic colleges and universities. In addition, Kodak has been awarding one time scholarships for the value of actual in state tuition for one academic year (up to a maximum of $2,000 each) to thirty institutions around the United States. These one time scholarships are awarded to full time students who have completed one full year of course work. Students of both two year associate programs and four year bachelor's degree programs are eligible.
Reference Materials
Your local library should have copies of reference books for all types of financial assistance, such as The College Board Scholarship Handbook. Listed therein are several scholarships, ranging from $100 to $4,000, for various areas of photography.
