BROOKS INSTITUTE OFFERS NEW MASTER OF FINE ARTS DEGREE IN PHOTOGRAPHY

SANTA BARBARA, California – September 21, 2007 – A new Master of Fine Arts Degree in Photography program debuts this month at Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, California. The weekend program is designed with the flexibility to allow degree candidates to continue to work while pursuing graduate education. The MFA degree is often regarded as an important step for artists who aspire to teach permanently at the college level.

The two-year program that will be offered once a year in September, with classes on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays to allow students to participate in the program without necessarily having to relocate to Santa Barbara. Classes will be held year around during three trimesters and a summer session. Instruction will take place on eight weekends of each trimester and during a summer session.

Course content will include art history, photo history, MFA seminars, MFA studios and the creation of fine art photography by the students. As part of the program, students will be asked to demonstrate their understanding of current aesthetic issues through the creation of fine art photography and through their ability to critique art work both orally and in writing. The instruction will cover teaching methods, current business practices and research methods. Students also will be introduced to current teaching practices in photography at colleges and universities. A culminating thesis or project will conclude the degree. Each student is required to mount a final MFA exhibition prior to graduation.

Applicants to the MFA program must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, as well as a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. Prospective students must present three letters of recommendation, take a placement exam, and present a portfolio of previous work to determine their eligibility for entrance.

Additional information is available from the Brooks Institute Admissions Office at 805-966-3888 or on the school Website at www.brooks.edu.

About Brooks Institute
Brooks Institute celebrates more than 60 years of educating students in the visual and media arts. With campuses in Santa Barbara and Ventura, California, the school offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in fields including Professional Photography, Visual Journalism, Film and Video Production and Graphic Design, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Photography. Brooks’ graduates are visible nationally and internationally, working for distinguished organizations including National Geographic, Smithsonian, Los Angeles Times and other national media outlets, including Hallmark Publishing, Cousteau Society, HBO, Kodak and other industry leaders in the visual media arts fields. For more information about Brooks Institute and the school’s programs, visit www.brooks.edu, or call 805-966-3888.